Gender Mandates in Climate Policy

Before you start

In the last few years, the UNFCCC – the only one out of three Rio Conventions that lacked mandates on women’s rights and gender equality from the outset – has made major strides in integrating gender across all thematic areas in the negotiations. In 2014, the Lima Work Programme on Gender launched, and in 2015, the Paris Agreement integrated gender equality as a preambular principle for all climate action, as well as in relation to adaptation and capacity building. In 2017, the first Gender Action Plan was adopted, followed in 2019 by the adoption of the enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender and its Gender Action Plan. Additional decisions have aimed to enhance gender equality via both policy and practice, encouraging gender balance indecision-making as well as responsiveness to gender issues in the development, implementation and monitoring of climate change policies and actions.

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Decision 12/CP.22

Sixth review of the Financial Mechanism

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP22
Year 
2016
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

Annex: Updated guidelines for the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism

C. Criteria

3. The effectiveness of the Financial Mechanism will be assessed taking into account the following:

(c) The extent to which the Financial Mechanism is contributing to gender sensitive approaches;

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decisions 3/CP.4, 2/CP.12, 6/CP.13, 2/CP.16, 8/CP.19, 9/CP.20 and 1/CP.21,

Recognizing that the review of the Financial Mechanism should inform the replenishment processes of the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism,

1. Decides to adopt the updated guidelines for the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism contained in the annex;

2. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to provide, in its report to the twentythird session of the Conference of the Parties (November 2017), expert input to the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism, with a view to the review being finalized by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-third session;

3. Invites Parties, observers and other interested international organizations, stakeholders and non-governmental organizations involved in the activities of the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism to submit, by 30 April 2017, their views on the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism based on the guidelines contained in the annex, for consideration by the Standing Committee on Finance in preparing its expert input to the review.

Annex

Updated guidelines for the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism

A. Objectives

1. In accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, the objectives of the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism will be as follows:

(a) To review the Financial Mechanism and take appropriate measures regarding:

(i) Its conformity with the provisions of Article 11 of the Convention and the guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties (COP);

(ii) The effectiveness of the activities it funds in implementing the Convention;

(iii) Its effectiveness in providing financial resources on a grant or concessional basis, including for the transfer of technology, for the implementation of the Convention’s objective on the basis of the guidance provided by the COP;

(iv) Its effectiveness in providing resources to developing country Parties under Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Convention;

(v) The effectiveness of access modalities for developing countries;

(b) To examine consistency and complementarity between the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, and between the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism and other sources of investment and financial flows, including:

(i) Examining relevant sources, channels and means of financing, as indicated in Article 11, paragraph 5, of the Convention, that would assist developing country Parties to contribute to the achievement of the objective of the Convention, in particular innovative means of financing, such as for the development of endogenous technologies in developing countries;

(ii) Examining the role of the Financial Mechanism in scaling up the level of resources;

(iii) Assessing enabling environments for catalysing investment in, and the transfer of, environmentally sound technologies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and for enhancing resilience to climate change.

B. Sources of information

2. The review shall draw upon, inter alia, the following sources of information:

(a) Information provided by Parties on their experiences regarding financial support provided and received in accordance with COP decisions;

(b) Annual guidance provided by the COP to the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism with regard to the conformity of their activities with the guidance provided by the COP;

(c) The annual reports of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) to the COP on its activities and relevant technical information produced by the committee such as the biennial assessments and overview of climate finance flows and outcomes of the SCF forums;

(d) The annual reports of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the COP on its activities as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism, including the information on the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund, and other relevant GEF policy and information documents;

(e) The reports from the GEF Independent Evaluation Office;

(f) The annual reports of the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to the COP on its activities as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism and other relevant GCF policy and information documents;

(g) The reports of the Adaptation Fund Board to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the outcomes of the reviews of the Adaptation Fund;

(h) The outcomes and reports of the United Nations processes, relevant bilateral and multilateral funding institutions and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with climate financing;

(i) Relevant reports on private-sector financing and investment for climate change activities;

(j) Technical papers and reports prepared by the secretariat at the request of the COP which are relevant to the financial needs of developing country Parties under the Convention;

(k) Information contained in the national communications of Parties to the Convention, technology needs assessments and national adaptation programmes of action;

(l) The reports of the in-session workshops on long-term finance;

(m) The biennial submissions from developed country Parties on their updated strategies and approaches for scaling up climate finance from 2014 to 2020, including any available information on quantitative and qualitative elements of a pathway;

(n) The reports of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group and the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention.

