Our climate crisis is fundamentally a delivery crisis. If we want to close the gap between climate commitments and outcomes, we need to embed delivery capacity from day one and treat local governments as full partners in implementation.
Over the past decade, commitments have grown more ambitious. We’ve seen pledges on emissions, finance, adaptation, and resilience. But too often, those goals never make it off the page. How can we ensure that the commitments reached in the conference hall in Belém — tripling adaptation finance, the just transition mechanism, and the tropical forest fund — don’t suffer the same fate?
Pledges break down for many reasons: shifting politics, underfunding, and short timelines. But even where political will and capital align, implementation often falters. Budgets get held up. Ministries and agencies act in silos. Public trust erodes.
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About the author
Nick Rodriguez
Nick Rodriguez is CEO of Delivery Associates, a global consultancy helping governments and mission-driven organizations turn bold goals into lasting impact. A recognized leader in public sector delivery, he co-authored “Deliverology 101” and “Deliverology in Practice,” field guides used in more than 50 countries to drive systemic reform and results.
