Practical Action at COP28

3rd December

Over 90% of waste in low-income countries is openly dumped or burned. This causes a range of pollution and health risks. Greenhouse gas emissions from methane, black carbon and other climate-forcing emissions from poor waste management are likely to be at least 10% of global emissions.

Practical Action is part of a global multi-stakeholder partnership which aims to eliminate the open burning of waste. Our approach will always be people-centred, ensuring that actions help to improve the lives and livelihoods of highly vulnerable communities as well as addressing environmental concerns.

As part of this session our CEO Sarah Roberts helped to set the scene and was part of a panel that included representatives from Local Government, the World Health Organisation, Lloyds Register Foundation and the Global Methane Hub to discuss solutions.

3rd December, 15:30 – 17:00

Climate-induced loss and damage disproportionately affects vulnerable communities in Nepal, pushing them into poverty cycle and increasing inequality. Due to limited policy frameworks and resources, Nepal relies heavily on external funding in the form of loans and grants to support its existing Disaster Risk Management initiatives, including recovery efforts.

This session aimed to gather support for the agenda of addressing loss and damage, highlighted the need for resilient recovery, and the global commitments needed for the loss and damage fund.

4th December 2023, 12:30 – 13:30

Gender equality is critical in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – Affordable and Clean Energy. This event aimed to celebrate the achievements of women leaders in the field of clean energy and showcase past winners of COP28 who have made significant contributions to gender equality.

The event aimed to:

1. Emphasize the importance of gender equality in the context of sustainable energy access.
2. Showcase the impact of women leaders in driving clean energy innovations.

Promote and recognise past prize winners who have made significant contributions to gender equality in the energy sector.

5th December, 11:00 – 12:30

Practical Action teamed up with WaterAid at the Bangladesh Pavilion to explore how to ensure strong integration of WASH and water resource information into loss and damage evidence. Together, we showcased experts, examples from different counties and how to influence practitioners and policymakers. Real-world examples offered inspiration to other countries, practical recommendations and the role of governments.

6th December, 16:00 – 17:00

We shared stories from our work with communities to adapt to climate change in the challenging mountainous environments of Nepal.

9th December, 11:30 – 13:00

This session looked at how an entrepreneurial approach to renewable energy technologies that support regenerative agriculture and agri-food value chains can fast track the just energy transition, improve livelihoods and build resilient food systems in developing countries.

Speakers included a ministerial keynote and a panel featuring experts from each of the key stakeholder groups.

9th December, 12:00 – 13:00

In 2015, the Paris Agreement established the Global Goal on Adaptation which aimed to increase ambition and focus by enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. At the same time Nepal and other countries in the region have developed their National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions including adaptation.

This interactive session explored lessons on adaptation and resilience and how to build accountability to ensure it benefits those who need it most. It called for action from developed countries to fulfil their commitment for climate finance and promote appropriate technology.

10th-11th Dec 2023

We shared scalable adaptation solutions, developed with communities on the frontlines of poverty and climate change. We brought lived experience to the negotiations, across early warning systems, regenerative agriculture and energy access, and aimed to inform policy and funding decisions.