The UNDP has launched a guidebook which aims at helping decision makers in developing countries to take advantage of the billions pledged to address climate change. “Blending Climate Finance through National Climate Funds” is based on UNDP’s experience in organizing, managing and advising 750 funds and offering services for over US$5 billion which is the amount received through the contributions from multiple donors.
This is step wise guide on how to gather funds on national climate funds; the publication is a key resource for policy makers, economists, investors and donors who are involved in national responses to climate change.
The UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Development Policy, Olav Kjorven, said, “We’re giving governments a recipe on how to access more funding and how to improve management of climate change activities,” He also said, “This guidebook can fundamentally change the way governments plan, finance and deliver on their climate policies.”
There are more than 50 international public funds, 45 carbon markets and more than 6,000 private equity funds who offer contribution of billion dollars for national-level climate change actions. Between the years 2009 and 2010, clean energy sector investments grew to 30 percent to a record US$243 billion on a worldwide basis.
However, only about one tenth of these investments went outside of countries that are members of the G20 grouping to areas of the world highly vulnerable to shifts in climate patterns, such as the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
There are challenges for developing countries seeking climate finance actions which include collection of funds from hundreds of sources, coordinating activities funded by them and accounting for results. NCF with clearly defined objectives, standards, resources along with monitoring and reporting will lend support to meet these challenges. Awareness on the issues of climate finance and planning in different government of developing countries is created through multiple ministries.
Olav Kjorven said, “Through national climate funds, countries can access more financing and accelerate their response to climate change.” He also said “This can be a major contribution to setting the world on a cleaner, more equitable and sustainable path.”
This guidebook highlights example of successful national climate funds in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Indonesia and other countries as well. The guidebook is part of a series of practical manuals, guidebooks and toolkits to help countries to take sincere efforts towards green, low-emission and climate-resilient development. The detailed information is available at this link.
