Partnering with governments to scale climate finance and implement the Paris Agreement
Climate change is accelerating, with profound implications for development, equity and human rights. Its impacts threaten prosperity, deepen existing vulnerabilities, and challenge human security around the world. Delivering on national climate goals requires ambition, strategic public policy, investment planning and coordinated action to unlock and align financial flows.
UNEP supports countries and the finance sector in mobilising and directing finance to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. UNEP works with governments to scale up public and private investment for mitigation and adaptation, integrate climate risks into national planning, and ensure finance delivers for people, planet and prosperity, with an emphasis on equity, inclusion and long-term human well-being.
Climate action is one of three core pillars of UNEP’s programme of work. UNEP's approach to address climate change effectively requires tackling these challenges systemically through integrated finance, science-based policy and inclusive economic transformation.
UNEP’s climate finance work is grounded in the latest science, implemented through partnerships, and backed by the principles of environmental governance and human rights. UNEP helps countries create the enabling conditions for finance to flow where it is most needed. This supports resilient, inclusive and low-carbon development.
UNEP’s integrated approach
UNEP provides governments with technical support, policy guidance and regional capacity building across these key priorities:
- Finance for climate mitigation: Supporting countries to transition high-impact sectors and attract investment in renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable infrastructure and nature-based solutions that reduce emissions and support green growth.
- Finance for climate adaptation and resilience: Helping governments access international climate funds, integrate adaptation into development planning, and design national investment strategies that build resilience, while helping to unlock private finance for adaptation.
- Finance for a just transition: This approach recognises that climate finance must not only be effective but fair. UNEP supports governments in designing national climate finance strategies that promote decent jobs, gender equality and inclusive development, ensuring no one is left behind in the shift to a low-carbon future, and contributes to the integration of just transition approaches into private finance.
Through dedicated initiatives such as the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, the Climate Technology Centre and Network, and the Global Adaptation Network, UNEP provides hands-on support to governments at every stage of the climate finance cycle. This includes diagnostics, planning, implementation and reporting.
UNEP also helps countries meet their reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement, including through the enhanced transparency framework.
Aligning private capital with public ambition
Public finance and policy are essential but not sufficient. To meet the scale of investment required, governments can shape enabling environments that support private capital to align with national climate priorities. UNEP fosters dialogue between governments and the financial sector through its networks and partners, including coalitions of financial institutions committed to net zero.
UNEP’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) plays a key role in advancing this agenda. As a strategic partnership between the UN and the global financial sector, UNEP FI convenes the financial sector through voluntary sustainability principles and global alliances that catalyse science-based action on climate, nature and inclusive societies.
This includes support for the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, Net-Zero Export Credit Agency Alliance, and the Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero. While rooted in climate ambition, these alliances are increasingly integrating nature-related risks and opportunities into their pathways recognising that a stable climate and a healthy biosphere are mutually reinforcing. UNEP FI also provides financial institutions with tools, guidance and capacity building to translate climate commitments into measurable action. This supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement and helps shift capital flows towards sustainable outcomes.
Advancing equity and social outcomes
A just and inclusive transition is central to UNEP’s climate finance agenda. Environmental action must promote human rights, gender equality, decent work and inclusive development, especially for those most vulnerable to environmental degradation, displacement and economic exclusion.
UNEP’s work helps governments design and implement climate finance strategies that leave no one behind. This includes women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, workers, displaced populations and frontline communities.
Science, policy and partnerships that drive investment
UNEP supports countries to integrate science into national decision-making, development planning and public investment strategies.
Through partnerships with global platforms, including the UNFCCC, the Global Environment Facility and multilateral environmental agreements, UNEP helps countries strengthen institutional capacity, improve regulatory frameworks and report more effectively on climate action and finance.
UNEP’s climate finance ecosystem
UNEP is proud to deliver climate finance support through an array of networks, programmes and partnerships.
Partnerships
- United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
- Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
- Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction
Networks
- UN-REDD
- Cool Coalition
- Global Adaptation Network
- One Planet Network
- The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action
Centres and Programmes
