Least Developed Countries

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). Aparna Subramani, Executive Director of the World Bank representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka, and Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson 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. 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. Photos by IISD/ENB | Felipe Ruiz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Maria Flachsbarth, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany   L-R: Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secretariat; Quite Djata, Secretary of State of Environment and Biodiversity, Guinea-Bissau; Johannes Oljelund, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden; and Carola van Rijnsoever, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Netherlands   Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ethiopia   Moderator Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders   L-R: Moderator Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders; Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vanuatu; Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secretariat; Quite Djata, Secretary of State of Environment and Biodiversity, Guinea-Bissau; Johannes Oljelund, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden; Carola van Rijnsoever, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Netherlands; Christopher MacLennan, Global Affairs Canada; and Nick Bridge, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK   CONTACT Christian Hofer | chofer@thegef.org MORE INFORMATION https://www.thegef.org/topics/climate-change-adaptation http://www.ldc-climate.org/