The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), a scientific advisory centre in Copenhagen, a collaboration between the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Office for Project Service (UNOPS), formally launched today by His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark along with Denmark’s Minister for Environment Lea Wermelin, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, and UNOPS Executive Director Grete Faremo.
As the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports have shown in no uncertain terms, the world is in a climate emergency. Urgent action is needed on both mitigation and adaptation to speed up the ever more urgent green energy transition in order to reach climate goals and preserve a livable planet. The UNEP-CCC will work to stay at the forefront of providing science-based analyses and climate relevant assessment on achieving the targets of the Paris Agreement as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Action within one country or one city will not be enough to exit the climate emergency. The world must come together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and must come together to help developing nations and vulnerable communities to cope with devastating impact of the climate change,” said His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark. “Hosting the UNEP-CCC further shows Denmark’s commitment to making these goals a reality.”
“I truly welcome the mandate of the centre of contributing with much needed knowledge bridging the gap between science and policy-oriented climate actions,” said Minister Wermelin. “The ambition of the Centre is to support climate actions that can be scaled up at a global or regional level. For instance, off-grid solar technology in East Africa or improved early warning systems in Sri Lanka. The Centre also has the ambition of influencing the international climate framework and negotiations.”
“The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, or UNEP-CCC, has a key role to play and will bring expertise – by filling gaps in knowledge and supporting developing nations,” said Executive Director Andersen at the launch ceremony. “By linking science and policy, UNEP-CCC will make science more accessible, more trusted, more democratic, and accessible and as such more useful – thus contributing to the transformations we need. The centre can make a real difference, as it is built on solid pillars.”
The centre will support developing and middle-income countries in their efforts to progress towards a climate-resilient, low carbon future and to integrate climate priorities in national development planning.
Supported operationally by UNOPS, the UNEP-CCC is a scientific advisory centre supporting the implementation of UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy within the climate change and energy programme.
“Within the United Nations, UNOPS has a mandate for infrastructure, and we are committed to supporting climate action and tackling the climate emergency. Our commitment is backed both by our decades of practical experience, and our research and thought leadership on the role of infrastructure in achieving key development and climate targets,” said Executive Director Faremo.
The centre is located in the UN City of Copenhagen, where more than 1800 people representing more than 100 different countries of 11 UN agencies and the World Bank work. Under one roof, it promotes the values of collaboration, and a unified vision working towards supporting the Member States and the SDGs.
With an international expert team embodying in-depth knowledge of climate change, energy, green transition, and sustainable development, the UNEP-CCC provides relevant and comprehensive data and new knowledge on climate resilient and low-emission pathways to set the direction for climate policies and to cater to the need for greater transparency and scaling up of actions.
About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way.