C. Criteria

3. The effectiveness of the Financial Mechanism will be assessed taking into account the following:

(a) The transparency of the decision-making processes of the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism;

(b) The level of stakeholder involvement;

(c) The extent to which the Financial Mechanism is contributing to gender-sensitive approaches;

(d) The adequacy and predictability, accessibility and timeliness and rate of disbursement of funds for activities in developing country Parties, including projects in the pipeline; 

(e) The responsiveness, efficiency and performance of the cycle for project/programme approval procedures of the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism;

(f) The amount of resources provided to developing country Parties, including financing for technical assistance and investment projects, and the mechanisms for country allocation, as well as the results and impacts achieved by the resources provided;

(g) The amount of finance leveraged, and modalities and ratios of co-financing and the use of financial instruments where applicable;

(h) The extent to which the resources provided are contributing to achieving the objective of the Convention;

(i) The sustainability of funded programmes, projects and operations in developing country Parties;

(j) The extent to which the Financial Mechanism is contributing to the country ownership of programmes and projects. 

Decision 21/CP.23

Programme Budget for the Biennium 2018–2019

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP23
Year 
2017
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

15. Takes note of the funding estimates for the Trust Fund for Supplementary Activities specified by the Executive Secretary (EUR 53,484,419 for the biennium 2018–2019) (see table 5);

Table 5: Resource requirements for the Trust Fund for Supplementary Activities in the biennium 2018–2019

Item 36: Strengthening gender mainstreaming in climate change action and the UNFCCC process and the secretariat through coordination, collaboration, advocacy and capacity-building 797 916 EUR

Elaborated language

15. Takes note of the funding estimates for the Trust Fund for Supplementary Activities specified by the Executive Secretary (EUR 53,484,419 for the biennium 2018–2019) (see table 5);

Table 5: Resource requirements for the Trust Fund for Supplementary Activities in the biennium 2018–2019

Supporting the UNFCCC process

Project no.  Activities to be undertaken by the secretariat Supplementary requirements EUR
34 Supporting activities relating to the impact of the implementation of response measures 909 300
35 Assessing progress towards achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement  633 137
36 Strengthening gender mainstreaming in climate change action and the UNFCCC process and the secretariat through coordination, collaboration, advocacy and capacity-building  797 916
37 Strengthening the science–policy interface 323 180
38 Supporting the intergovernmental negotiation processes on the development of modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework under the Paris Agreement  450 870

 

Decision 1/CMP.13

Report of the Adaptation Fund Board

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
CMP13
Year 
2017
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

2. Notes the following information, actions and decisions relating to the Adaptation Fund Board presented in the report referred to in paragraph 1 above and in the oral report provided by the Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board at this session:

(f) The approval of funding decisions for readiness grants amounting to USD 275,000, consisting of USD 100,000 in South–South cooperation grants, USD 145,000 in technical assistance grants for the environmental and social policy and gender policy, and USD 30,000 in technical assistance grants for the gender policy;

(m) The publication of a gender guidance document to assist implementing entities in complying with the fund’s gender policy and action plan and in mainstreaming gender considerations;

 

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol,

Recalling decisions 1/CMP.3, 2/CMP.10, 1/CMP.11 and 2/CMP.12, Also recalling the Paris Agreement, adopted under the Convention,

Further recalling decision 1/CP.21, paragraphs 59 and 60, and decision 1/CMA.1, paragraph 11,

1. Takes note of the annual report of the Adaptation Fund Board, and the information contained therein;

2. Notes the following information, actions and decisions relating to the Adaptation Fund Board presented in the report referred to in paragraph 1 above and in the oral report provided by the Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board at this session:

(a) The accreditation of 26 national implementing entities for accessing resources from the Adaptation Fund directly;

(b) Cumulative project and programme approvals reaching USD 418.1 million as at 30 June 2017;

(c) The record number of project and programme proposals received from 2015 to 2017 and the rapidly increasing demand for funding;

(d) Funds available for new funding approvals amounting to USD 185.9 million as at 30 June 2017;

(e) The value of projects and programmes in the active pipeline estimated at USD 163.9 million as at 30 June 2017;

(f) The approval of funding decisions for readiness grants amounting to USD 275,000, consisting of USD 100,000 in South–South cooperation grants, USD 145,000 in technical assistance grants for the environmental and social policy and gender policy, and USD 30,000 in technical assistance grants for the gender policy;

(g) The approval of three regional (multi-country) projects, with total funding of USD 25.8 million, and the decision to continue financing regional projects and programmes beyond the Pilot Programme for Regional Projects and Programmes, launched in May 2015;

(h) The cumulative receipts of USD 649.5 million into the Adaptation Trust Fund, as at 30 June 2017, comprising USD 197.8 million from the monetization of certified emission reductions, USD 442.4 million from additional contributions and USD 9.3 million from investment income earned on the trust fund balance;

