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Lima 12 December 2014 - The second GEF side event at the COP20 focused on Adaptation.
Moderated by Anand Patwardhan, GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, the guest speakers discussed adaptation experiences from the Gambia and Tuvalu and addressed questions regarding: key successes and challenges from the implementation of projects; the main challenges in sustaining support to adaptation; and key challenges ahead for financial mechanisms and adaptation funds.
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Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the GEF, addressed the main reasons for hosting this side event, namely to: underscore the importance of adaptation activities on the ground; take stock of current achievements and identify ways to integrate adaptation in broader development processes. Ishii noted 300 adaptation projects in 128 developing countries, financed by GEF through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and the Strategic Priority on Adaptation.
Drawing from the Gambian experience, Pa Ousman Jarju, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources, Parks and Wildlife, the Gambia, underlined main challenges, including level of funding and human capital, as well as successes in increasing awareness and enhancing capacity. He highlighted, inter alia: the need to mainstream adaptation in the development process; co-benefits from infrastructure; and the way forward towards replenishing the LDCF to cover the funding gap for adaptation projects.
Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, Tuvalu, noted that for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), adaptation is a critical component of sustainable development. He stressed the need to: reform the modus operandi of the LDCF and the SCCF to allow for direct access of funds; and remove the co-financing condition.
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Mary Robinson, Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice, and Former President of Ireland, stressed that adaptation is about people and the impact of climate change on their livelihoods. She noted that according to UNEP’s adaptation gap report, the cost of adapting may be significantly higher than estimated before and addressed the human rights dimension, saying that climate finance works best with local communities, engaging citizens and maximizing sustainability. Robinson also highlighted the gender dimension, noting the importance of women’s empowerment.
Noting that considerable time was needed to balance mitigation and adaptation activities, Jos Buys, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium, underscored GEF’s work in reducing vulnerability and strengthening institutional and technical capacities. He highlighted that the finance panorama is becoming increasingly complex with many different actors involved, and underscored the need to rationalize the financial mechanism and continue to support current projects.
Providing closing remarks, Nik Sekhran, Director for Sustainable Development, UNDP, noted that the GEF offers a package of investments and services, “joining the dots” between various environmental stressors. He underscored, inter alia, the need to: ensure that adaptation is codified in the developmental planning; change the development paradigm to incorporate climate change; strengthen national institutions and target capacity building; empower communities to identify solutions and innovations; and add innovative market sources to public resources currently utilized in adaptation efforts.
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In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among others: ways to facilitate access to finance; co-financing requirements; evaluation of adaptation options; and the implementation of adaptation platforms, such as Canada’s, to other countries.
Reporting by IISD