Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024

21 February, 2024 - 23 February, 2024

09:00 - 17:00

(Nairobi)

Conference Room 1, UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi

The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 took place from 21 to 23 February 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya on the margins of the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.

Background

The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 brought together the CCAC's 86 State Partners and 83 Non-State Partners to discuss the latest science and policy, share best practices, and develop a shared agenda in key emitting sectors like agriculture, waste, fossil fuels, household energy, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and cooling.

Over the next five years the world must make significant progress to slow the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, and address the poverty and inequality that threatens the most vulnerable. Humanity is pushing up against ecological limits, triggering multiple crises that threaten public health, food security, livelihoods, and the ecosystems that sustain us.

The CCAC works at the nexus of climate and air quality, to deliver multiple benefits from the fast mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants. Driven by policy relevant science and pragmatism, we work from the ground up, in an equitable and inclusive way, empowering our partners to achieve their respective national goals and catalysing action — as well as from the top down, bringing together ministers and leaders to drive high-level ambition.

The key outcomes from last year’s Climate and Clean Air Conference 2023 in Bangkok are clear: integrated planning on climate and clean air is essential to identify priority actions in key emitting sectors to scale up mitigation, and action at the national and regional level is motivating collaboration at the global scale.

Objective

Against this backdrop, the Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 moved the dialogue forward, focusing on the cost of inaction, highlighting ways to further scale up implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, Clean Air Flagship and Kigali Amendment, and collectively charting the course to 2025 and beyond.

The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 featured:

High-level plenary sessions on global, regional and national efforts to reduce methane, black carbon and HFCs, including the benefits of fast action, national policy and planning, and financing for implementation.
Science Policy Dialogue sessions on latest emerging science and how new information can inform policy development.
Technical sessions among CCAC Sector Hub members to showcase best practices in key emitting sectors: agriculture, cooling, fossil fuels, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, household energy, and waste.
Practical sessions to further refine workplans among CCAC National Consultants; Non-State Partners and Scientific Advisory Panel Members.

The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 brought together CCAC Partner representatives from governments, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, private sector, finance institutions and key stakeholders from the African region.

Press Release

New, integrated initiatives aim to breathe life into efforts to address climate and clean air

Statements/Remarks

FROM Partners at the Conference

MECS highlights critical importance of accelerating global transition to eCooking at The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024, Nairobi

Background Documents

Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 in the News

Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 kicks off at UNEP

by Kenya Broadcasting Corporation – February 21

Tone-setting article from Kenya’s public broadcaster, highlighting the convening nature of the meeting and the Clean Air Flagship, and how delegates will move the dialogue further on the cost of inaction, scale-up implementation of the Global Methane Pledge and Kigali amendment, and chart the course to 2025 and beyond.

Kenya: Air pollution at the heart of a conference in Nairobi

by Radio France International – February 20

Scene-setting article from France’s public radio broadcaster, with an in-depth look at how addressing short-lived climate pollutants can help achieve the 70% reduction of emissions by 2030, and referencing the cost of inaction when it comes to tackling air pollution. Uses Milan’s air quality and the local focus to address pollution as an example.

International Solidarity Urged for Phasing Out Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, says UNEP Officials

by The Weather Channel, February 22

Syndicated wire piece picked up by the Weather Channel, highlighting UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen’s call to phase out super pollutants, and her comments on the importance of the Global Methane Pledge, the Clean Air Flagship, and the Kigali Amendment. Includes quotes from Rose Mwebaza, Regional Director for Africa at UNEP, and her calls for remodelling sectors responsible for emitting super pollutants.

New, integrated initiatives aim to breathe life into plans to address climate and clean air

by The Exchange, Kenya – February 23

Outcome driven article from a pan-African business outlet, with a focus on how the CCAC is combatting the triple planetary crisis of climate change, and highlighting the Clean Air Flagship, the HDV roadmap, and the launch of a cost of inaction study to support the economic case of acting on short-lived climate pollutants.

UNEP warns over heavy trucks pollution

by People Daily, Kenya - February 23

Article from a major Kenyan newspaper outlining the impact of Heavy-Duty Vehicles on emissions, with a particular focus on the need to enhance the African regulatory framework for HDVs, with quotes from Rob de Jong on recommendations to stop the further export of used HDVs and his call for ambitious regulations that can curb environmental and health impacts.

Fresh, comprehensive initiatives underway to invigorate efforts aimed at tackling climate change, improving air quality

by MyJoy Online, Ghana – February 25

Article from a leading online publication in Ghana focusing on how the meeting is designed to bolster regional collaboration, scale up financing to tackle short-lived climate pollutants, and covering takeaways from the HDV report launched in Nairobi. Includes quotes from UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, and her call on countries to include plans to address super pollutants in country NDCs.