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Over 100 climate change adaptation (CCA) experts, practitioners and government officials from nearly 30 Asia-Pacific countries shared insights to accessing international financing for CCA at a recent USAID funded ADAPT Asia-Pacific session.

Over 100 climate change adaptation (CCA) experts, practitioners and government officials from nearly 30 Asia-Pacific countries shared insights to accessing international financing for CCA at a recent USAID funded ADAPT Asia-Pacific session.

The session entitled “Accessing climate change and adaptation finance: International lessons, national concerns, and capacity needs” was held on March 18, 2013 as part of the 3rd Asia Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum (or APAN Forum) in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

The APAN Forum drew more than 500 participants from the region and across sectors. Significantly, it provided an opportunity for both speakers and participants to learn more about the latest in climate change adaptation work and make connections with the larger adaptation community.

At the ADAPT Asia-Pacific session, a panel comprised of representatives from multilateral institutions and national organizations discussed and shared their experiences with participants on how governments can more effectively access climate change adaptation funds.

The session involved presentations by Jane Ebinger, Climate Change Policy Manager at the World Bank; Gordon Johnson, Environment and Energy Team Leader at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Charles Rodgers, Senior Environment Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Tae Yong Jung, Professor at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) School; and Amin Budiarjo, National Project Manager at the Indonesian Climate Change Trust Fund (ICCTF). The session was moderated by Robert Dobias from ADAPT Asia-Pacific.

The World Bank shared key lessons from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) under the Climate Investment Funds, highlighting how governments can improve their ability to access and make most effective use of available climate finance by taking fundamental steps to establish an appropriate policy foundation, build capacity, and other actions. Two PPCR Financed Strategic Programs in Bangladesh and Zambia were discussed. Bolstering coastal embankments, increasing water supply resilience, and mainstreaming climate change in the most vulnerable sectors were among the program benefits highlighted.

The UNDP shared lessons from their climate public expenditure and institutional reviews (CPEIRs). They are intended to serve as a tool to enable countries to improve prioritization, efficiency and effectiveness of public resources in support of climate change measures. For adaptation particularly, CPEIRs can help set a baseline against which future public expenditures can be measured and monitored, making links with national adaptation plans and getting money to where it is most needed.

The ADB, the KDI and the ICCTF shared experiences on regional and national concerns, outlining some of the challenges in defining adaptation-specific activities so as to better access dedicated adaptation funds. The ADB also underlined the gap in fund availability in light of the region’s demand for adaptation finance that is estimated between US$30-50 billion per year through to 2050.

At the open discussion, participants stressed the need for better coordination and greater commitment among government agencies to leverage climate financing and discussed the roles of local governments and the private sector in CCA finance.

Given the strong display of interest among the audience in the private sector’s role, ADAPT Asia-Pacific is exploring the possibility of organizing with APAN and other partners a future online discussion through the e-Community of Practice.

Through insights provided by the panel members and an active discussion between speakers and participants, the ADAPT Asia-Pacific session encouraged government officials present to consider their countries’ state of readiness for identifying, accessing and efficiently using climate change finance, especially adaptation finance. Importantly, the session helped meet regional demands for this information and effectively increased the knowledge base of the adaptation community at large.

For presentation files and photos of the session, please visit http://www.adaptasiapacific.org/activities/adapt-asia-pacific-session-3rd-apan-forum-2013-accessing-climate-change-adaptation