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Launch of the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation

14 November 2017 | Bonn, Germany

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Report: English
Briefing #2
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Adaptation

L-R: Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment; Yasuaki Hijioka, Director, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan; Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands; Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and Vivienne Parry, Genomics England

This high-level event convened on 14 November 2017, in Bonn, Germany, on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The event launched the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation (GCECA), which aims to accelerate climate adaptation by collecting and disseminating knowledge and best practices from local, national and regional stakeholder groups globally. The event was organized by the Netherlands with participants highlighting the need for knowledge sharing and analysis for effective climate adaptation.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, hass provided web coverage and a briefing note from the two events.


Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands, said that “preparedness pays off” and adaptation is equally as important as mitigation.

Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, noted that the need for technical and financial assistance is currently a highly politicized negotiation issue.

Participants listen to panelists

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF), noted that the GCECA can use her organization’s 25-year history.

Participants during the event

Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, said the Netherlands is extremely well placed to host the GCECA.

Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that “pockets of vulnerability” exist in both the Global North and South.

Yasuaki Hijioka, Director, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, noted the need to work with local governments.

Ton Schroor, Alderman, City of Groningen, the Netherlands, noted the need to move away from natural gas.

David Jackson, UN Capital Development Fund, cautioned against locking in bad adaptation infrastructure.

Josué Tanaka, Managing Director for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, emphasized the need to embed adaptation in the business dialogue.


A participant takes a photo of the event.

A participant asks a question to the panelists.

Specific funding for coverage of the events on Excellence in Climate Adaptation, has been provided by the
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands GCECA