Challenges

Climate change and sustainable development are inter-related and mutually reinforcing. UN 2030 Sustainable identifies climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and states that “its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development”.

Global South is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as developing countries will be adversely affected by the anticipated shocks to their social, economic and natural systems. Pursuing climate action and sustainable development in an integrated and coherent way offers the most effective approach to enable countries to achieve the objectives under the 2030 Development Agenda and 2015 Paris Agreement.

Toward a Solution

Based at COMSATS Secretariat, COMSATS Centre for Climate & Sustainability (CCCS) is a virtual and physical network of centres, institutions and organizations working on environmental risks to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CCCS is a unique initiative that would focus on the nexus between climate change and sustainable development in developing-country settings. CCCS will work in the framework of South-South & Triangular Cooperation to promote, coordinate and facilitate South-South & Triangular Cooperation in regard to climate action and attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in line with the policy and practices of developing countries and their international obligations. 

The Commission on Science & Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an inter-governmental organization of developing countries established in 194 to promote science and technology for the economic and social development of the Global South. COMSATS took cognizance of the dual relationship between sustainable development and climate change and decided in 2019 to set up the COMSATS Centre for Climate & Sustainability (CCCS).

A primary driver for establishing CCCS is to provide a platform for developing countries to work collaboratively in addressing common challenges of climate change and sustainable development in developing-country settings. CCCS is engaged in bringing together institutions from the Global South based on the concept of 4 Cs- connectivity, communication, coordination and collaboration to promote climate resilience and sustainable development.

CCCS is an innovative model of cooperation that will create a network of institutions that will work on the linkages of climate change and sustainable development in developing-country settings. CCCS web portal (to be launched soon) will be a virtual network that will operate as a virtual platform to foster flow of information exchange, knowledge sharing, good practices, collaboration and partnerships to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

So far twenty countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean regions have become members of CCCS (list attached).Each CCCS member has designated their focal institution(s) and focal points (infograhic attached). More developing countries along with regional and international institutions are expected to join CCCS network in its mission to address key challenges of climate change, sustainability and development.

A network of national, regional and global partner organizations is being developed to bolster information exchange, identify opportunities for training/capacity building, enhance development of affordable and adaptable solutions to meet needs of developing countries, create a stream of knowledge and expertise, partnerships and collaborative programmes, to bolster the role of science and technology in support of sustainability.

CCCS has adopted a trans-disciplinary approach for resolving the climate-sustainability nexus. Focus of activities will be on following SDGs: SDG (2) Zero Hunger, SDG (3) Good Health & well Being, SDG (6) Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG (7) Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG (13) Climate Action, SDG (14) Life under Water and SDG (15) Life in Land and SDG (17) Partnership for the Goals. In addition to adaptation CCCS will be focusing on mitigation issues such as GHG emissions, carbon sequestration and GHG inventory.

CCCS will work in the framework of South-South & Triangular Cooperation to facilitate and promote South-South & Triangular Cooperation in regard to climate action and attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by bringing together national, regional and global partners to promote for implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement and 2030 Development Agenda.

COMSATS as a valuable institution of the Global South has been engaged for over 25 years in promoting sustainable development through application of science and technology for economic and social development of developing countries. South-South Cooperation has a central role in the framework of the UN 2030 Development Agenda. CCCS is an initiative of COMSATS to strengthen the Southern response to SDGs, promote multi-stakeholder collaboration and support global efforts to move forward on a resilient and sustainable path.

Click here for information on focus areas and interested institutions.