1.1.2. International policy commitments

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

With the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) at its core, the 2030 Agenda is a transformative plan to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development globally. It provides a framework for action balancing the interlinked economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda aims to leave no one behind.

All SDGs are interconnected, with a common base linked to the biophysical domain: clean water and sanitation (6), climate action (13), life below water (14), and life on land (15). Without this 'planetary' base, key basic services and rights would not be sustainable: food security (2), health (3), education (4) and gender equality (5). Other SDGs are essential for the green transformation: affordable and clean energy (7), sustainable cities and communities (11) and responsible consumption and production (12). Practically all SDGs have targets related to environmental sustainability, climate resilience or climate change mitigation.

Figure 1. Planet SDGs provide the living basis for other goals, “supporting the needs of the present and future generations.” (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development)

Multilateral environmental agreements and disaster risk reduction framework

The EU is spearheading international action to address the multiple planetary challenges by playing an active role in the elaboration and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including through its cooperation instruments. This is in line with the Lisbon Treaty objectives to promote measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, and in particular combating climate change (Art. 191). The main MEAs of relevance to this toolbox that have been ratified by the EU can be found in this link; these have also been ratified by most of our partner countries and to various degrees transposed into their own policies and regulations. The full list of MEAs ratified by the EU can be found here.

How the EU ensures its international cooperation is aligned with the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework

As per the OECD (2019), an international cooperation that is effectively aligned with the Paris Agreement:

✅ Does not undermine the Paris Agreement but rather contributes to the required transformation.

✅ Catalyses countries’ transitions to low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways.

✅ Supports the short- and long-term processes under the Paris Agreement.

✅ Proactively responds to evidence and opportunities to address needs in developing countries.

Paris alignment within EU cooperation is ensured through:

The stringent application of the objective of Art. 29 of the NDICI-GE, as no actions or measures can be supported which are incompatible with the recipient country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
The integration of climate considerations and contributions from the programming phase and across all sectors of EU action.
The environmental and climate screening of all EU-supported actions, to determine if a given action is likely to have significant adverse impacts on the environment/climate or is at significant risk from climate change.
A growing portfolio of dedicated actions supporting a transition to low-emission, climate-resilient pathways at country, sector or local level.

Alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework in the context of EU cooperation, addressing its 2050 goals and implementing its 2030 targets also implies implementing a `do no harm´ principle^[1], as well as:

Protecting and restoring nature, through the continuous support to protected areas, and beyond these areas including through Team Europe approaches and flagship initiatives such as NaturAfrica.
Ensuring the sustainable use and management of biodiversity, by valuing and enhancing nature’s contributions to people and the economy, through the integration of biodiversity objectives in the portfolio, promoting a do more good approach, and improving monitoring and evaluation on biodiversity projects.
Supporting all parties to ensure adequate means of implementation, by mobilising resources from all sources (including international, domestic, public and private). This may be achieved through the adoption of ambitious targets in biodiversity financial commitments, mainstreaming biodiversity and the support to capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, notably in least developed countries and small island developing states (SIDS).

References

^[1] In 2024, OECD DAC members are working to develop a common understanding of an alignment with the GBF. See: Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level, Paris, 7-8 June 2023.

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1.1.2. International policy commitments