The global community today faces challenges that cannot be solved individually. Climate change requires coordinated efforts, financing, innovation, and long-term strategies. Among the most important initiatives are the Paris Agreement, the International Solar Alliance, the Global Environment Facility, the African Renewable Energy Initiative, as well as new mechanisms to standardize and strengthen the transparency of climate actions.
The Paris Agreement remains the key international treaty, aiming to keep global warming below 2°C, and if possible, to 1.5°C. It is necessary for greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2025 at the latest and decrease by 43% by 2030. The central tool is the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which must become increasingly ambitious every five years. According to estimates, current commitments remain insufficient: the probability of keeping warming below 2°C is only about 5%.
Multilateral Financing and Transformation Drivers
A significant role is played by the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—the largest fund under the UNFCCC, based in South Korea, which supports developing countries in adapting to and reducing emissions. By the end of 2023, its portfolio amounted to approximately 13.5 billion USD, with associated financing reaching around 52 billion USD. The fund’s executive director, Mafalda Duarte, highlights the need to massively increase investments, aiming to raise the amount to 50 billion USD by 2030.
Another important instrument is the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which has been active since 1991 and allocates over one billion dollars annually to projects related to biodiversity, adaptation, clean transport, and sustainable urban development.
Furthermore, the International Climate Initiative (IKI), funded by Germany, has been implementing sustainable urban development projects worldwide for over ten years.
Energy Alliances and Regional Platforms
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) brings together over 120 countries, promoting the use of solar energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In August 2025, Moldova joined the alliance, becoming its 107th full member.
In Africa, the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), launched in 2015, aims to reach 300 GW of installations by 2030. In the first phase, about 10 GW were built, with G7 countries, including Germany, providing around 10 billion USD in funding.
At a more local yet equally significant level, the Under2 Coalition operates, bringing together regional and subnational entities. It now includes 270 jurisdictions, representing around 1.75 billion people and covering nearly half of the global economy.
Strengthening Market Mechanisms and New Standards
In 2025, notable efforts were made to structure voluntary carbon credit markets. The Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP) offers a standardization of data to ensure transparency and compliance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Simultaneously, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) introduced the Net-Zero v2.0 standard, strengthening the requirements for tracking Scope 1 and 2 emissions, focusing on sectoral reductions rather than purchasing credits.
Global Events and Political Dynamics
Global climate events remain essential platforms to unite efforts. For example, Climate Week New York 2025 takes place at a critical time in the weakening of U.S. climate leadership. Despite this, the event remains a key stage for dialogue between businesses, regions, and civil society.
In addition, there is a retreat of major banks from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), which is now discussing a transformation toward a less stringent structure after the departure of actors such as HSBC and JPMorgan. A decision on the new model is expected by the end of September 2025.
What Lessons for the Czech Republic?
As an active member of the European Union, the Czech Republic can benefit from the experience of these initiatives. It is important to leverage alliances such as ISA, GCF, and GEF to access technologies and financing, particularly in the fields of clean energy and sustainable urban development. Integration into platforms like CDOP or SBTi will allow the Czech private sector to enhance the transparency of its climate actions and gain a competitive advantage.
The Czech Republic should also participate more actively in parallel events during Climate Week and COPs to make its voice heard on the global stage and attract investments. Subnational initiatives like the Under2 Coalition already offer opportunities for regions (such as Moravia or Prague) to demonstrate leadership in climate approaches.
In conclusion, international climate cooperation manifests at various levels: from global agreements and financial instruments to regional groupings and new market standards. The broader the participation, the more effective and sustainable the measures. The Czech Republic, as an EU member and active player in international processes, can become an important actor on this path.