(i) The approval of the Ad Hoc Complaint Handling Mechanism of the Adaptation Fund, established to promote the fund’s accountability and help respond, through a participatory approach, to complaints raised against a project or programme financed by the fund; 

(j) The adoption by the Adaptation Fund Board of a medium-term strategy for the Adaptation Fund;

(k) The approval of 16 single-country project/programme proposals submitted by implementing entities, totalling USD 103.1 million, including 6 proposals submitted by national implementing entities, to the amount of USD 38.8 million, 5 proposals submitted by regional implementing entities, to the amount of USD 39.6 million, and 5 proposals submitted by multilateral implementing entities, to the amount of USD 24.6 million;

(l) The contributions received from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, amounting to USD 97.6 million, from Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Brussels-Capital, Flanders and Walloon Regions of Belgium;

(m) The publication of a gender guidance document to assist implementing entities in complying with the fund’s gender policy and action plan and in mainstreaming gender considerations;

(n) The 2017–2020 resource mobilization strategy being implemented by the Adaptation Fund Board;  

Decision 2/CMP.13

Third Review of the Adaptation Fund

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
CMP13
Year 
2017
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

5. Welcomes the implementation of mandatory compliance for implementing entities with the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social safeguards and gender policy, which enhances the effectiveness of the Adaptation Fund; [...]

8. Requests the Adaptation Fund Board:

(a) To consider lessons learned from the Adaptation Fund’s engagement with private sector stakeholders in adaptation projects at the local level, including in the decision-making processes of the Adaptation Fund and in communications with donors; 

(b) To monitor and assess project approval time under the Readiness Programme, identifying any linkages of this time to the introduction of the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social policy, and to take measures to reduce the time, as necessary, while continuing to implement its environmental and social safeguards and gender policy;

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol,

Recalling decisions 2/CMP.10 and 1/CMP.12,

Reiterating the crucial importance of the Adaptation Fund as an essential channel for supporting adaptation action and the main promoter of direct access, together with its focus on funding the full costs of concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries,

Noting with deep concern the continued issues related to the sustainability, adequacy and predictability of funding from the Adaptation Fund, given the current prices of certified emission reductions, which affect its ability to fulfil its mandate,

1. Takes note of the technical paper on the third review of the Adaptation Fund,1 based on the terms of reference for the review contained in the annex to decision 1/CMP.12;

2. Welcomes the completion of phase 1 of the independent evaluation of the Adaptation Fund and looks forward to phase 2;

3. Recognizes the lessons learned and progress made since the second review of the Adaptation Fund, including initiatives and improvements such as modalities to enable enhancement of the direct access modality, the Readiness Programme including its South– South mentoring channel, a streamlined process for accreditation for small entities and guidance on accreditation standards;

4. Also recognizes the comparative advantage of the Adaptation Fund, including the speed of project approval, the strategic engagement by stakeholders at the subnational level, the various institutional benefits, the efficiency of institutional arrangements and the enhancement of country ownership in the funding process;

5. Welcomes the implementation of mandatory compliance for implementing entities with the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social safeguards and gender policy, which enhances the effectiveness of the Adaptation Fund;

6. Notes the efforts made by the Adaptation Fund Board in enhancing cooperation with other funds to ensure coherence and complementarity;

7. Encourages the Adaptation Fund Board:

(a) To consider options for improvement of efficiency with regard to the operation of the Adaptation Fund;

(b) To continue to engage with subnational actors and the private sector through, inter alia, microfinance schemes, weather-based insurance arrangements, involvement with local industry groups and farmers in adaptation projects, and public–private partnerships;

(c) To consider voluntary tracking of climate finance mobilized, where appropriate;

(d) To continue the efforts to enhance complementarity and coherence with other funds both under and outside the Convention;

8. Requests the Adaptation Fund Board:

(a) To consider lessons learned from the Adaptation Fund’s engagement with private sector stakeholders in adaptation projects at the local level, including in the decision-making processes of the Adaptation Fund and in communications with donors;

(b) To monitor and assess project approval time under the Readiness Programme, identifying any linkages of this time to the introduction of the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social policy, and to take measures to reduce the time, as necessary, while continuing to implement its environmental and social safeguards and gender policy;

(c) To continue to provide information on project approval time;

(d) To continue monitoring the adaptation impacts and results of the Adaptation Fund, including using local and sector-specific metrics;

(e) To report on progress made on the mandates arising from this decision in the future reports of the Adaptation Fund to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol;

9. Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, at its session to be held in June 2020, to initiate the fourth review of the Adaptation Fund, in accordance with the terms of reference contained in the annex to decision 1/CMP.12, or as amended, and to report back to its governing body to be convened in conjunction with the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (November 2021). 

