One of the meaningful presentations from the first morning of Adelaide Climate Action Week was from Charles Yu of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Having crossed paths with UNDP through international development networks over the years, including conversations around entrepreneurship and innovation in Bhutan, with a perspective extending from climate policy.
Bhutan’s unique commitment to Gross National Happiness alongside its leadership on environmental stewardship demonstrates that economic development, community wellbeing and sustainability do not have to compete with one another. Innovation, entrepreneurship and the transition towards net zero can reinforce each other when they are designed around people and place.
Rather than focusing on the science or the politics of climate change, Charles focused on something much more practical – delivery. His central message was simple but incredibly powerful as the world doesn’t have a shortage of climate commitments. Countries have signed agreements, governments have developed strategies and businesses are investing billions into new technologies. The real challenge now is turning those ambitions into action that people can actually see and experience in their communities.
That struck a chord because it mirrors so much of the work I’ve been involved with throughout Australia and across Asia and the Pacific. Whether the conversation is about workforce capability, entrepreneurship, regional development or education reform, implementation is always the difficult part. Success rarely comes from having the best strategy. It comes from bringing together the right people, systems and partnerships to make that strategy work.
Charles described climate action as a systems challenge rather than simply an environmental challenge. Delivering change requires governments to work differently, breaking down the traditional silos between finance, planning, infrastructure, regulation and community development. Climate policy can’t sit within one department because every decision influences the outcome. It’s a lesson that applies equally to economic development because if one part of the system is investing while another creates barriers, progress inevitably slows.
One of the strongest messages from Charles’ presentation was the role of communities. Too often, communities are viewed as beneficiaries of climate programs. Charles challenged that thinking, suggesting they should instead be recognised as delivery partners. Communities understand their own environment better than anyone. They know where floodwaters regularly cut roads, where water shortages are emerging and how changing weather patterns are affecting daily life. He shared a simple story about being with an Australian homestay family who had been recording rainfall in their backyard each month and told him to limit showers to 5 minutes. Sometimes the best data begins with observation moving towards changing behaviour.
Another example came from his work with Indigenous communities in the Philippines, supporting climate resilience through diversification into cacao and coffee production. Interestingly, the biggest challenge wasn’t introducing new crops or explaining climate science. It was ensuring the community could access climate finance. Because funding needed to belong collectively to the tribal community rather than an individual, existing banking systems created unexpected barriers. Considerable effort was required simply to establish governance arrangements that allowed funds to flow safely and appropriately.
It was a reminder that many barriers to climate action aren’t technical at all. They’re institutional, administrative, systems that need to evolve if we genuinely want communities to lead solutions.
Charles also acknowledged South Australia’s remarkable transformation over recent decades, particularly its leadership in renewable energy. While every country has different circumstances, South Australia’s experience demonstrates that significant change is possible when governments provide clear direction, markets respond, infrastructure is developed and communities come on the journey together.
It was encouraging to hear our state recognised internationally as an example of what can be achieved. As the conversation turned towards Australia’s proposed co-hosting of COP31 with Pacific nations, Charles highlighted an opportunity that extends far beyond hosting a global conference. Australia has the opportunity to help connect international climate finance with practical delivery throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Many Pacific Island nations are already experiencing the impacts of climate change every day. Rising energy costs, increasing climate risks and pressure on infrastructure mean the conversation isn’t about preparing for future impacts; it’s about responding now. While the context may differ from South Australia, the questions remain remarkably similar. How do international commitments become local action? How do funding systems actually reach communities? How do governments, investors, businesses and local leaders work together in ways that respect local cultures and governance? These are challenges that many of us working across international development recognise immediately.
Charles finished with a thought that perfectly captured the morning. Climate action becomes real when it moves from words to behaviour, from commitment to systems and from ambition to delivery. For me, that was one of the defining messages of Adelaide Climate Action Week.
The week isn’t simply about climate science or policy announcements. It’s about understanding that lasting change depends on collaboration. Governments cannot do it alone. Neither can business, researchers or communities. Success comes when every part of the system understands its role and works together.