Meeting Climate Goals Fairly: Insights from UN Synergies Reports and Low Energy Demand Pathways
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Abstract:
Climate change is inseparable from global development challenges, yet most policy processes continue to treat them in isolation. The UN’s First, Second, and Third Global Reports on Climate and SDG Synergies show that aligning climate action with development priorities can deliver up to 37% greater efficiency in public spending, but such synergies remain severely under-reported. Only 23 of 173 NDCs reference the SDGs, and none systematically assess the human well-being impacts or distributional impacts, underscoring the need for transparent frameworks that quantify both aggregate and equitable outcomes.
Findings from my studies also examine and show how low energy demand (LED) pathways can deliver equitable well-being gains alongside deep emission reductions. Our results highlight the importance of considering climate mitigation actions together with their broader developmental impacts.
Bio
Dr Souran Chatterjee, FHEA, is a Lecturer in Energy Transitions and Programme Lead for the MSc Global Sustainability at the University of Plymouth. His research specialises in demand‑side mitigation, well‑being modelling, and sectoral decarbonisation pathways, with publications in leading high‑impact journals. He was part of the core research team that produced the United Nations’ First, Second, and Third Global Reports on Climate and SDG Synergies. His professional background spans Europe and Asia, with roles as both an economist and an academic before joining Plymouth. He has secured competitive funding from the European Commission and the Governments of Austria and Japan, and he currently leads a project funded by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.