Harnessing collective knowledge to increase climate ambition

The Good Practice Database highlights leadership and lessons for climate action: As countries move from planning to implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) a common refrain heard is “Is there an example to use? Have others done this before? Are there examples to learn from?”

The Paris Agreement created momentum for climate action and has helped to harness collective action. It also provided a political framework and national targets to guide countries’ mitigation and adaptation efforts. As climate action focus shifts towards countries’ NDCs, we tend to assume that what we are doing is new and different, but is it? While the global framework is new, much of the work needed to translate it into action builds off pre-existing efforts like Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS), Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and National Adaptation Plans (NAPS). A rich evidence base already exists of action, leadership and lessons for countries to draw upon as they implement their NDCs.

Launched at COP24 in Katowice, Poland, the Good Practice Database (GDP) is a new tool helping to makes these examples more accessible to those looking for climate inspiration. It is a free, online hub for case studies on learning and leadership in climate action. The GDP draws together a growing body of knowledge into a comprehensive and searchable repository of good practice examples where climate action is being effectively designed and implemented. It comprises lessons and experience from across the globe, chronicling not only success stories, but also barriers and obstacles, to highlight how countries have overcome challenges to advance climate action. As a new addition to the recently relaunched NDC Partnership Knowledge Portal, it is complemented by data, tools, and climate finance sources. 

The Good Practice Database is a collective effort for collective action

The GPD is a collective database established by the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA), the IKI NDC Support Cluster, the UNDP NDC Support Programme, the LEDS Global Partnership and the NDC Partnership.

Each of these partners has its own areas of expertise and knowledge, and collectively bring together decades of experience working with countries on climate action. Rather than reinventing the wheel or duplicating efforts (and knowledge products!) the GPD partners – GIZ (on behalf of the Transparency Partnership), LEDS GP, the NDC Partnership Support Unit, and UNDP (on behalf of the NDC Support Programme)– have joined forces to develop a central hub of case studies for learning and leadership. The resulting product is one that draws on diverse experience, unique strengths and robust exposure to the challenges and opportunities related to low carbon development planning.

No matter which website you use to access the common database, you will be able to search for the full suite of content from across the partners. The pooled content makes it easier for users to access case studies and cuts down on the confusion occasioned by too many platforms. Additionally, working together on a common database improves efficiency and reduces overall costs, thus freeing up resources for the development of additional case studies and learning opportunities.

The Good Practice Database draws together the best examples out there

The GPD is carefully curated to reflect priorities identified by countries and highlight countries’ innovative measures and leadership to implement NDCs, development planning, cross-ministerial coordination and alignment and zero carbon development planning. Case studies profile activities that have worked well and are therefore worth sharing with others to replicate and learn from, as well as examples where countries have successfully overcome obstacles, grasped opportunities, or demonstrated leadership.

The content for the GDP draws from the former GIZ and UNDP Global Good Practice Analysis Database and the LEDS GP and NDC Partnership Leadership Explorer.

To help users identify case studies most relevant to their needs, all content is the database has been tagged by a common taxonomy, including climate action area (adaptation, mitigation, cross-cutting), planning and implementation activities, sectors and themes, language, regions and countries, barriers and success factors.

The new Good Practice Database can be accessed through the following websites:

Additional partners are welcome to join this collaborative effort, helping to present users with a more robust selection of case studies. If you are interested in engaging with us on this database, please reach out to us at @email.  

We hope this growing body of knowledge will lend inspiration to collectively accelerate action and raise ambition.