National policy and planning support

By developing policies that integrate climate and clean air objectives, countries can maximize the benefits of action, helping to reduce the rate of near-term warming - which contributes to achieving the long-term Paris Agreement targets – while at the same time realizing immediate, local benefits for public health and wellbeing and supporting the attainment of many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since 2013, the CCAC has helped 16 countries develop national plans that integrate climate and clean air objectives through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Eight of these plans have received national endorsement and are moving towards implementation.

Our support to countries follows an approach that provides structure to the national planning process, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate for the unique context and challenges in each country. The CCAC is accepting new requests for support.

If you are interested in receiving policy and planning support from the CCAC in your country, read below to learn more about our process and contact us to get started.

The process

Phase 1

Expression of interest

A country partner requests the CCAC’s support. Teams from the CCAC and the national government conduct an initial analysis of national emissions and existing policies, plans and strategies, then explore new opportunities for SLCP mitigation, including how climate and air quality actions can be integrated into existing policy frameworks.

Preparing a solid basis for national planning

A formal agreement between the CCAC and partner country is made. A coordinating group may be assembled to lead the planning process and determine roles and responsibilities within the government.

A thorough assessment identifies the current climate and air quality scenario within the country. This process includes creating emissions inventories, determining the finances required, identifying relevant stakeholders including potential implementers (i.e. from sectoral hubs and relevant sectoral national entities) and funding sources for identified mitigation priorities, identifying high-emitting sources and sectors, and identifying existing policy frameworks that can be integrated with SLCP and air pollution mitigation plans. The depth of this assessment depends on how much information is available and provided by the country.

Key deliverables:

Emissions and climate and air quality policy inventories
Priority measures for sources and sectors
Governance and institutional analysis
Stakeholder and implementer mapping

Phase 2

Preparing a national planning process

The aim is to enhance the capacity in countries to develop regularly updated nationally endorsed emission inventories, evaluate possible mitigation actions and their costs, quantify the benefits of implementing SLCP actions (health; food security; socio-economic benefits), and develop detailed implementation pathways for mitigation options.

Modelling tools are used to project various future emissions scenarios and calculate their related benefits. Using the findings, the coordinating group consults with stakeholders to identify implementation pathways and determine which mitigation measures will maximize benefits and achieve the greatest results.

In addition awareness materials and a communication strategy are created to raise awareness about the benefits of reducing SLCPs. This helps increase public and political support, garner financial support, and reduce barriers to implementation of SLCP action.

The CCAC follows four main approaches to ensure these mitigation measures are integrated into national climate plans and policies. One or a combination of these approaches may be used in a country depending on the local context.

Approach 1: Creating a Foundation for SLCP Mitigation with Short-Term Measures. Activities include raising public awareness, promoting the benefits that SLCP mitigation measures within the government, and adding SLCP actions to existing regulations and policies to deliver quick results. If the government is in the process of developing a long-term mitigation strategy, institutional capacity and readiness can be provided to ensure that SLCP actions are included in the long-term strategy.
Approach 2: Building the Capacity to Continuously Address SLCP Mitigation. Workshops and trainings are conducted to build capacity within the government to consider SLCP mitigation actions in day-to-day decision making. The aim is to enable actors at all levels to address SLCP problems as they arise, equipping them with knowledge of SLCP mitigation options and a process for identifying policies, the barriers to implementation, and measures to overcome these barriers.
Approach 3: Developing a Long-Term National Action Plan to reduce SLCPs. Comprehensive guidance and long-term policy and planning support is given to the government to develop a National Action Plan to reduce SLCPs. If the country does not already have a regulatory framework for climate change and air pollution, the plan sets the foundation for developing an integrated approach to climate change and air quality policymaking. The plan can also complement and, eventually, enhance existing frameworks by encouraging collaboration between ministries, identifying activities that address both climate change and air pollution, and outlining a flexible process that advocates for additional action on climate change and air pollution.
Approach 4: Embedding SLCP Mitigation Measures within Existing Climate Plans. The CCAC supports activities such as SLCP mitigation assessments and evaluating emission reduction potentials in relevant sectors. This work aims to demonstrate the importance of SLCP mitigation to existing national processes, obtain high-level support, and ensure that SLCPs recognised in sectoral plans. This approach is best suited to countries that have extensive climate change and air pollution mitigation measures, such as an NDC or long-term climate strategy.

Key deliverables:

Integrated emissions and mitigation assessments and benefits quantification of different mitigation pathways
Defined implementation pathway for the inclusion of SLCP measures in national actions on climate
Relevant stakeholders engaged
Communications strategy

Obtaining political support

Once an approach or workplan has been established, communications material is used to raise high-level political awareness for the importance and benefits of SCLP actions. This ensures political support that helps drive implementation activities forward.

Key deliverables:

Political support received from the government

Phase 3

Implementation activities

The coordinating group ensures that there is adequate technical, financial and institutional support to implement the identified mitigation activities and engage targeted sectors. Implementation activities may include developing monitoring and evaluation system frameworks, mobilizing financial mechanisms, providing training and workshops and coordinating the integration of SLCP and air quality measures within existing policy frameworks.

Key deliverables: