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UN Climate Week has begun its 17th edition, convening in New York City under the theme “Power On.” This runs parallel to UN General Assembly High-Level Week and will gather people from different areas, including heads of government, corporate leaders, civil society actors and researchers.

The discussions occur at a pivotal moment, as states also prepare for November’s COP30 climate change conference in Belem, Brazil. The deliberations in New York highlight the central debates shaping the UN climate agenda and the steps that ought to be taken to translate commitments into tangible and verifiable outcomes.

One of the issues to concentrate on is the persistent gap between global climate pledges and implementation. Despite successive rounds of announcements, aggregate greenhouse gas emissions remain inconsistent with trajectories compatible with the Paris Agreement’s goals. This is partially because the financing of adaptation and resilience measures in developing economies remains particularly constrained, even as estimates of annual needs continue to rise.

As a result, it is critical to align political will, financial flows and technical standards in advance of COP30. Brazil’s hosting of the conference will most likely expand key debates on tropical forests, financing instruments and indigenous rights, given the centrality of the Amazon to global climate stability.

A second important issue to focus on is the scale and allocation of climate finance. While commitments from various actors appear to have grown, flows toward adaptation continue to lag behind those for mitigation. Some private sector investments tend to favor renewable energy and low-carbon infrastructure in middle-income markets, leaving the most vulnerable countries underserved. Therefore, paths should be designed to make adaptation projects more attractive to private capital. There is also a focus on creating investment vehicles that can bring in private finance without displacing the limited public resources that remain critical for high-need adaptation projects.

A third issue is related to the modes of delivery. Current channels, which include multilateral development banks, national budgets and project-based instruments, seem to be inadequate in terms of meeting projected adaptation needs. As a result, there ought to be more attention paid to project preparation facilities and technical assistance to allow the translation of pledged funds into outcomes on the ground.

It is worth noting that this year’s theme, “Power On,” is highlighting the increase in renewable energy deployment, grid modernization and efficient-energy strategies. Discussions should extend beyond technology to encompass just transition policies that address the socioeconomic impacts of the phasing out of fossil fuels.

This is due to the notion that the international community needs to ensure there are equitable outcomes for workers and regions that are dependent on hydrocarbons. Energy transitions must be socially sustainable as well as environmentally necessary, particularly in developing economies and regions facing high energy poverty.

The debates will shape the steps to be taken to translate commitments into tangible and verifiable outcomes.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

A fourth issue is the governance of tropical forest finance. Brazil’s proposed tropical forest financing facility is intended to mobilize significant capital, yet some believe that it raises questions regarding safeguards, baseline measurement, permanence and indigenous participation. This can be addressed by an effective design that ensures the protection of rights and verifiable conservation outcomes, particularly in the context of the Amazon’s ecological and cultural importance. There also needs to be robust monitoring, reporting and verification systems to ensure that financial flows translate into tangible reductions in deforestation and degradation, while also providing meaningful benefits to local communities.

Another key theme that is normally discussed at the UNGA is accountability and measurement. Some argue that there is a need for third-party-verified metrics to track both emissions reductions and resilience outcomes. Transparent and standardized climate finance reporting and nonstate contributions are a central tenet of the credibility of the international climate regime. There should be the capability to monitor progress and enforce accountability.

Another topic, in addition to the technical and financial dimensions, is the broader challenge of how to implement climate commitments within complex political and social contexts. The credibility of climate action depends on how measurable outcomes are delivered by institutions, rather than the accumulation of pledges. Potential methods include linking decarbonization to social protections and embedding safeguards within finance mechanisms.

The participation of local governments, civil society organizations and indigenous communities is central to the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of climate change projects.

But there seems to have been a clear shift from rhetorical ambition to the practical, technical and political work of implementation at the 2025 UNGA debate on climate change. Nevertheless, we should remember that the international climate regime’s credibility depends on measurability and accountability. This means the capacity to track finance, produce adaptation outcomes, reduce emissions and ensure social protections with precision.

The focus ought to be on designing systems and instruments that can translate intent into action. The effectiveness of international climate efforts will be determined not by further promises and pledges, but by the ability of institutional and financial arrangements to produce verifiable outcomes at the necessary scale and speed.

Finally, the exploration of innovative approaches, from new blended finance structures to decentralized monitoring systems, should be continued. Climate action requires coordination between governments, financial institutions, private corporations and civil society. This multifaceted and integrated approach reinforces the notion that measurable climate solutions reflect the complex, interconnected nature of contemporary climate governance.

In a nutshell, this week’s crucial UNGA climate change debate should focus on the convergence of science, policy and finance in the pursuit of actionable climate solutions. Bringing together diverse people and institutions helps realize global commitments. Accountability, transparency and rigor in implementation are also essential to meeting any climate-related objectives.

• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh