IOM supports government to strengthen capacity for climate change negotiations

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nepal, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, organised a three-day capacity building training on climate change negotiations for Government Officials from 25 to 27 January. The initiative aimed to enhance Nepal’s preparedness and strategic engagement in international climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Nepal is among the countries most vulnerable to impacts of climate change due to its fragile ecosystems and an economy highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism, agriculture, water resources, and forestry, according to a press note issued by the IOM. "As climate-related hazards intensify, they are increasing economic stress, disrupting livelihoods, and slowing developmental progress," it reads, adding that these pressures are also directly impacting climate-induced displacement across communities. "Despite this growing scale and complexity of climate-related mobility, global climate governance and policies have not yet fully integrated into these issues, limiting opportunities for comprehensive and people-centred climate action."
IOM Chief of Mission in Nepal Helene Fors, on the occasion, echoed the importance of strengthened advocacy on the concerning issue of climate mobility in Nepal on global platforms. “Together, we can ensure that Nepal’s voice, particularly on climate vulnerability, climate finance, and human mobility is clearly heard on the global stage,” she said.
The training brought together government officials from key institutions, including Ministry of Forests and Environment; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security; National Planning Commission; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority; and National Human Rights Commission and others.
The programme focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of substantive and procedural issues under the UNFCCC process, strengthening inter- ministerial coordination and collaboration, promoting knowledge-sharing and building practical negotiation skills. Particular emphasis was placed on the nexus between climate change, environmental degradation, and human mobility.
This initiative lays a foundation for more future initiatives to strengthen national climate action response through an informed, coordinated and strategically prepared national negotiation team, supporting effective participation and influence in upcoming UNFCCC processes, including the Bonn Climate Sessions, the 31st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31), and future negotiations.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment Maheshwar Dhakal, on the occasion, encouraged participants to make full use of the three-day training and further enhance their negotiation skills, noting that “Negotiation is a vital skill, not only within the context of climate change and the UNFCCC process, but also in our everyday lives."
Through this capacity-building initiative, IOM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nepal in addressing critical intersections of climate change, human mobility and sustainable development, while advancing the recognition and integration of human mobility considerations within national climate action and policy frameworks.
This event was organised under the project 'Nepal: Promoting a Human Security and Gender Equality- Based Approach to Migration and Adaptation to Climate Change,' supported by the IOM Development Fund. It aligns with the project’s overarching objective of supporting Nepal in responding to the challenges across the Migration, Environment and Climate Change nexus.

BaYu Sambaad: Centering children and youth in climate agenda

More than 100 children and young people from across Nepal convened in Kathmandu today for the Balbalika tatha Yuwa (BaYu) Sambaad, a children and youth-led national dialogue on climate action ahead of the international Sagarmatha Sambaad. With nearly half of Nepal’s population under the age of 24, the event underscored a powerful reality: children and youth are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and they are calling for concerted and urgent climate action.

Jointly organised by the Government of Nepal and United Nations Nepal including UNICEF, FAO and UNDP with a consortium of youth networks, namely Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, Mountain Youth Hub, World Food Forum Nepal, Global Youth Biodiversity Network and Clean Energy Nepal, the event placed children and young people at the centre of the climate conversation. Representatives from the government, civil society, development partners, private sectors, media and climate experts joined the dialogue to listen to, learn from and stand with young people.

“Climate change is not a future concern, it is today’s reality”, said 20-year-old Nischal Bhatt. “We, young people, have the passion and power to bring change," he said, adding," We urge for an enabling environment where we can contribute to a climate just and resilient society”.

Despite contributing the least to climate change, children and youth bear the brunt of its consequences from exposure to extreme heat, heavy rainfall, climate induced disasters, polluted air and water, to increased health risks, poor nutrition and learning disruptions. In Nepal, climate change has been linked to a rise in vector-borne diseases, food insecurity and school closures, all challenges that disproportionately impact children.

“Every child has the right to grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Yet, climate change threatens children’s rights every day,” said Dr Alice Akunga, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Nepal ad interim. “But today’s Sambaad proves that children and young people are not just victims - they are powerful agents of change. Their voices must shape our climate response at every level.”

The BaYu Sambaad featured an exhibition of child- and youth-led climate solutions, video show, expert sessions on climate resilience, and two intergenerational panel discussions. The first explored the impact of climate change on essential services like education, health and water . The second aligned with the themes of the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad – scheduled from May 16 to 18 – highlighting the connections between climate change, mountain ecosystems and the future of humanity. The Sambaad also included testimonies of children, adolescent and youths from across the Nepal.

