Equity in climate action: How can equity considerations be integrated into SECAP planning, implementation and monitoring processes?

As the relentless effects of climate change continue to unfold, it is becoming increasingly clear that its impact is far from uniform. The effects of climate change will affect some people more than others. 

This is why municipalities must strive to achieve equitable outcomes for vulnerable groups when developing and implementing climate change strategies. This goal can only be realised by making equity an operational principle embedded within all facets of municipal governance, management, and operations. 

Incorporating Equity Considerations 

Our guideline "Embedding Equity Considerations in Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Planning (SECAP) Implementation and Monitoring Processes" illustrates how the processes of developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating a SECAP can provide practical and effective entry points to support local authorities in achieving this goal. 

Embedding equity considerations in policies, plans and programmes is a journey with no definitive end point. It requires authentic commitment, critical self-reflection, capacity building investments and the empowerment of citizens and communities to actively participate in the dialogue on climate. This must be followed by courageous and continuous action and review.  This guideline does not prescribe a rigid set step, nor an exhaustive list of possible actions. Rather it serves as a source of inspiration, pointing out potential entry points at different stages of the SECAP process for embedding concrete equity considerations and actions.

In this way, the guide also serves as a tool to support municipalities in building their internal capacity around equity, justice and addressing vulnerability. It provides critical questions that local officials are encouraged to individually and collectively reflect and act on.  

In the spirit of peer learning and exchange, the guidebook also spotlights ongoing equity-related efforts by local authorities. These exemplars serve as motivation and inspiration for other municipalities to take similar steps in their climate action initiatives. 

Discover the publication here, available in our Library.

This publication is also available in French, Spanish, Italian, German and Polish.