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COP26 update: climate finance

By Elise Belcher, Adessou Kossivi, Bijay Kumar & Becky Murphy
3 November 2021

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Climate finance was a key topic of discussion at the climate change event today.

Throughout COP26 we’re calling for international decision makers to give greater attention to loss and damage, gender equality and inclusion, and climate finance – read more.

We engaged with the political coordination group of the Climate Action Network group to analyse and plan activities at COP. The group plans the strategy of the day and reflects on the declaration of the donors and developed countries.

It is expected that by tomorrow, the COP will ensure the mobilisation of the adaptation funds and the funds for loss and damage.

The private sector was an active part of finance day. They were invited to review their internal policies, bearing in mind the loss and damage due to climate change – for some – because of their activities. For example, at the Nordin Booth, we met investors in architecture who reflected on the need to “green” their buildings.

Adessou attended a session to launch of the Systematic Observation Financing Facility – a multilateral partnership fund that aims to ensure the production of reliable data and information contributing to, and promoting, a risk-informed development approach. Ensuring resilience of our development system and our future plans is sought. There were calls for more donations for the soft delivery of the information and for its easy access for all. SOFF is financially supported by, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden (Nordic Development Funds). UNEP, WMO, and the World Bank will deliver the technical expertise. The office will be hosted by the UN office in Geneva.

Our Senior Regional Lead for Asia, Shivangi Chavda, presented at the EU Pavilion Event, Why are Nature Based Solutions are Crucial for Climate and Resilence? She was able to highlight Views from the Frontline findings and the conclusions we have drawn from talking with 100,000 people at risk of disasters. Specifically, that we have to consider the complex nature of threats which are only exaggerated by climate change; and that there is the underutilisation of ecosystems when seeking solutions to challenges created by disaster risk and climate change. Work with members in Sri Lanka was highlighted. She was joined by UNEP who highlighted the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act that guarantees 100 days of paid work per vulnerable householder per year in India. WWF highlighted reforestation solutions in Brazil as well as others highlighting environment friendly coastal protection initiatives.

Elise attended the launch of a partnership between Making Cities Resilient and The Zurich Foundation. It aims to facilitate deeper collaboration and co-design for urban resilience projects, and made calls for financing of the same. She was able to highlight Views from the Frontline work in reflections on how to further engage the most marginalised people in plans.

We thought we’d highlight work of others at COP26 as part of our vision for everyone to work together to strengthen the resilience of communities most at risk. Today we met UNHabitat who have relaunched their flagship programme “RISE UP” – Urban Resilience for the Urban Poor.

Let us know (email: elise.belcher[at]gndr.org) and we’ll add you to the GNDR COP26 WhatsApp group.

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