A key outcome of the BaYu Sambaad is a declaration developed by the participating children and youth, outlining their demands, commitments and proposed actions for a more climate-resilient Nepal. This declaration will be submitted to the Sagarmatha Sambaad Secretariat ahead of the Sagarmatha Sambaad, ensuring the perspectives of children and young people directly inform Nepal’s climate policy, including the development of the third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and preparations for COP30.

“Nepal is proud to be a global leader in putting youth and children at the center of our climate commitments,” said minister of Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, chief guest at the event. “Our second NDC already reflects this, and is among the most inclusive globally in terms of the needs of children and youth, and we are committed to making NDC 3.0 even more so," he said, adding that the BaYu Sambaad is an essential platform to translate  young people’s voices into action – in policy, in practice, and in our path toward a greener, more resilient Nepal.

Chair of the programme Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, praised the initiative led by children and young people and stated that the conclusions from the BaYu Sambaad would guide Nepal’s policies and plans.

SAARC-ADB consultation workshop on climate change concludes

SAARC member states met in Thimphu from 10th to 11th July 2024 to review the status of the implementation of the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change 2010.

The member states discussed the national-level initiatives taken by each member state and exchanged best practices to fight climate change through regional cooperation.

The consultation workshop finalised a set of recommendations to take forward the implementation of the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change, according to a press note issued by the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu. "The findings and the recommendations will be adopted at the SAARC Intergovernmental Expert Group on Climate Change Meeting proposed to be held sometime later this year."

The SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu facilitated the two-day long consultation workshop held with financial and technical support from ADB, the press note reads, adding that the chairperson of the Royal Civil Service Commission, formerly the director-general of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, graced the inaugural session of the workshop.

The 16th SAARC Summit held in Thimphu in 2010 adopted the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change towards a green and happy South Asia.

Nepal receives $39.3 million grant from Green Climate Fund

Nepal received its first significant funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a project aimed at helping the country adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The 24th board meeting of the fund in Sangdo, South Korea today has approved the first funding proposal of Nepal, one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of the climate crisis. “The meeting has given the green signal to awarding a $39.3million grant to the project titled ‘Building Resilient Churia Region in Nepal (BRCRN),” according to a press note. “The current funding has been approved for the project which will be implemented on the ground to help climate-vulnerable communities and ecology to adapt.”
The project – that will last for 7 years – will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, in the fragile Chure range, which has faced massive degradation in the past.
The approved project – a multi-dimensional one as it not only talks about the resilience of vulnerable communities and conservation but also early warning systems – will help locals in adapting to the changing climate as the Chure range is a significant zone for the people living in the low-lying districts in Terai for its services like water and forest.
As a poor and mountainous country, at the higher risk of climate change and induced disasters, Nepal looks up to international support for climate actions – adaptation and mitigation – in order to gain resilience, and also to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was set up in 2010 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to the challenge of climate change.
According an NGO working for sustainable development and environmental justice in Nepal Prakriti Resources Centre, this is the first-ever that the GCF has extended such substantial funding to the country for climate change-related projects. ““In the past, we have achieved some funds from the GCF, but this is the first time the fund has approved Nepal’s funding proposal,” the NGO informed, adding that it is an important achievement for Nepal. Prakriti Resources Centre has been involved in international climate negotiations for years.
Nepal had also received fundings from the GCF twice in the past. First in In 2016, Nepal received a grant of $2.9 million – via the United Nations Environment Programme for preparing its National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) – under the GCF's Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. The programme to enhance country ownership and access to the funds was also known as Asia’s first GCF-financed project at the time.
Secondly, Nepal received another funding from GCF’s Readiness Support that provides up to $1 million per country per year for strengthening the country’s institutional capacities to access the funds. “Approval of funding for the project for climate actions is a positive development for a climate change vulnerable country like Nepal,” according to GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme under the Finance Ministry.
Nepal is currently preparing at least three projects for accessing grants from the GCF. WWF Nepal has been working on a project proposal which will be based in West Seti area. Likewise, the UNDP Nepal is working on a project proposal to safeguard lives and livelihoods against the project to protect lives and livelihoods against flood and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) targeting finance from the Green Climate Fund.
International Union for Conservation of Nature-Nepal is also developing a project proposal for building ecosystem and community resilience which is likely to be submitted for approval in coming March, the first one to go for approval among others in the pipeline.
However, these all are international agencies-supported projects. Accreditation of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, one of the four national entities nominated by the government in February to gain the GCF status, in February has given new hopes for the country that the government bodies can also apply for similar grants for climate actions projects.
The GCF accreditation to the AEPC means it can access up to $50million in GCF funds for low-carbon, climate-resilient development projects and programmes in Nepal.

