Robert Dixon, GEF, said GEF is listening to suggestions and as a result has implemented major reforms for the GEF 5th Replenishment (GEF5).

Sekou Toure, GEF, explained the broad areas that are changing in GEF5, such as: enhancing country ownership; reforming the resource allocation framework (RAF) to add national entities to implement projects; streamlining the project cycle and refining the programmatic approach; expanding partnerships; and using GEF resources more strategically.

Chizuru Aoki, GEF, outlined the significant role GEF is playing in technology transfer and enabling activities. She explained that each GEF focal area addresses technology transfer programming in accordance with each convention guidance, national priorities, and preferences. Aoki highlighted that on climate change, GEF is addressing mitigation and adaptation combined with technology transfers. She underlined the long-term programme on technology transfer to support: climate technology centers and networks; pilot-technology projects; public-private partnerships; and technology-needs assessments. Aoki presented the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-UNEP pilot Asia-Pacific project that aims to accelerate climate technology investments in the region and provide capacity building to create the necessary conditions.

Mark Radka, UNEP, said UNEP aims to accelerate diffusion of improved or better technology that can help in lowering GHG emissions and promote adaptation activities. He noted the link in technology and financing issues to get new technology into the field. He outlined the pilot project components of the ADB-UNEP partnership, and concluded that networking can increase diffusion of technology transfer knowledge and strengthening existing centers.

David McCauley, ADB, said ADB is strongly investing in technology-driven renewable energy projects and less in energy efficiency. He noted that ADB is financing modalities of technologies to open markets, and underscored that ADB will establish a venture capital fund as part of the GEF-ADB partnership.

Rawleston Moore, GEF, talked about GEF direct access for conventions´ obligations, enabling countries to have greater access and flexibility to obtain and use GEF funds. He said the GEF National Portfolio Formulation Exercise (NPFE) allocated US$30,000 per country to prepare country priorities across all GEF focal areas. Moore explained NPFE is voluntary and serves as a priority setting tool for countries and as a guide for GEF agencies while assisting recipient countries. He underlined GEF works on adaptation financing under UNFCCC that supports vulnerable developing countries.

Golam Rabbani, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, predicted that by 2050 one in forty-five people in the world will have been displaced as a result of climate change and one meter of sea level rise would cause 146 million people’s displacement. He elaborated on the causes of migration, such as social and economic factors, and said these are exacerbated in the face of natural climate disasters, including floods, cyclone and storm surges, particularly in the coastal zones. He called for the most recent policy documents of the Cancún Agreement 2010 and the Country Vulnerable Forum Declaration of 2011 to be translated into action, such as social, cultural, and economic rehabilitation of climate-forced migrants.

Janet Redman, Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), spoke on how finance tie into the UNFCCC discussions, saying it is about climate debt in terms of the human rights of displaced people. She called for an equal balance in adaptation and mitigation approaches, and urged participants to lobby their governments to correct the mistakes in the Green Fund.

Elena Gerebizza, Campaigner Development Finance (CRBM), spoke about the new relevant actors in moving capital and finance in the global South, and remarked on the trend of international financial institutions bringing back an agenda based on large-structured finance institutions. She raised concern about government large-scale energy projects that: are driven by private actors or investment funds; may not account for its spending; do not respond to social rules; and may not have respectable standards.

Juan Carlos Soriano, 350.org, Peru, recounted his experiences in Peru, where the glacier in the vicinity of his home that provides the village of water, has disappeared. He reflected this is what 329 parts per million looks like and cautioned the imminence of 450 parts per million or even 700 parts per million. He urged for an arrest in delaying the negotiations and warned that 2020 would be too late for concrete action.

Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Dhaka School of Economics (DScE), warned of too many actions within society that push out economically disadvantaged people, to which climate change impacts, such as storm surges, desertification, cyclones, and flooded rivers add to their concerns. He said water scarcity, health issues, employment security, and livelihood security are challenges even without migration, and called for development of a new legal instrument to ensure social, cultural and economic rights for climate-forced migrants.

Fatma El-Mallah, Advisor to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States on Climate Change, said the Arab Region is most vulnerable to impacts of climate change, affecting all sectors of development, requiring priority to focus on adaptation and survival. She explained that competition over natural resources requires integrated water management, expressing hope for the report, “Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries” to become a reference for decision makers, reflecting stakeholders´ interests.

Dorte Verner, World Bank, introduced the flagship report, covering the entire Arab region, providing information and guidance to policy makers and project developers. She conveyed the urgency of the impact on people and the environment as it is getting warmer, drier and more variable, advocating for: household income diversification; integration of adaptation into all projects; leadership to develop a holistic approach that engages men, women and youth.

Manal Nader, University of Balamand, Lebanon, provided information on water issues in Lebanon, calling for an increase in public and private institutions to drive research on impacts of climate change as well as a mobilization of political will which he said has been missing.

Amal Aldababseh, Amman Institute for Urban Development, Jordan, shared research portraying the impact of climate change on Jordan, the fourth driest country in the world. She made recommendations, including: arranging institutional linkages between climate change, disaster management, and economic and social development; building frameworks on national and local level; and locating financial mechanisms. She asserted that adaptation measures should focus on residential use of water supply, irrigation, and water quality.

Rachel Kyte, World Bank, expressed optimism for the report, driven by regional research, to help dispel myth and accurately represent the regional perspective in global debate.

Leila Dagher, American University of Beirut, discussed the varied impacts of climate change on Arab countries, warning that impacts will increase as time passes. She highlighted the potential synergy between adaptation and development.

Zahwa Al-Kuwari, Bahrain, explained that key impacts of climate change in Bahrain have been identified, leading to the next phase of determining how to address these problems and create solutions.

Vahakn Kabakian, Ministry of Environment, Lebanon, reiterated the importance of the report that may require regular updates to show progress.