Decision 12/CMA.1

Identification of the information to be provided by Parties in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 5, of the Paris Agreement

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
CMA1
Year 
2018
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

Annex

Types of information to be provided by Parties in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 5, of the Paris Agreement 

This should include:

(c) Information on policies and priorities, including regions and geography, recipient countries, beneficiaries, targeted groups, sectors and gender responsiveness;

Elaborated language

Annex

Types of information to be provided by Parties in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 5, of the Paris Agreement

Developed country Parties shall biennially communicate indicative quantitative and qualitative information related to Article 9, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Paris Agreement, as applicable, including, as available, projected levels of public financial resources to be provided to developing country Parties. Other Parties providing resources are encouraged to communicate biennially such information on a voluntary basis. This should include:

(a) Enhanced information to increase clarity on the projected levels of public financial resources to be provided to developing countries, as available.

(b) Indicative quantitative and qualitative information on programmes, including projected levels, channels and instruments, as available.

(c) Information on policies and priorities, including regions and geography, recipient countries, beneficiaries, targeted groups, sectors and gender responsiveness.

(d) Information on purposes and types of support: mitigation, adaptation, crosscutting activities, technology transfer and capacity-building.

(e) Information on the factors that providers of climate finance look for in evaluating proposals, in order to help to inform developing countries.

(f) An indication of new and additional resources to be provided, and how it determines such resources as new and additional.

(g) Information on national circumstances and limitations relevant to the provision of ex ante information.

(h) Information on relevant methodologies and assumptions used to project levels of climate finance.

(i) Information on challenges and barriers encountered in the past, lessons learned and measures taken to overcome them.

(j) Information on how Parties are aiming to ensure a balance between adaptation and mitigation, taking into account the country-driven strategies and the needs and priorities of developing country Parties, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and have significant capacity constraints, such as the least developed countries and small island developing States, considering the need for public and grant-based resources for adaptation.

(k) Information on action and plans to mobilize additional climate finance as part of the global effort to mobilize climate finance from a wide variety of sources, including on the relationship between the public interventions to be used and the private finance mobilized.

(l) Information on how financial support effectively addresses the needs and priorities of developing country Parties and supports country-driven strategies.

(m) Information on how support provided and mobilized is targeted at helping developing countries in their efforts to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, including by assisting them in efforts to make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

(n) Information on efforts to integrate climate change considerations, including resilience, into their development support.

(o) Information on how support to be provided to developing country Parties enhances their capacities.

Decision 6/CP.24

Report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties and guidance to the Global Environment Facility

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GB
Event 
COP24
Year 
2018
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

16. Encourages a balanced composition of the private sector advisory group in terms of gender and geographical coverage;

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties,

Noting the draft guidance to the Global Environment Facility prepared by the Standing Committee on Finance

1. Welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties and its addendum, including the responses of the Global Environment Facility to guidance from the Conference of the Parties;

2. Also welcomes the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (July 2018 to June 2022);

3. Recognizes with concern the decrease in allocation to the climate change focal area, including the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources, compared with the sixth replenishment;

4. Urges all Parties that have not made pledges for the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility to do so as soon as possible;

5. Acknowledges the increased integration of climate change priorities into other focal areas and the impact programmes in the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, as well as the increased focus on innovation and enhanced synergies with other focal areas;

6. Highlights the importance of enhancing country ownership in the impact programmes of the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility;

7. Requests the Global Environment Facility, as appropriate, to ensure that its policies and procedures related to the consideration and review of funding proposals be duly followed in an efficient manner;

8. Looks forward to the projected delivery of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the seventh replenishment period, which is twice the amount planned for the sixth replenishment;

9. Acknowledges the updated policy on co-financing of the Global Environment Facility, which sets out an ambition for the overall portfolio of the Global Environment Facility to reach an increased ratio of co-financing to its project financing;

10. Recognizes that the Global Environment Facility does not impose minimum thresholds and/or specific types or sources of co-financing or investment mobilized in its review of individual projects and programmes;

11. Welcomes the inclusion of support for the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency in the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, which enhances predictability of funding for the Initiative;

12. Requests the Global Environment Facility to continue to manage the Capacitybuilding Initiative for Transparency to fund a diversity of countries and regions, taking into account each country’s capacity, in line with priorities of support as contained in the programming directions of the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency; 1

3. Invites the Global Environment Facility to enhance the information in its reports to the Conference of the Parties on the outcomes of the collaboration between the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer’s climate technology and finance centres and the Climate Technology Centre and Network;

14. Requests the Global Environment Facility to continue to monitor the geographic and thematic coverage, as well as the effectiveness, efficiency and engagement, of the Global Environment Facility Partnership, and to consider the participation of additional national and regional entities, as appropriate;

15. Welcomes the establishment of the private sector advisory group;

16. Encourages a balanced composition of the private sector advisory group in terms of gender and geographical coverage;

17. Welcomes the Global Environment Facility Council’s decision6 to begin the process of developing improved fiduciary standards, including anti-money-laundering and counterterrorism finance policy and requests the Global Environment Facility to include updates on this work in its report to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session (November 2019);

18. Requests the Global Environment Facility to review and, if necessary, update or adopt policies for preventing sexual harassment and the abuse of authority with the aim of protecting the staff of the Global Environment Facility secretariat as well as its partner organizations against unwanted sexual advances, preventing inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power and providing guidelines for reporting incidents;

19. Invites Parties to submit to the secretariat via the submission portal, 7 no later than 10 weeks prior to the twenty-fifth session of the Conference of the Parties, their views and recommendations on elements to be taken into account in developing guidance for the Global Environment Facility;

20. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to take into consideration the submissions referred to in paragraph 19 above when preparing its draft guidance for the Global Environment Facility for consideration by the Conference of the Parties;

21. Also requests the Global Environment Facility to include in its annual report to the Conference of the Parties information on the steps that it has taken to implement the guidance provided in this decision;

22. Decides, in accordance with decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 61, to transmit to the Global Environment Facility the guidance from the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement contained in the decisions referred to in decision 3/CMA.1,8 paragraph 4.

Decision 4/CP.24

Report of the Standing Committee on Finance

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP24
Year 
2018
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

Annex

Summary and recommendations by the Standing Committee on Finance on the 2018 Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows 

IV. Recommendations

51. The SCF invites the COP to consider the following recommendations:

Chapter III (assessment)

(m) Encourage climate finance providers to improve tracking and reporting on gender-related aspects of climate finance, impact measuring and mainstreaming; 

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling Articles 4 and 11 of the Convention,

Also recalling decisions 1/CP.16, paragraph 112, and 2/CP.17, paragraphs 120 and 121, as well as decisions 5/CP.18, 7/CP.19, 6/CP.20, 6/CP.21, 8/CP.22 and 7/CP.23,

1. Welcomes with appreciation the report of the Standing Committee on Finance to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fourth session, taking note of the recommendations contained therein;

2. Endorses the workplan of the Standing Committee on Finance for 2019; 2 3. Welcomes with appreciation the 2018 Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows of the Standing Committee on Finance, in particular the summary and recommendations as contained in the annex;

4. Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance to take into account the best available science in future biennial assessments and overviews of climate finance flows;

5. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to use in the biennial assessment and overview of climate finance flows the established terminology in the provisions of the Convention and the Paris Agreement in relation to climate finance, where applicable;

6. Expresses its appreciation for the financial contributions provided by the Governments of Belgium, Germany, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as by the European Commission to support the work of the Standing Committee on Finance;

7. Welcomes the 2018 Forum of the Standing Committee on Finance on the topic of climate finance architecture with a focus on enhancing collaboration and seizing opportunities, and takes note of the summary report4 on the Forum;

8. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway and the Republic of Korea for their support in ensuring the success of the 2018 Forum of the Standing Committee on Finance;

9. Welcomes the decision of the Standing Committee on Finance on the topic of its 2019 Forum, which will be climate finance and sustainable cities;

10. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to map, every four years, as part of its biennial assessment and overview of climate finance flows, the available information relevant to Article 2, paragraph 1(c), of the Paris Agreement, including its reference to Article 9 thereof;

11. Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance to provide input to the technical paper of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts on the sources of financial support;5

12. Confirms the mandates in Article 11, paragraph 3(d), of the Convention, and decisions 12/CP.2, 12/CP.3, 5/CP.19 and 1/CP.21;

13. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to prepare, every four years, a report on the determination of the needs of developing country Parties related to implementing the Convention and the Paris Agreement, for consideration by the Conference of Parties, starting at its twenty-sixth session (November 2020), and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, starting at its third session (November 2020);

14. Also requests the Standing Committee on Finance, in preparing the report referred to in paragraph 13 above, to collaborate, as appropriate, with the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, the subsidiary and constituted bodies, multilateral and bilateral channels, and observer organizations;

15. Further requests that the actions of the Standing Committee on Finance called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources; 16. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to report to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session (December 2019) on progress in implementing its workplan;

17. Also requests the Standing Committee on Finance to consider the guidance provided to it in other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties.

