Investing in Climate Change Adaptation Action through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) – Dialogue and Pledging Session
24 September 2019 | New York, US
Highlights
- Three donors announced new LDCF contributions totalling EUR 130 million.
- Speakers noted the Global Commission on Adaptation highlighted the LDCF as a financial mechanism that works and should be well placed to help LDCs implement the adaptation “revolutions” recommended by the Commission.
Participants highlighted the importance of investing in climate change adaptation action in LDCs, which are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and yet the least able to adapt. The event also kick-started the year of action on adaptation, spearheaded by the Global Commission on Adaptation. The event was co-hosted by the Government of Germany, the LDC Group, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Opening
Maria Flachsbarth, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, highlighted the Global Commission’s message that adaptation can produce significant economic returns and smart growth. She then announced a German pledge of EUR 50 million to the LDCF.
Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi (Bhutan), Chair, LDC Group, said that the LDCF is the only multilateral fund fully dedicated to climate change in LDCs. “It is our fund,” he said, and noted that the LDC Group was involved in formulating the new LDCF Strategy and expressed satisfaction with its implementation.
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, underscored the Commission report's recommendations for adaptation revolutions and welcomed feedback on whether the new LDCF Strategy is having positive impact.
Panel: Empowering Communities and Livelihoods/Agriculture and Food Security
Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ethiopia, discussed how the LDCF has helped Ethiopia in building climate resilience in agriculture.
Bounkham Vorachit, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR, discussed the LDCF’s contribution to building robust Laotian adaptation institutions and planning for rural areas.
Panel: Climate Resilient Development in SIDS/Early Warning and Planning
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vanuatu, emphasized how the LDCF has helped the country prepare and respond to natural disasters during the past 11 years.
Quite Djata, Secretary of State of Environment and Biodiversity, Guinea-Bissau, underscored the “crucial role” that the LDCF played in helping her country strengthen resilience, adaptation capacity, and early warning systems.
Johannes Oljelund, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden, announced a multiannual contribution to the LDCF of EUR 50 million.
Observing that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not achievable without stepping up action on adaptation, Carola van Rijnsoever, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Netherlands, announced that the country would make an additional EUR 20 million contribution to the LDCF.
Christopher MacLennan, Global Affairs Canada, said that his Prime Minister had announced an additional payment to LDCF of USD 7.5 million.
Nick Bridge, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK, said his Prime Minister just announced a doubling of its contribution to climate finance over five years, with its LDCF allocation yet to be worked out.
Noting that LDCF had helped his country considerably on planning and priority setting, Abdou Karim Sall, Minister of Environment, Senegal, said about USD 2.9 million more was needed from international donors to address specific issues that had been identified.
Martin Frick, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), observed that the Global Commission report and the new LDCF pledges send important political signals to the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) set to take place in Chile.
Closing
Moderator Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders, noted that the Global Commission called the LDCF “a model of something that works” and urged continued support for the Fund.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ meeting coverage, provided web coverage from the LDCF Ministerial Dialogue.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Felipe Ruiz
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CONTACT
Christian Hofer | chofer@thegef.org
MORE INFORMATION
Event Resources
- Event Website
- Event Agenda
- Website of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) at UN Climate Week 2019
- UN Summit Website
IISD ENB+ Meeting Coverage
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), 56th GEF Council Meeting, and 26th Meeting of the Council for the LDCF and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), 10-13 June 2019, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 55th GEF Council Meeting, and 25th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 17-20 December 2018, Washington, DC, US
- 54th GEF Council Meeting, 24th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, CSO Forum, and 6th Meeting of the GEF Assembly,, 24-29 June 2018, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- “Mobilizing Private Sector Finance to Combat Deforestation” - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Side Event During the 54th GEF Council Meeting, 26 June 2018, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- Coverage of Side Events Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) during the 54th Meeting of the GEF Council, 24-26 June 2018, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 53rd GEF Council Meeting, and 23rd Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 27-30 November 2017, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 52nd GEF Council Meeting, and 22nd Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 22-25 May 2017, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 51st GEF Council Meeting, and 21st Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 24-27 October 2016, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 50th GEF Council Meeting, and 20th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 6-9 June 2015, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 49th GEF Council Meeting, and 19th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 19-22 October 2015, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 48th GEF Council Meeting, and 18th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 1-4 June 2015, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 47th GEF Council Meeting, and 17th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 27-30 October 2014, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 46th GEF Council Meeting, 16th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, and 5th Meeting of the GEF Assembly, 25-30 May 2014, Cancún, Mexico
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 45th GEF Council Meeting, and 15th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 4-7 November 2013, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 44th GEF Council Meeting, and 14th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 17-20 June 2013, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 43rd GEF Council Meeting, and 13th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 13-15 November 2012, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 42nd GEF Council Meeting, and 12th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 5-7 June 2012, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 41st GEF Council Meeting, and 11th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 7-10 November 2011, Washington, DC, US
- GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 40th GEF Council Meeting, and 10th Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 24-26 May 2011, Washington, DC, US
- 4th Meeting of the GEF Assembly, 24-28 May 2010, Punta del Este, Uruguay
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Specific funding for ENB+ coverage of the LDCF Ministerial Dialogue has been provided by the GEF Secretariat