WRI Africa’s Post

Many of us have known for years that reaching the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement is virtually impossible without acknowledging the dedicated efforts of local governments and other non-state actors. Awareness for this somewhat obvious and well-founded claim has gained a great deal of momentum the past few years. So the question remains - why is there still a gaping hole on urban content in nationally determined contributions (NDCs)??? A recently published report examines this question more closely and clearly reveals opportunities for enhancing multilevel climate action 👋 UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) The analysis shows: ❌ Only 27% of NDCs have strong urban content.  🌍 Over 70 countries endorsed the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), yet the overwhelming majority have moderate, low or no urban content - showing potential for enhancing urban content to greater contribute to achieving global climate goals. 🌟 Dive into the technical brief: https://loom.ly/QbW1H1A

I'm pleased to share an executive summary (see link below) of a British Red Cross upcoming policy brief; The Climate and Humanitarian Localisation Agendas: Entry Points to Enhance Climate Adaptation and Resilience Financing and Action. The brief delves into how humanitarian and climate locally-led agendas intersect and their implications for financial flows aimed at enhancing climate adaptation and resilience. It provides a comprehensive analysis of barriers to accessing climate-related finance for local actors, across the climate and humanitarian systems, through the lens of locally-led approaches. It then proposes solutions to overcome these barriers and to enhance the role of local actors in climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Key Policy Recommendations: For funders: - Develop integrated locally led action strategies - Enhance tracking and transparency For intermediary organisations: - Strengthen local government coordination - Empower local leadership For both funders and intermediaries: - Pilot risk-sharing approaches - Establish equitable cost-sharing mechanisms The full policy brief will be released this autumn! https://lnkd.in/evYeixwU

In the Pacific, small island nations are dealing with more than the disproportionate impacts of a changing climate, and a climate finance system that is neither swift nor efficient enough to meet the urgency of their needs: they’re dealing with a people problem. In this piece from PassBlue on the climate finance challenges facing the Pacific, Anastasiia Carrier interviewed RMI's CFAN experts who spoke to capacity issues faced by small island nations. CFAN Senior Director Laetitia De Marez and Pacific Manager Jale Samuwai, Ph.D. addressed the constraints faced by small, vulnerable countries who lack enough expert staff to manage the often onerous process of accessing climate finance. “All Pacific islands are severely understaffed,” De Marez notes. “All the other ministries, all the agencies, everyone wears four or five hats. And it makes it very difficult for them to keep pushing for their project along the pipeline. Because that’s usually the issue — being able to be consistent in advancing the project.” This is one of CFAN’s founding missions – to equip these nations with highly trained, expert advisors who can pass along their knowledge and further enable countries to advance critical climate projects. And, as Fiji-based Samuwai emphasizes, it does so with the needs and priorities of Pacific countries at the forefront. Read on to learn more about the gap between what is needed for support in the Pacific and what has been provided – and what contributes to this disparity. https://bit.ly/3QjoMLp #climatefinance #CFANadvisors #TrainForClimate

💰 Climate finance is failing to reach the most climate vulnerable people. Major barriers to access include funder’s institutional operational policies such as those for due diligence, eligibility criteria and financial reporting. Local organisations implementing climate action, lack the capabilities and time to meet these stringent criteria. We (International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and BRAC are keen to hear suggestions on practical policy changes necessary to ease access to finance. Share your thoughts through our survey: https://lnkd.in/duw9gXGu This survey was launched at the 4th annual Gobeshona conference. ICCCAD, BRAC and IIED hosted a virtual discussion titled “Unlocking Adaptation Finance - Making Financing for Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) More Accessible" on overcoming barriers to access finance. catch up here: https://lnkd.in/drjnVHM2 We share key insights from the discussion below: Key Takeaways: •           Empowering Local Organizations: Speakers emphasized the need for capacity building and training to empower local entities in accessing climate finance. •           Initiatives in Action: Speakers highlighted initiatives like BRAC’s Climate Bridge Fund, French Agency for Development’s AdaptAction programme and UN Capital Development Fund showing progress in supporting locally led projects. •           Community Engagement: Community involvement throughout project cycles was stressed for effective use of finance and long-term sustainability of climate programs. We look forward to hearing your thoughts through the survey and engaging with us! Isabel Whisson Towrin Zaman Larissa Setaro #AdaptationFinance #LocalLeadership #ClimateAction #CommunityEngagement #SurveyAlert

𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗜𝗜: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Explore policy innovations aimed at improving access to climate finance in Africa to combat climate change, fostering sustainable agrifood systems, and uncover effective strategies to overcome bioeconomy financing obstacles for climate resilience and economic growth in Africa. More details: https://shorturl.at/7Pnsc

💡 Across OECD - OCDE regions, the share of people exposed to 100-year river flooding ranges from 0% in Nova Scotia, #Canada to 69% in Vaupés, #Colombia. 📈 In 2019, subnational governments in #OECD & #EU countries accounted for 69% of climate-significant public investment.   Subnational partners will play a vital role in tailoring climate resilient infrastructure to local needs. To succeed we must: 🟢 Empower subnational governments to deliver ambitions, place-based plans to boost resilience.  🟢 Strengthen multi-level governance to align climate resilience actions across levels of government.  🟢 Ensure that subnational governments can access sustainable funding and financing for local climate resilience actions.  🔗 https://oe.cd/5uV #OECDinfra 

Transforming Africa into a global powerhouse of the future, aligned with the AU's Agenda 2063, requires cohesive interventions across sectors like agriculture. To address the climate crisis that disproportionately affects Africa, the AU has prioritized resilience and adaptation. Endorsing the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan, along with the Green Recovery Action Plan, demonstrates the AU's commitment to climate action. AKADEMIYA2063 is supporting these initiatives with scientific expertise, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, to drive evidence-backed climate action across Africa. Discover strategies for agricultural sustainability and addressing the climate crisis in this blog post by AKADEMIYA2063 Director of Communications and Outreach, Dr. Layih Butake.

Our new land use report with Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is published today📃📣 It shows that reorganising land use in the UK to secure a sustainable future will require coordinated action and systems level changes with profound ramifications for food, energy production and housing development. Nathalie Pettorelli, the lead author of the report said: “With the upcoming UK general election, the incoming Government has the opportunity to reshape land use and introduce the transformational changes needed to meet our national and international commitments on both nature recovery and climate change mitigation and adaptation.” Bridget Emmett, BES President added: “In the face of the climate and nature crises it is absolutely essential that nature is a key part of any land use policy. Nature is not, and cannot be seen as, a ‘nice to have’, it is absolutely essential. “To achieve the difficult balance of competing land use needs, an integrative approach must be taken with leadership from UK governments and collaboration between departments and devolved nations.” You can read the full report here👇 https://lnkd.in/enjHH-ya

“It is important that adequate climate funding is set aside to ensure inclusivity of civil organizations & the public in national climate plans” advises Ndeye Khar Ndiaye, Oxfam Senegal, Country Director Oxfam’s study shows that 2024 is an important year for climate justice as countries around the world work to submit their national climate plans to meet the Paris agreement. We must ensure an equitable #PeoplesClimateAction. Read Oxfam’s study https://oxf.am/NDCs

“It is important that adequate climate funding is set aside to ensure inclusivity of civil organizations & the public in national climate plans” advises Ndeye Khar Ndiaye, Oxfam Senegal, Country Director Oxfam’s study shows that 2024 is an important year for climate justice as countries around the world work to submit their national climate plans to meet the Paris agreement. We must ensure an equitable #PeoplesClimateAction Read Oxfam’s study https://oxf.am/NDCs