We look back at the bright spots in sustainable development policy in an unusual year.

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After one of the most challenging years in recent memory, holding onto reasons for hope can be a difficult task. But amid the losses and setbacks, we also saw major steps forward in the world of sustainable development policy. We wanted to share these with our community and wish you a safe holiday season.


** Climate Action in the Spotlight
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The COP 26 negotiations in Glasgow in November marked the first formal meeting ([link removed]) of UN climate negotiators in nearly two years. Among the highlights was the increased focus on climate adaptation, with more countries submitting their National Adaptation Plans than any other year and announcements ([link removed]) about new adaptation funding, including CAD 10 million from Canada for the NAP Global Network.

As for climate mitigation, several countries pledged to end international public finance ([link removed]) for fossil fuels, while a dozen governments launched the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance ([link removed]) to help phase out oil and gas production (IISD will serve as host of its first permanent secretariat).


** Climate action wasn’t just limited to COP 26.
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Throughout the year, governments and private sector actors have been looking at the role of critical minerals for low-carbon energy transitions ([link removed]) and what this means for regional supply chains ([link removed]) .

Meanwhile, there’s been a surge of interest in how we can better prepare for the impacts of climate change and protect communities in the face of converging crises. After a devastating heat wave in western Canada, we outlined key issues and considerations ([link removed]) that could help the federal government kick-start its first National Adaptation Strategy. We also worked with partners to launch Climate West ([link removed]) , a resource hub supporting those looking to build resilience in the Prairies.


** Enabling Fairer Economies
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The pandemic has led to a rise in hunger and mounting concerns about global food insecurity; with the stakes even higher than ever, all sectors must work together to find solutions. This is why IISD, along with other institutions, launched the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge ([link removed]) , drawing from our work with the International Food Policy Research Institute and Cornell University on the funding and policy interventions ([link removed]) needed to end hunger. Already, more than 40 organizations have pledged USD 391 million in 47 countries, with more on the way.



** The role of trade policy in supporting sustainable development took centre stage at our first Trade & Sustainability Hub.
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In Geneva, the intersection between trade policy and environmental issues has re-entered the spotlight, amid questions over whether our economic systems are fit for tackling major sustainability challenges such as climate change and plastic pollution. These conversations took centre stage at our inaugural Trade & Sustainability Hub ([link removed]) and are set to gain momentum in the new year. There’s also growing interest in how voluntary sustainability standards can help with poverty reduction ([link removed]) and tackling deforestation ([link removed]) . Meanwhile, reforming international investment law and policy remains a crucial avenue ([link removed]) for ensuring economic frameworks do not hamper countries’ efforts to achieve their development objectives.


** All Eyes on Nature
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This was a big year for nature-based solutions—which came into the spotlight as a tool for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss ([link removed]) while reminding us that we cannot afford to repeat past mistakes. Natural infrastructure ([link removed]) is proving to be a cost-effective solution with greater benefits than traditional infrastructure, as we’ve seen at Pelly’s Lake in Manitoba ([link removed]) . That’s why we joined the Global Environment Facility, the MAVA Foundation, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to launch the NBI Global Resource Centre ([link removed]) and help establish the business case for nature-based infrastructure.

This field is also of growing interest at the world’s freshwater laboratory, IISD’s Experimental Lakes Area ([link removed]) , which conducts scientific research on topics ranging from the impacts of climate change on our lakes to the lingering effects of microplastics so that policy-makers in Canada and around the globe can make sound, evidence-based decisions. This year, the team has been able to get back into the field ([link removed]) while building relationships with organizations working in other regions, namely Africa’s Great Lakes ([link removed]) . Their research continues to drive home how nature plays a crucial role in every aspect of our lives.


** Adapting to our Virtual Reality: Keeping Negotiations Transparent and Inclusive
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Multilateral negotiations must be transparent, accessible, and inclusive. As COVID-19 continues to change the ways we live, work, and shape public policy, these principles have become even more important. To that end, our Earth Negotiations Bulletin ([link removed]) (ENB) reporters and SDG Knowledge Hub ([link removed]) teams have continued their tradition of providing breaking news coverage and analysis of how these processes unfold while adapting to the challenges and surprises of our new virtual environment.

We are also taking a big picture look at our past, with 2022 shaping up to be a major milestone year in environmental diplomacy as governments celebrate the 50th anniversary ([link removed]) of the UN Conference on the Human Environment and the establishment of the UN Environment Programme. Our ENB team is sharing lessons learned from the past 50 years of sustainable development policy ([link removed]) so we can chart a better path forward, and we look forward to more insights in the months to come.

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