First Nepal-New Zealand bilateral consultation meeting

Nepal-New Zealand first bilateral Foreign Ministry Consultation meeting concluded here in Kathmandu today.
During the meeting, the two sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation especially through enhancing economic engagements between the two countries, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
On the occasion, joint secretary at the South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Division Tapas Adhikari and additional secretary at the South and South East Asia Division under Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand Andrew Needs led their country’s respective delegations to the meeting.
The meeting also discussed the Climate Change issue and participation of New Zealand in the ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ to be held in coming April in Kathmandu.
The New Zealand delegation included non-resident ambassador of New Zealand to Nepal Joanna Kempers, second secretary at the New Zealand Embassy in New Delhi Daniel Thompson. Similarly, the Nepali delegation included under secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Surendra Kumar Yadav, under secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Srijana Tiwari, section officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ram Babu Nepal and officials from other governmental agencies.

Smart meters to be installed in 90,000 homes in Kathmandu

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has planned to install smart electricity meters in 90,000 homes in Kathmandu by the end of 2020 with an aim to reduce electricity leakage in the distribution system and improve network visibility.
According to managing director of NEA Kul Man Ghising, the project will design, supply and install advanced metering infrastructure – smart meters and associated facilities – for the entire Valley and the industrial sector.
The smart meters are being installed in areas that fall under the Ratnapark and Maharajgunj distribution centres. Since fiscal year 2018-19, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation had introduced a special programme in the budget to distribute smart meters in Kathmandu Valley. Financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project is under the first phase of the Power Transmission and Distribution Efficiency Enhancement Project. The $150-million project envisages modernising the electricity grid by installing advanced metering infrastructure to reduce power losses, improve collection efficiency, and manage electricity demand and outages faster, according to the state power utility.
Likewise, the consumer households with smart meters will also get a regular and accurate view of electricity consumption, besides high-quality electricity supply eliminating the need to use voltage stabilisers, and faster recovery from power outages, it said, adding that the smart meters will also enable automated billing system, and meter readers will not have to visit individual houses each month and give customers a bill. The entire system will be monitored from the NEA office like how they do at Nepal Telecom for their landline connections.
Though, the smart metering rollout programme is in its early stages, it will be deployed in various phases across the electricity distribution network across the country. “It is envisaged to conduct six smart metering pilot projects in six distribution centres by September 2020, deploy 450,000 smart meters by May 2021, some 3 million smart meters by May 2023, and 5 million smart meters in total by May 2025,” according to the ADB.
Chinese firm Pinggao-Wisdom has won the contract to install smart meters as the lowest bidder Huizhou Zhongcheng Electric Technology had submitted fake bid documents.
Pinggao-Wisdom has quoted a price of Rs 81.08 million to install 90,000 smart electricity meters.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Smart Metering Project coordinator Juju Ratna Shakya, the contractor has begun collecting meter data of the targeted households. “The contractor is expected to install and operate the automated metering system by December 2020,” he said, adding that automating the distribution network by fitting smart meters is consistent with the effort to reduce electricity distribution losses to 8.5 per cent within this fiscal year by strengthening the power delivery infrastructure.
Although the power utility has slashed transmission and distribution losses to 15.32 per cent, which has saved Rs 7 billion in the past three years, the NEA is still unable to bank in a substantial 1,156.85 gigawatt hours of energy owing to such losses.
The reduction of distribution losses is considered by energy officials to be a fundamental effort consistent with achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Sustainable Energy for All) as well as Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contributions for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ADB has provided $150 million as a 32-year term concessional loan at 1 per cent interest during the eight-year grace period and 1.5 per cent interest after the grace period under the distribution enhancement project.
According to the development partner, the power utility will require about $500 million to rollout 5 million smart meters across Nepal; and a major part of this amount will cover the purchase of smart meters – including communication modules – meter boxes and communication infrastructure like data concentrator units, gateways and routers.

