The theme of the Poverty-Environment Initiative annual report in 2015 was seeds of change, highlighting the Initiative’s role in integration and mainstreaming of poverty eradication and sustainable development. For 2016 – the first year of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – we detail the rich blossoming of our integrated approach, as it is serving to mainstream the poverty-environment nexus into countries’ national development strategies, local development plans and budget resource allocations. This technical annual report highlights the work of the joint UNDP–UN Environment global programme in 23 countries to improve climate resilience of the poorest and to effectively implement pro-poor environment practices and a just transition to a green economy as our contribution to the achievement of the new development paradigm.