Annex

Summary and recommendations by the Standing Committee on Finance on the 2018 Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows 

IV. Recommendations

51. The SCF invites the COP to consider the following recommendations:

Chapter III (assessment)

(j) Invite Parties to strive for complementarity between climate finance and sustainable development by, inter alia, aligning climate finance with national climate change frameworks and priorities, as well as broader economic development policies and national budgetary planning;

(k) Encourage developing countries to take advantage of available resources through the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism to strengthen Advance unedited version 17 institutional capacity for programming their priority climate action, as well as tracking climate finance, effectiveness and impacts;

(l) Encourage developed countries and climate finance providers to continue to enhance country ownership and consider policies to balance funding for adaptation and mitigation, taking into account beneficiary country strategies, and, in line with the mandates, building on experiences, policies and practices of the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, particularly the GCF;

(m) Encourage climate finance providers to improve tracking and reporting on gender-related aspects of climate finance, impact measuring and mainstreaming;

(n) Invite, as in the 2016 BA, multilateral climate funds, MDBs, other financial institutions and relevant international organizations to continue to advance work on tracking and reporting on impacts of mitigation and adaptation finance;

(o) Encourage all relevant United Nations agencies and international, regional and national financial institutions to provide information to Parties through the secretariat on how their development assistance and climate finance programmes incorporate climate-proofing and climate-resilience measures, in line with new available scientific information;

(p) Request the SCF, in preparing future BAs, to continue assessing available information on the alignment of climate finance with investment needs and plans related to Parties’ NDCs and national adaptation plans;

(q) Request the SCF, in preparing the 2020 BA, to take into consideration available information relevant to Article 2 of the Paris Agreement. 

 

 

Decision 11/CP.25

Matters relating to the Standing Committee on Finance

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP25
Year 
2019
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance to continue to enhance its efforts towards ensuring gender-responsiveness in implementing its workplan;

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement,

Recalling Article 9 of the Paris Agreement,

Also recalling decisions 1/CP.21, paragraphs 53 and 63, 14/CMA.1 and -/CP.25, 

1. Takes note of the report of the Standing Committee on Finance to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its second session and the recommendations contained therein; 

2. Endorses the workplan 3 of the Standing Committee on Finance for 2020 and underlines the importance of the Standing Committee on Finance focusing its work in 2020 in accordance with its current mandates;

3. Notes the outcomes of the discussions of the Standing Committee on Finance on the 2020 Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows and the report on the determination of the needs of developing country Parties related to implementing the Convention and the Paris Agreement as well as the respective workplans, outreach activities and indicative timelines for preparation; 

4. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Germany, Norway, the Philippines and Switzerland for their financial contributions to support the work of the Standing Committee on Finance;

5. Welcomes the 2019 Forum of the Standing Committee on Finance, on the topic of climate finance and sustainable cities, with a focus on enhancing understanding of how to accelerate the mobilization and delivery of climate finance for the development of sustainable cities, and takes note of the summary report5 on the Forum;

6. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of Australia, Lebanon and Norway, as well as to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the Islamic Development Bank, for their financial, administrative and substantive support, which contributed to the success of the 2019 Forum of the Standing Committee on Finance;

7. Welcomes the decision of the Standing Committee on Finance on the topic of its 2020 Forum, which will be financing nature-based solutions;

8. Notes the inputs of the Standing Committee on Finance to the technical paper on the elaboration of the sources of and modalities for accessing financial support for addressing loss and damage; 

9. Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance to present, to the extent possible, disaggregated information in relation to, inter alia, mapping data availability and gaps by sector, assessing climate finance flows and presenting information on the determination of the needs of developing country Parties related to implementing the Convention and the Paris Agreement;

10. Underscores the important contribution of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to the operational definitions of climate finance, and invites Parties to submit via the submission portal,7 by 30 April 2020, their views on the operational definitions of climate finance for consideration by the Standing Committee on Finance in order to enhance its technical work on this matter in the context of preparing its 2020 Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows;

11. Takes note of the strategic outreach plan8 of the Standing Committee on Finance on enhancing stakeholder engagement;

12. Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance, in implementing its strategic outreach plan, to build on existing efforts to reach out to developing country Parties and relevant developing country stakeholders when generating data and information for the determination of the needs of developing country Parties related to implementing the Convention and the Paris Agreement;

13. Looks forward to the inputs that may be provided by the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts to the work of the Standing Committee on Finance for its consideration in preparing elements of draft guidance for the operating entities;

14. Encourages the Standing Committee on Finance to continue to enhance its efforts towards ensuring gender-responsiveness in implementing its workplan;

15. Emphasizes the importance of the transparency of the proceedings and decisionmaking processes of the Standing Committee on Finance;

16. Takes note of the appointment of Standing Committee on Finance focal points to liaise with the other constituted bodies under the Convention and the Paris Agreement; 

17. Decides to initiate the review of the functions9 of the Standing Committee on Finance relating to the Paris Agreement, as part of the review referred to in decision -/CP.25,10 with a view to concluding it at its fifth session (November 2022);

18. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to report to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its third session (November 2020) on progress in implementing its workplan;

19. Also requests that the actions of the Standing Committee on Finance called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources. 

