Unterstützer

Since the 2015 adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the success of the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it has become clear that “business as usual” is no longer an option for neither industrialized countries nor the developing world. Both the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement (PA) entail substantial consequences for the world financial system. Mobilizing the massive investment required for climate resilient, low-carbon infrastructure and development, transforming the world economy and hedging the climate-related risk to the financial system form formidable challenges to the public and the private sector alike.

In December 2015 the Paris Agreement was adopted, in November 2016 it will come into force. A transformation of the energy-, transport- and agricultural sector is needed, to be able to implement the goals agreed upon and to limit global warming to 1.5°C/well below 2°C.

The Adaptation Fund Board successfully concluded its 28th Meeting in Bonn, Germany from 4–7 October 2016 only a month before the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) which will be held in Marrakech, Morocco. The meeting encouraged reflections on how to fully enhance dissemination of knowledge and experiences generated by the Fund in order to leverage the understanding about its relevance and contributions to adaptation efforts of nations and communities worldwide facing the adverse effects of climate change.

This is the Climate Finance Advisory Service (CFAS) Daily Briefing. Produced at key meetings and negotiations by the CFAS expert team, the Daily Briefings try to provide a concise, informative update on key discussions that have taken place at each day of the meeting and give an overview of substantive points of action or progress.

In August 2016, the Adaptation Fund has recorded its second largest number of proposals in its history. A number of 31 concept and project proposals have been received to be considered by the Adaptation Fund Board at its 28th Meeting scheduled in October 2016 in Bonn, Germany. This request amounts to US$ 208.6 million from various types of accredited implementing entities wishing to access the funds. It is obvious that the Fund provides an important function to assist developing countries in their efforts towards concrete local measures against climate impacts. Developed through a civil society lens, this briefing outlines selected talking points on agenda items that are to be discussed at the 28th meeting of the Adaptation Fund Board, and suggests some key recommendations as well.

The landmark Paris Agreement and the Agenda 2030 provide a new framework for global decarbonization and sustainable, climate-resilient development. Multilateral bodies like the G20 provide a natural focus point for governments of the leading industrial nations and emerging economies to take common action towards the achievement of these global goals. The mobilization of finance for sustainable investment, in particular the transition to a renewable energy system, is one of the most urgent but also promising tasks ahead.

This background paper explores the potential relevance within a pluralistic society of the important encyclical Laudato Si’ issued by Pope Francis in June 2015. It considers whether the encyclical documents a reflected faith that accepts the primacy of science in secular knowledge as well as the primacy of democratically elected governments, human dignity, and human rights in the political sphere. Laudato Si’ presents a paradigm shift from the image of the dominion of mankind over the rest of creation to universal fraternity with even weak and marginalised people as well as fellow beings threatened with mass extinction.

Indo-German cooperation on low-carbon development can reach far beyond should dialogue on and provision of German support for an Indian low-carbon energy mix. Germany, in turn, should seek inspiration from India as well. An Indo-German dialogue on low-carbon development should therefore allow exchange in partnership on more fundamental aspects of a low-carbon development such as sustainable guiding principles, lifestyles, sustainable business concepts and economic and governance structures.

The Donbas is extremely important now and in upcoming decades for two things: securing peace in Europe and the energy transition from oil, gas and coal to energy efficiency and renewable energy. In order to improve a solution to the current conflict in the Donbas through new economic perspectives, Ukraine and Germany/the EU should urgently and significantly enhance cooperation on the low-carbon transition of the Donbas. The Germanwatch conclusions in detail here.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a centrepiece of the new global climate regime which was agreed at COP21 in Paris and form the foundation for the pathway towards a low-carbon and climate resilient development. This paper analyses specifically the financial aspects included in the INDCs and aims to contribute towards a definition of comprehensive financing strategies for implementing NDCs. It provides an analytical overview of the financial aspects that have been included in the INDCs submitted so far and provides a discussion of options for financing NDC implementation.