Infrastructure gap in LLDCs high

The infrastructure gap in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), compared to other countries, is the highest, according to a minister.
Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali – addressing the annual Ministerial Meeting of the LLDCs today in New York – also highlighted the need of building connectivity, including through durable and effective partnership between and among LLDCs and their transit and development partners.
The foreign ministers and other high-level representatives of LLDCs and transit as well as development partners and UN system entities attended the meeting.
Gyawali, on the occasion, held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Bahrain, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela on the sidelines.
In the meeting with minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the two sides discussed various matters of common concerns, from labour relations to promotion of trade, tourism and investment. The two ministers, on the occasion, agreed to expedite pending agreements and further work closely for more cooperation and collaboration, including through exchanging high-level visits.
Likewise, discussing with minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Gyawali focused on strengthening bilateral relations through more cooperation and collaboration between the two countries. The two ministers also agreed to expedite finalising agreements that are currently in the pipeline.
The Nepali delegation – led by Gyawali – to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) took part in a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines.
During the meeting with the Norwegian minister for International Development Dag Inge Ulstein, Gyawali focused on areas of cooperation, including in investment as well as collaboration at multilateral forums like the UN. They also shared their views on various international issues, particularly climate change.
Similarly, the foreign minister and his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Alberto Arreaza Montserrat exchanged views on various matters of mutual interest.
Later in the evening today, the minister participated in a ‘High-level Dialogue on Peace Operations: Enhancing Partnerships between the UN and International, Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations’ organised by the International Peace Institute (IPI) and expressed Nepal’s commitment to continued participation at UN peace operations with a view to further contributing towards global peace and stability.

Sagarmatha Dialogue to dwell on climate change

The government – under the first ever Sagarmatha Dialogue – is going to host a conference on ‘Climate Change Mountains and Future of Humanity’ next April.
According to Foreign Ministry, the conference will be held on April 3-4 in Kathmandu. “It will be the first event under the government's flagship conference,” informed foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali today. “The event will witness deliberation on the impact of climate change.”
Named after the highest peak of the world, Mt Everest – Sagarmatha Sambad or Sagarmatha Dialogue – the forum this year will dwell on climate change issue. The government has expedited preparations to host the conference.
“As part of preparations, the ministry is holding a national consultation seminar on September 18 with stakeholders in the capital,” he said, adding that the forum will be utilised to put forth Nepal's voices on the international arena. “A steering committee under the leadership of foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has already been formed to intensify preparations for holding Sagarmatha Dialogue.”
The forum will be held every two years on the issued based on need of the country. The government will share its problems and hear problems of other countries in the first dialogue and also discuss the impacts of climate change on the mountains and role of various stakeholders on the issue, informed foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. “The launch of such international forum for debate is expected to help enhance Nepal's image at the international level while providing Nepal an opportunity to voice its concerns to the outer world.”
Nepal – house of eight out of the 14 world's heights peaks in the world – has been expressing concerns over impacts of climate change on its mountains in different international forums including at the UN.
Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had pushed an idea for launching Nepal's own forum for dialogue after he participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland in January.

UN encourages members to realise ICPD goal

The links between population, development and human rights, including reproductive rights identified by 179 countries, including Nepal, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo 25 years ago, are still relevant, said UN officials.
On the occasion of this year’s World Population Day that calls for global attention to the unfinished business of the ICPD Programme of Action, United Nations (UN) secretary-general António Guterres said carrying forward the vision of the ICPD will unlock opportunities for those left behind and help pave the way for sustainable, equitable and inclusive development for all.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely interrelated with demographic trends including population growth, ageing, migration and urbanisation, he said, issuing a statement. While managing these population trends, we must also recognise the relationship between population, development and individual well-being, the UN chief said, adding that promoting gender equality is one of the most reliable pathways to sustainable development and improved well-being of people across the globe. “In November, a summit marking the 25th anniversary of the Cairo Conference will take place in Nairobi,” Guterres added. “I encourage member states to participate and to make firm political and financial commitments to realise the programme of action of the ICPD.”
Issuing a statement, executive director of United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) Natalia Kanem said women have the right to make their own decisions about whether, when and how often to become pregnant. “That right was reaffirmed in 1994 in Cairo at the landmark ICPD, where 179 governments agreed that sexual and reproductive health is the foundation for sustainable development.”
Despite considerable gains over the past 25 years, we still have a long way to go to live up to the promise of Cairo, the UNFPA chief said, adding that too many people continue to be left behind and too many are still unable to enjoy their rights, according to UNFPA, Nepal.
“On this World Population Day, I call on governments, civil society, communities and people from all sectors and walks of life to be bold and courageous and do the needful for women and girls, to accomplish the unfinished business of Cairo,” she added.