Decision 13/CP.25

Report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties and guidance to the Global Environment Facility

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP25
Year 
2019
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

Welcomes the work undertaken by the Global Environment Facility during its reporting period (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019), including the implementation of the gender equality policy and the approval of the gender implementation strategy.

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session, including the responses of the Global Environment Facility to previous guidance from the Conference of the Parties;

2. Also welcomes the work undertaken by the Global Environment Facility during its reporting period (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019), including

(a) The approval of climate change projects and programmes approved during the reporting period under the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund;

(b) The approval of minimum requirements for Global Environment Facility Trust Fund agencies on anti-money-laundering and countering the financing of terrorism;

(c) The composition of the Private Sector Advisory Group; 

(d) The implementation of the gender equality policy and the approval of the gender implementation strategy;

(e) The approval of the policy on monitoring and the evaluation policy; 

3. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by developed country Parties to the Least Developed Countries Fund during the reporting period, amounting to USD 184 million,8 and the contribution made by Switzerland to the Special Climate Change Fund during the reporting period, amounting to USD 3.3 million, and encourages additional voluntary financial contributions to these funds to provide support for adaptation;

4. Invites the Global Environment Facility to continue its efforts to minimize the time between the approval of project concepts, the development and approval of the related projects, and the disbursement of funds by its implementing/executing agencies to the recipient countries of those projects;

5. Urges the Global Environment Facility to continue to report to the Conference of the Parties any change or update to the eligibility criteria for accessing the Global Environment Facility resources, including the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources country allocation, in its future reports to the Conference of the Parties;

6. Encourages the Global Environment Facility, as part of the overall performance study of its seventh replenishment, to analyse any challenges faced and lessons learned by the Global Environment Facility and its implementing agencies in applying the updated policy on co-financing of the Global Environment Facility and report back to the Conference of the Parties on the outcomes of the study;

7. Also encourages the Global Environment Facility, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility country focal points, to promote the use of technology needs assessments to facilitate the financing and implementation of technology actions prioritized by countries in their technology needs assessments, within the scope of its mandate and operational modalities;

8. Invites the Global Environment Facility to consider:

(a) Exploring ways to include in the fourth phase of the global project on technology needs assessments the least developed countries and small island developing States that have never undertaken a technology needs assessment and have not been included in the fourth phase;

(b) Relevant recommendations contained in the report prepared by the Technology Executive Committee on the updated evaluation of the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer,9 within the scope of its mandate and its operational modalities;

9. Also invites the Global Environment Facility, in accordance with its existing mandates and in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund, to report on lessons learned in supporting developing countries in collecting and managing information and data on adaptation;

10. Requests the Global Environment Facility, in administering the Least Developed Countries Fund, to continue facilitating the smooth transition of countries graduating from least developed country status by continuing to provide approved funding through the Least Developed Countries Fund until the completion of projects approved by the Least Developed Countries Fund Council prior to those countries’ graduation from least developed country status;

11. Takes note of decision -/CMA.210 and decides to transmit to the Global Environment Facility the guidance from the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement contained in paragraphs 12–13 below, in accordance with decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 61;

12. Welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session, 11 including the list of actions taken by the Global Environment Facility in response to guidance received from the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

13. Requests the Global Environment Facility, as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism, under its seventh replenishment and throughout its replenishment cycles, to adequately support developing country Parties in preparing their first and subsequent biennial transparency reports, in accordance with Article 13, paragraphs 14–15, of the Paris Agreement and decision 18/CMA.1;

14. Invites Parties to submit to the secretariat via the submission portal, 12 no later than 10 weeks prior to the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties (November 2020), their views and recommendations on elements to be taken into account in developing guidance to the Global Environment Facility;

15. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to take into consideration the submissions referred to in paragraph 14 above when preparing its draft guidance to the Global Environment Facility for consideration by the Conference of the Parties and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

16. Also requests the Global Environment Facility to include in its annual report to the Conference of the Parties information on the steps that it has taken to implement the guidance provided in this decision. 

