LDC 2050 Vision for a climate-resilient future

The world's least developed countries have set out their response to the climate challenge, with a long-term vision for 2050 that aims to ensure that no country is left behind.

Article, 23 September 2019

The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group at the UN climate negotiations has developed a vision for delivering a climate-resilient future that is guided by the principles of inclusion, participation, justice and equity.

The LDC 2050 Vision, launched at the 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York, is for all LDCs to be on climate-resilient development pathways by 2030 and to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050, to ensure that their societies and ecosystems thrive.

Representing more than one billion people in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and the Caribbean, the LDC Group works to secure effective and fair action on climate change. The 47 nations within the group have done least to cause the climate crisis, but are most vulnerable to its impacts. Despite this, the LDCs aim to take the lead in developing a more effective, ambitious climate response.

Five offers and five asks

Achieving a climate-resilient future and graduation across all LDCs by 2050 is an ambitious goal that requires partnership on both sides. The LDCs are making five ambitious commitments to support the vision. These offers are:

The LDC offer: we will
1
Work with all of society to achieve a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
2
Develop a strong climate finance architecture, with at least 70% of finance flows supporting local-level action by 2030.
3
Integrate adaptation, mitigation and resilience across our national and local development strategies.
4
Strengthen our climate capabilities, institutions, knowledge, skills and learning.
5
We will create inclusive governance of climate decisions, focused on gender transformation and social justice.
 

The LDCs are also asking for support to achieve their goals. They have five asks for the international community:

 
1
We ask you to provide flexible long-term finance: to achieve 70% of finance supporting local-level action by 2030.
We need a 50:50 adaptation/mitigation balance, with at least half of total finance flows supporting the most vulnerable communities.
2
Work with us to reduce transaction costs and ensure mutual accountability.
3
Help strengthen our national and local institutional capabilities.
4
Invest in our climate-resilient economies and solutions.
5
We ask you to develop your own strategies by 2020 for 1.5° low-carbon climate-resilient pathways.

Three LDC initiatives for climate resilience

The LDC 2050 Vision draws on the work of three separate LDC climate initiatives: the LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR), the LDC Initiative for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and the LDC University Consortium on Climate Change. With these three work programmes, the world's poorest nations have developed an ambitious response to the climate emergency, one which aims for all countries and communities – from the least to the most vulnerable – to work hand in hand for a climate-resilient future.

LIFE-AR is an LDC-led, LDC-owned initiative that has involved the LDCs working with more than 600 experts from around the world, to learn from, and build on, existing good practice. The project includes a robust review of evidence on effective adaptation and resilience interventions. As well as informing the 2050 vision, LIFE-AR will also:

  • Inform the development of LDC adaptation plans to 2050
  • Identify immediate priorities that will further build national institutions, domestic systems and capabilities, and
  • Further define National Action Plans (NAPs), National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and wider national efforts to build resilience and address poverty.

IIED has been working with the LDC Group to support the review of evidence that underpins the LDC's 2050 Vision. Download some key resources:

2050 vision video

The launch of the LDCs' long-term vision at the 2019 Climate Action Summit included a video featuring the LDC Group's lead negotiator, Tenzin Wangmo, in which she sets out the key points of the 2050 vision.

You can watch the video below, or on IIED's YouTube channel.