World Bank Group announces $200 billion for climate action

The World Bank Group today announced a major new set of climate targets for 2021-2025, doubling its current 5-year investments to around $200 billion in support for countries to take ambitious climate action.
The new plan significantly boosts support for adaptation and resilience, recognising mounting climate change impacts on lives and livelihoods, especially in the world’s poorest countries. The plan also represents significantly ramped up ambition from the World Bank Group, sending an important signal to the wider global community to do the same.
“Climate change is an existential threat to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable," World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim said, adding that these new targets demonstrate how seriously we take this issue, investing and mobilising $200 billion over five years to combat climate change. "We are pushing ourselves to do more and to go faster on climate and we call on the global community to do the same. This is about putting countries and communities in charge of building a safer, more climate-resilient future."
The $200 billion across the Group is made up of approximately $100 billion in direct finance from the World Bank and approximately $100 billion of combined direct finance from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and private capital mobilised by the World Bank Group.
A key priority is boosting support for climate adaptation, recognising that millions of people across the world are already facing the severe consequences of more extreme weather events. By ramping up direct adaptation finance to reach around $50 billion over fiscal year 2021-2025, the World Bank will, for the first time, give this equal emphasis alongside investments that reduce emissions.
"People are losing their lives and livelihoods because of the disastrous effects of climate change," World Bank chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva, said, adding that the Group must fight the causes, but also adapt to the consequences that are often most dramatic for the world’s poorest people. "This is why we at the World Bank commit to step up climate finance to $100 billion, half of which will go to build better adapted homes, schools and infrastructure, and invest in climate smart agriculture, sustainable water management and responsive social safety nets."
The new financing will ensure that adaptation is undertaken in a systematic fashion, and the World Bank will develop a new rating system to track and incentivise global progress. Actions will include supporting higher-quality forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services to better prepare 250 million people in 30 developing countries for climate risks. In addition, the expected investments will build more climate-responsive social protection systems in 40 countries, and finance climate smart agriculture investments in 20 countries.
“There are literally trillions of dollars of opportunities for the private sector to invest in projects that will help save the planet,” IFC CEO Philippe Le Houérou, said, "Our job is to go out and proactively find those opportunities, use our de-risking tools, and crowd in private sector investment. We will do much more in helping finance renewable energy, green buildings, climate-smart agribusiness, urban transportation, water, and urban waste management."
The new targets build on the World Bank Group’s 2016 Climate Change Action Plan. In 2018, the World Bank Group provided a record-breaking $20.5 billion in finance for climate action: doubling delivery from the year before the Paris Agreement and meeting its 2020 target two years ahead of schedule.
The World Bank Group will support the integration of climate considerations in policy planning, investment design, implementation and evaluation to increase system-wide impact for countries. It will also support at least 20 countries implement and update Nationally Determined Contributions and increase engagement with Ministries of Finance in the design and implementation of transformative low-carbon policies.
In key sectors, efforts will include:
• In Energy: Support the generation, integration, and enabling infrastructure for 36 GW of renewable energy and support 1.5 million GWh equivalent of energy savings through efficiency improvement;
• In Cities: Help 100 cities achieve low-carbon and resilient urban planning and transit-oriented development;
• In Food and Land-Use: Increase integrated landscape management in up to 50 countries, covering up to120 million hectares of forests.

