Taking the lead on climate action and sustainable development

Recommendations for strategic national transition planning at the centre of a whole-of-system climate response

Authors: Mark Manning, Riona Bowhay, Megan Bowman, Peter Knaack, Lisa Sachs, Agnieszka Smolenska, Fiona Stewart, Thomas Tayler, Perrine Toledano and Harald Walkate

This report develops a set of principles-based recommendations for strategic national transition planning. The guidance is designed to steer, accelerate and coordinate whole-of-government and whole-of-economy action towards a just, low-emissions, climate-resilient and nature-positive future, while advancing sustainable development and energy security goals. On current policies, the world is significantly off-track in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Given the scale of transformation required across the economy, governments must play a decisive role at the centre of a whole-of-system response – including through national transition planning.

The report is accompanied by a Handbook to strategic national transition planning that contains supplementary guidance and examples. The two reports are designed to be read together. 

Recommendations

The report’s recommendations are set out under five action areas (see figure below) which are aligned with tools developed for private sector transition planning: frameworks developed by the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). They are also informed by the investor-led Assessing Sovereign Climate-related Opportunities and Risks (ASCOR) initiative.

Building on countries’ existing plans and strategies – enhancing nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) – national transition planning in line with the recommendations will support governments’ delivery against international commitments in the Paris Agreement by helping them target resources and capital allocation more effectively. Transparency of governments’ plans will give actors across the economy greater certainty, confidence and incentive to invest in the transition, scaling up private finance in advanced economies and in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

Key considerations and action areas for national transition planning