Programme

This session launches the report “The Future Starts Today - What young people contribute to the UN climate agenda and what makes it possible” together with key partners.

The 10 New Insights in Climate Science report shows that climate risks are already reshaping markets, supply chains, infrastructure and investment decisions. From accelerating sea-level rise to water stress, food-system disruption and the growing costs of climate damages, the latest science has important implications for Swedish companies. This session will explore what climate impacts and scientific advancements mean for business, where action can still reduce risks and how Swedish companies can respond to a warming world. 

Current adaptation policies and decision-making processes do not adequately account for the long-term needs of children, youth and future generations. Their perspectives remain underrepresented in climate negotiations, adaptation planning and monitoring. Considering the immense consequences the climate crisis will have, the inclusion of youth, especially from the Global South, in climate change adaptation negotiations and the implementation of youth-specific adaptation targets become increasingly important. 

Countries are being asked to translate climate commitments into energy-sector decisions amid rapidly changing demand, fiscal constraints and competing development priorities. This requires more than a one-off plan or time-limited technical support: it requires sustained national capability to develop evidence, test options, update priorities and carry decisions through to implementation.

With the rebuilding of carbon markets under Article 6, governments, businesses, and civil society actors are now mobilizing to develop and trade high-integrity carbon credits. To avoid past challenges, such as weak environmental integrity, double counting, and negative social impacts on local communities, new rules and systems for governance, monitoring, and verification have been developed. In this context, innovative digital technologies are increasingly highlighted as potential game changers for enhancing the transparency and integrity of carbon markets. Examples include platforms that improve access to carbon market data, advanced data analytics and machine learning tools for processing large volumes of information, and new technologies for measuring and monitoring carbon sequestration in projects.

How can ambitious climate action gain broad public support while ensuring a fair transition? The Swedish research programme Fairtrans brings together researchers, trade unions, environmental organisations and other civil society actors to develop effective and equitable climate policies. Through four years of collaboration, organisations with around five million members have agreed on 24 concrete policy proposals for accelerating the climate transition while addressing concerns about jobs, livelihoods and social justice. This session presents the report’s key findings as well as experiences from the collaboration, exploring how research and co-production of knowledge and policy can help bridge political divides and turn climate ambitions into action. Representatives from trade unions, environmental organisations, business and politics will discuss lessons from Sweden and their relevance for climate governance internationally. 

At COP31, WBCSD, UNIDO and its partners are advancing an ongoing dialogue around how policy, finance, infrastructure, technology, and partnerships can accelerate investment and implementation across the Critical Middle. Building on the momentum generated at COP29 and COP30, this roundtable will provide an opportunity for public and private sector leaders to exchange perspectives on priorities, barriers, and opportunities for collaboration.

Gathering key actors to discuss how to keep climate action on the agenda of the next UN Secretary-General.

One year after our initial dialogue, faith leaders and business representatives reconvene to explore how values can move from aspiration to action. The conversation will focus on practical pathways for enabling a just transition within planetary boundaries, including circularity, sufficiency, responsible consumption, and the shared responsibility of institutions, companies, and communities to drive systemic change.

Adaptation needs in Asia-Pacific are growing, especially for smallholder farmers, small enterprises and other vulnerable communities. Very little private capital reaches them. Public and concessional finance alone will not close the gap, and private investors still have limited information on where adaptation investment is viable and how to take part. 

The Global Carbon Pricing Challenge (GCPC) convenes GCPC Partner country representatives for a closed-door discussion (Chatham House Rule) on the margins of COP31. The session will showcase concrete success stories of how carbon pricing is already supporting climate delivery across the GCPC membership, and explore how carbon pricing contributes to accelerated NDC implementation — gathering Partners' views on this direction and how it might eventually be reflected in international discourse.

Join us for the annual Swedish COP-tail and Climate Karaoke! 🌍🎤 Sweden is not only a pioneer of innovative climate solutions, but also a global music powerhouse – home to legends like ABBA, Avicii, Roxette, First Aid Kit, Swedish House Mafia, Max Martin, and the world’s leading music streaming platform, Spotify.

The purpose of the meeting is to bring together representatives of civil society organisations, members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and, if possible, Members of the European Parliament for a conversation on the responsibilities that follow from the EU's growing role as a guarantor of a rules-based international order, and of the multilateral institutions within the UN system that underpin global climate action. The discussion would explore how governments, international organisations, faith communities, and EU institutions such as the EESC can act to safeguard, strengthen, and secure the long-term financing of the institutions and processes needed to address the climate crisis.

The transition to low-carbon industry presents significant opportunities for investment, innovation and competitiveness, but turning these opportunities into commercially viable projects remains a challenge. Companies operate across interconnected markets and value chains. Accelerating green industrialization requires stronger alignment between business priorities, enabling policies and market opportunities, both within and across borders.