ADB, GCF sign agreement to scale Up Climate Finance delivery in Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) today signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) that will allow ADB to access and administer GCF funds and scale up the bank’s climate financing to its developing member countries.
The agreed AMA – a framework agreement detailing the overarching rights and obligations of an accredited entity and GCF – will enable ADB to access a new funding source to further increase its climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in Asia and the Pacific. “The Accreditation Master Agreement between the GCF and ADB will open the way to deeper collaboration between our institutions,” said ADB General Counsel Christopher Stephens. "Working together with the GCF, we will build a robust pipeline of climate projects that support the development and climate objectives of our developing member countries.”
GCF works exclusively with accredited entities to support climate mitigation and adaptation projects and programs. Today’s signing of the AMA is the conclusion of ADB’s accreditation process – approved in March 2015 – that enables ADB to apply for GCF funding for all sizes of projects, as well as all environmental and social risk categories. These funds would be in addition to ADB’s own commitment of providing climate financing of $6 billion per year by 2020.
“As the dynamo of global economic growth, with Asia Pacific continuing to record the world’s strongest growth, this region has a key role to play in tackling climate change,” said Acting GCF General Counsel Raul Herrera. “The vital importance of Asia in meeting the climate challenge, along with GCF’s mandate to pursue transformative low-emission and climate-resilient development across the planet, means a shared strategic approach between GCF and ADB in this area is essential.”
GCF also commended ADB for highlighting in its own study how sensitive the Asia and Pacific region is to climate change. 'A Region at Risk-The Human Dimensions of Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific', an ADB report released in July, indicates climate change could diminish the major achievements made during the past few decades in lifting large numbers of people living in the region out of poverty.
Access to GCF financing starts with a submission by ADB of a funding proposal, followed by its review and approval by the GCF board. GCF financing may include a combination of public and private sector initiatives and provide a range of financing instruments such as grants, loans – including concessional loans – equity, and risk mitigation instruments such as guarantees.
In November 2015, GCF approved a first $31 million climate adaptation grant for ADB’s Fiji Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project that will benefit a third of the country’s population of 860,000. The grant to Fiji was among the first group of projects approved by the GCF Board. GCF has also approved a $12 million grant for the Cook Islands Renewable Energy project along with a $5 million grant for a regional technical assistance to seven Pacific Island countries to transition to renewable energy.
ADB’s current GCF accreditation is valid until March 2020, subject to reaccreditation every 5 years.
GCF, based in Songdo, is a global fund created to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to the challenge of climate change. It was established in 2010 by 194 governments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and catalyze a flow of climate finance to invest in low-emission and climate-resilient development. As of June 2017, 42 countries and one city have signed contribution agreements with GCF worth $10.1 billion out of the $10.3 billion pledged.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members; 48 from the region. In 2016, ADB assistance totaled $31.7 billion, including $14 billion in cofinancing. 

Climate change to hit development gains

Unabated climate change would bring devastating consequences to countries in Asia and the Pacific, which could severely affect their future growth, reverse current development gains, and degrade quality of life, according to a report produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
Likewise, climate change will also make food production in region more difficult and production costs higher, according to the report. In some countries of Southeast Asia, rice yields could fall by up to 50 per cent by 2100 if no adaptation efforts are made.
Food shortages could increase number of malnourished children in South Asia by seven million, as import costs will likely increase in sub-region to $15 billion per year compared to $2 billion by 2050.
Under a business-as-usual scenario, a six-degree Celsius increase in temperature is projected over the Asian land mass by the end of the century. Some countries in the region could experience significantly hotter climates, with temperature increases in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the northwest part of China projected to reach eight degree Celsius, according to the report, ‘A Region at Risk: The Human Dimensions of Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific’, which was unveiled today.
"These increases in temperature would lead to drastic changes in the region’s weather system, agriculture and fisheries sectors, land and marine biodiversity, domestic and regional security, trade, urban development, migration, and health,” the report reads, adding that such a scenario may even pose an existential threat to some nations in the region and crush any hope of achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
More intense typhoons and tropical cyclones are expected to hit Asia and the Pacific with rising global mean temperatures. Under a business-as-usual scenario annual precipitation is expected to rise by up to 50 per cent over most land areas in region, although countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan may experience a decline in rainfall by 20 per cent to 50 per cent.
Coastal and low-lying areas in the region will be at an increased risk of flooding. Indonesia will be the most affected country in the region by coastal flooding with approximately 5.9 million people expected to be affected every year until 2100.
Increased vulnerability to flooding and other disasters will significantly impact the region – and the world – economically. Global flood losses are expected to increase to $52 billion per year by 2050 from $6 billion in 2005.
Marine ecosystems, particularly in the Western Pacific, will be in serious danger by 2100, while climate change also poses a significant risk to health in Asia and the Pacific. Already, 3.3 million people die every year due to the harmful effects of outdoor air pollution, with China, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh being the top four countries experiencing such deaths.
A business-as-usual approach to climate change could also disrupt functioning ecosystem services, prompting mass migration – mostly to urban areas – that could make cities more crowded and overwhelm available social services, the report has warned. Moreover, a warmer climate for the region could endanger energy supply.
Climate change can exacerbate energy insecurity through continued reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels, reduced capacities of thermal power plants due to a scarcity of cooling water, and intermittent performance of hydropower plants as a result of uncertain water discharges, among other factors. Energy insecurity could lead to conflicts as countries compete for limited energy supply.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, report has highlighted importance of implementing the commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement. These include public and private investments focused on the rapid decarbonisation of the Asian economy as well as the implementation of adaptation measures to protect the region’s most vulnerable populations.