Rio Synergies Group for Action | One planet. Three Conventions.

One planet. Three Conventions.

About the initiative

The Rio Synergies Group for Action

Climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification and land degradation are deeply interconnected and require integrated solutions.

The Rio Synergies Group for Action is a voluntary, country-led group being advanced under the UNFCCC COP31 Presidency of Türkiye to accelerate the integrated implementation of countries' existing commitments across the three Rio Conventions.

The Group is intended to bring together participating countries and connect national priorities with existing expertise, partnerships, implementation support, and finance.

The goal is simple: connect countries and partners to turn Rio Synergies into action.

The Group builds on existing mechanisms and initiatives without creating new international obligations or reporting requirements. Countries retain responsibility for their own actions, and sharing of progress is voluntary and based, where possible, on information already available through national processes.

Participants at the High-Level Dialogue, with the event title on screen at the UNCCD Pavilion in Ulaanbaatar

High-Level Dialogue: Delivering Rio Synergies Across the Triple COP Year · Ulaanbaatar, 26 August 2026

The road to COP31

Follow the journey to the launch

Three of the four milestones have now convened across the 2026 Triple COP Year. Explore the dialogues shaping the Rio Synergies Group for Action ahead of its official launch at UNFCCC COP31.

Explore the timeline

Next: UNFCCC COP31, Antalya · November 2026

The Group for Action will seek to

01
Mobilize political leadership
Support country leadership in integrated implementation across climate, biodiversity and land.
02
Turn national priorities into action
Support countries in advancing concrete, nationally determined priorities.
03
Connect countries with implementation partners
Create stronger connections between country needs and existing support.
04
Facilitate peer learning
Exchange practical experience, good practices, and lessons learnt.
05
Mobilize partnerships for action
Bring together stakeholders around concrete country priorities.
06
Maintain momentum across COP cycles
Provide opportunities to sustain political attention and share progress across successive Rio Convention COPs.

Country-led implementation

How will it work?

The Group for Action starts with country priorities. Countries determine where greater integration across climate, biodiversity and land can strengthen implementation in their national context.

Countries can join the group by announcing at least one voluntary, nationally determined National Flagship Action that advances integrated implementation across climate, biodiversity and land. Each action remains country-led and can build on an existing policy, programmes or investments.

1
Identify National flagship action.
2
Connect Identify relevant existing expertise, programmes, initiatives and financing opportunities around country-defined needs.
3
Advance Implementation through countries and existing mechanisms.
4
Learn Exchange experiences.
5
Showcase Country progress and leadership.

Implementation remains with participating countries and relevant partners.

Interested countries may describe their proposed action in a short voluntary summary covering the existing national priorities it supports, the lead institution, an initial implementation step and any requested support. This summary helps coordinate collaboration and does not establish a new reporting requirement.

From national priority to collective action

Engage in the Rio Synergies Group for Action Process

Countries interested in championing integrated implementation across climate, biodiversity and land are invited to engage in the COP31 Presidency Process towards the Rio Synergies Group for Action.

The current proposal envisages countries joining the Group by putting forward a nationally determined Rio Synergies Flagship Action that advances integrated implementation across the Rio Conventions. It may build on an existing national programme, policy, investment or implementation priority; countries are not expected to create something new for the purpose of participating in the Group.

Participating countries would remain fully responsible for determining their own priorities and implementation approaches.

Several hands together holding a young plant in soil

LetterInvitation Letter from the COP31 President-DesignateH.E. Murat Kurum, COP31 President-Designate, officially invites countries and partners to join the Rio Synergies Group for Action.Read Letter

Partners for Action

Supporting country-led action

International organizations, financial institutions, existing initiatives and implementation partners already provide extensive expertise, programmes, tools and financing across the Rio Convention agendas. The Group aims to make these existing capacities more visible and accessible around country-identified priorities.

Organizations and initiatives will be invited to identify existing programmes, expertise and support that could respond to participating countries' priorities, including: