Submission: Continuation, functioning and effectiveness of the Mitigation Work Programme

April 2026

Executive summary

The Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) was established under the Paris Agreement to accelerate global mitigation ambition and implementation in this decisive decade. Furthermore, it was designed to complement the Global Stocktake (GST) by translating its mitigation-related findings into actionable insights and guiding Parties toward enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and broader climate action. CAN’s view is that, while the MWP has provided a valuable platform for technical exchange, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement, it has not delivered on its mandate: catalyzing measurable mitigation action at the scale and speed required to close the emissions gap by 2030.

The first Global Stocktake highlighted the magnitude of the pre-2030 emissions gap, underscoring the urgent need for rapid, systemic transformation across all sectors and regions. In this context, the MWP cannot continue primarily only as a forum for dialogue. To be effective, it must evolve into a mechanism that is both facilitative and action-oriented, strengthening ambition, supporting implementation at scale, and feeding directly into the Paris Agreement ambition cycle. This is even more crucial given the few formal spaces for discussing mitigation action in negotiations. 

COP 30 marked a shift from negotiations to implementation. In this context CAN expects that the continuation reflects this new phase of the regime, with stronger connections both to NDCs, the GST-2 and other initiatives such as the Global Implementation Accelerator, Mission Belém 1.5 and the Just Transition Work Programme.

To achieve this, CAN proposes several concrete reforms that are operationally realistic and aligned with the current MWP mandate. These reforms aim to:

• Improve strategic focus and long-term effectiveness;
• Strengthen the link between the MWP, the GST and NDCs;
• Make the Global Dialogues actionable;
• Enhance accountability for partnerships and investments;
• Enhance inclusivity.