Creating Synergies among the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Action: Insights from a Developing Economy

Abstract

Creating synergies and aligning the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement offers great opportunity for global climate action that is based on inclusive development and just energy transformation. However, this process is not straight forward and faces several interlinked issues and challenges, including varying national priorities. Research and insights into these issues are lacking in the case of developing countries. This study aims to identify key benefits and opportunities, barriers, and challenges on creating synergies and jointly implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions in the case of India. This is achieved by conducting a structured expert interview with multi-stakeholders in the Delhi National Capital Region of India. The findings of this study intend to benefit and inform national and local governments, individuals, institutions, and organisations across the world on key implementation challenges of the synergies process in the case of a major developing economy and provides important lessons and policy recommendations that may also strengthen and support global efforts towards climate-compatible development and decision making.