Spanish Version
LDCF-SCCF: More Adaptation Resources for the Vulnerable
Press Release
Cancun, November 30, 2010-- Donors this month reaffirmed their commitment to helping the world’s poor and vulnerable through expanded pledges to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
Both funds were established under COP -7 in Marrakech and are managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), an operating financial mechanism of the convention.
The two funds were the first of its kind to address adaptation and over time have shown a proven track record to deliver on the ground results, whether it be for least developed countries, in the case of LDCF, or all developing countries under the SCCF.
Under the new donor financing commitments the LDC and SCCF will be able to expand its portfolio to better address the most urgent and immediate adaptation needs of vulnerable countries. For the year 2010, $181 million in new pledges were made; this brings the total commitment from donors to $412 million, ($262 million to LDCF and $150 million for the SCCF respectively).
Currently LDCF and SCCF support 67 projects in more than 70 countries, and the list is expected to grow in light of this new donor support.
For the LDCF for example, 23 projects are now under implementation, 20 others approved and with implementation expected next year.
“With determination, we have sought and succeeded, by working closely with the Global Environment Facility, its agencies and Convention parties, to assure that a number of reforms are introduced to make access to this fund more readily available to our countries that are characterized by their limited capacity, “ said Fred Onduri (Uganda) who the chairs the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) that holds a mandate under climate change convention. “We are now satisfied with the reform measures that have been taken both by Convention parties and by the GEF increased responsiveness to our needs. What is now required urgently are adequate resources to allow the LDCF finance the most urgent and immediate adaptation needs as prioritized by the NAPAs. The LDCs must be able to access resources to move from a project-by-project approach toward financing programmatic approaches to address adaptation priorities in LDCs in a more far reaching and impactful way.”
Bonizella Biagini, Head, Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Operations at the Global Environment Facility, and manager of the LDCF and SCCF, emphasized that “a growing number of vulnerable countries are accessing resources for adaptation under the LDCF and SCCF, thanks to a streamlined process and improved communications among all stakeholders and donor parties are reacting to this progress by increasing their contributions to these Convention funds.”
Media Contact in Cancun: Maureen Lorenzetti, GEF Spokesperson and head of media: +1 (202) 352 3572, mlorenzetti@thegef.org
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About the LDCF
The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) was established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at it seventh session in Marrakech in 2001, and is managed by the GEF. The Fund addresses the special needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which are especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. This includes preparing and implementing National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs), which aim is to identify “urgent and immediate needs” of each LDC.
About the SCCF
The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2001 to finance activities, programs, and measures relating to climate change that are complementary to those funded by the resources allocated to the Climate Change Focal Area of the GEF and by bilateral and multilateral funding.
About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. These projects benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Established in 1991, the GEF is today the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. The GEF has allocated $9.2 billion, supplemented by more than $40 billion in cofinancing, for more than 2,700 projects in more than 165 developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 12,000 small grants directly to nongovernmental and community organizations, totaling $495 million.
For more information: www.thegef.org
LDCF and SCCF Adaptation Projects Examples
Protecting Human Life
With resources from the LDCF and the SCCF, the Bhutan government are integrating climate risk projections into existing disaster risk management to expand their early warning system to cover the growing risk of bursting dams that hold glacial lakes. GEF funds are also used to physically lower the level of Thorthormi Lake (one of the most critical glacial lakes threatening to release a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) into a densely populated valley) by 5 meters.
Transferring Technology and Knowledge
A Niger LDCF project to is helping vulnerable communities at the edge of the Sahara desert deal with the projected reductions in already erratic rainfall. This includes the testing and dissemination of innovative water harvesting techniques, construction of at least 172 new drinking water wells, construction of more than 160 new irrigation wells and the fencing of 155 Ha of irrigated land to facilitate the more efficient use of untapped irrigation potential in the Niger River, introduction of more drought resilient varieties of traditional crops - thus increasing yield levels by 20% over traditional varieties , and creation of at least 27 community based food banks for times of drought and temporary food shortages.
Assisting Small Island Developing States
In the Pacific region, local governments in 14 countries are using SCCF funds to implement pilot adaptation projects in one of three key development sectors: food production and food security, water, and coastal management. The projects are, for example, demonstrating how to consider climate change risks when redesigning and relocating 7 kms of local roads on Epi Island in Vanuatu , exploring climate resilience of subsistence food production systems on small isolated islands in Solomon Islands , and identifying means to provide alternative water resources and water storage facilities for a raised atoll island in Niue . The collective effect of these national pilots will be a comprehensive set of regionally-relevant adaptation experiences that will provide a knowledge foundation for effective and efficient future investments on climate change adaptation.
Impacts of LDCF
- Food Security and Agriculture drought tolerant feeding, seed banks, drought resistant crop
- Water Resources Management rainwater harvesting, micro surface and ground water treatment facilities, underground screens to prevent groundwater losses
- Disaster Risk Management Integrated disaster risk management strategies, glacial lake outburst floods hazard zonation
- Community Based Adaptation forest management, mangrove restoration, alternative livelihoods, strengthened animal health systems
- Natural Resources Management efficient wood management, ecotourism, fishing around mangroves, renewable energy use
- Health climate change challenges incorporated into health programs, use of medicinal plants to treat diseases
- Infrastructure critical infrastructure (e.g. rain harvesting reservoirs)
Impacts of SCCF
- Water Resources Management - drainage and water-saving technologies, increased reservoir capacity through energy efficiency of turbines
- Agriculture/Land Management - drip irrigation, drought and salinity resistant crop varieties
- Infrastructure Development - infrastructure for alternative water sources, e.g. climate resilient roads and harbors
- Fragile Ecosystems - repopulation of coral reefs, buffer zones and biological corridors between vulnerable wetlands
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management - beach reinforcement and nourishment, protection structures (e.g. jetties, groins, breakwaters)
- Health - heat-wave warning systems, surveillance and response for malaria epidemics
- Disaster Risk Management early warning systems
- Cross Cutting Issues information sharing systems to monitor crop choices and contingency crop plans, and pest and disease severity.
Alexandre Pinheiro Rego
Senior Communications Officer
arego@thegef.org