Decision 12/CP.25

Report of the Green Climate Fund to the Conference of the Parties and guidance to the Green Climate Fund

Theme
Finance
Tags 
GM
Event 
COP25
Year 
2019
Gender references Elaborated language Download PDF

Gender reference

2. Also welcomes the progress of the Green Climate Fund in 2019 on the following, including in relation to guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties: 

(f) The adoption of the updated Gender Policy and Action Plan 2020–2023, in particular the support modality for national designated authorities and focal points to implement the policy and action plan, as well as support for direct access entities from the project preparation facility; 

Elaborated language

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decision 3/CP.17,

Also recalling decision 10/CP.22, paragraph 5,

1. Welcomes the report of the Green Climate Fund to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session and its addendum,1 including the list of actions taken by the Board of the Green Climate Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Board) in response to guidance received from the Conference of the Parties;

2. Also welcomes the progress of the Green Climate Fund in 2019 on the following, including in relation to guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties:

(a) The increase in the number of project proposals approved, which brings the total amount approved by the Board to USD 5.6 billion to support the implementation of 124 adaptation and mitigation projects and programmes in 105 developing countries;

(b) The increase in the number of entities accredited by the Board, which brings the total number of accredited entities to 95, of which 56 are direct access entities;

(c) The adoption of procedures for adopting decisions in the event that all efforts at reaching consensus have been exhausted, as specified in the Governing Instrument for the Green Climate Fund;

(d) The adoption of a revised strategy for the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme; 

(e) The adoption of the policy on the restructuring and cancellation of projects and programmes;

(f) The adoption of the updated Gender Policy and Action Plan 2020–2023, in particular the support modality for national designated authorities and focal points to implement the policy and action plan, as well as support for direct access entities from the project preparation facility;

(g) The adoption of the workplan of the Board for 2020–2023, which establishes a regular policy implementation, learning and review cycle;

(h) The adoption of the Green Climate Fund’s policy on co-financing;

(i) The forward-looking performance review of the Green Climate Fund;

(j) The continued collaboration between the Green Climate Fund, the Climate Technology Centre and Network and the Technology Executive Committee;

(k) The collaboration between the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group;

(l) The steps agreed at the 24th meeting of the Board to finalize, at the 25th meeting of the Board, the draft Strategic Plan 2020–2023;

(m) Policies related to integrity, notably the policy on the protection from sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment and the standard on anti-money-laundering and countering the financing of terrorism;

3. Further welcomes the pledges made by 28 contributors and the successful conclusion of the first formal replenishment process of the Green Climate Fund, resulting in a nominal pledge of USD 9.66 billion and a notional credit of USD 118.47 million that may be earned in the event all contributors make early encashment;

4. Encourages further pledges and contributions towards the first formal replenishment period;

5. Also encourages contributing countries to confirm their pledges to the Green Climate Fund in the form of fully executed contribution agreements or arrangements as soon as possible;

6. Reiterates the request to the Green Climate Fund to accelerate the disbursement of funds for already approved projects, including for readiness support, and provide detailed information on disbursement levels and measures taken in this regard in its report to the Conference of the Parties;

7. Welcomes the approval of the Board’s four-year workplan and requests the Board to complete its work on closing policy gaps, streamlining and simplifying approval processes, including for readiness support and national adaptation plans, and addressing the review of the accreditation framework as soon as possible so as not to disrupt the project and programme approval cycle during the first formal replenishment;

8. Encourages the Board of the Green Climate Fund to continue its efforts to ensure that the Green Climate Fund enjoys privileges and immunities;

9. Takes note of the engagement of the President of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the matter of granting privileges and immunities for the Green Climate Fund and its officials through a possible institutional linkage between the United Nations and the Green Climate Fund, and requests the President to report on this engagement at its twenty-sixth session (November 2020);

10. Decides to continue its consideration of the matter in paragraph 9 above at its twentysixth session;

11. Invites Parties to submit to the secretariat their views and recommendations on elements to be taken into account in developing guidance for the Board via the submission portal4 no later than 10 weeks prior to the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties;

12. Requests the Standing Committee on Finance to take into consideration the submissions referred to in paragraph 11 above when preparing its draft guidance to the Board for consideration by the Conference of the Parties and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

13. Also requests the Board to include in its annual report to the Conference of the Parties information on the steps it has taken to implement the guidance provided in this decision;

14. Takes note of decision -/CMA.25 and decides to transmit to the Green Climate Fund the guidance from the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement contained in paragraphs 15–21 below, in accordance with decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 61;

15. Welcomes the report of the Green Climate Fund to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session and its addendum, including the list of actions taken by the Board in response to guidance received from the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;

16. Also welcomes the Board’s decision confirming that the current Green Climate Fund modalities enable support for the preparation and implementation of nationally determined contributions and adaptation-related elements of the Paris Agreement;

17. Recalls Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement, in which Parties established a global goal on adaptation for enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change;

18. Takes note of the encouragement of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement7 for the Green Climate Fund, among others, to continue channelling support to developing country Parties for the implementation of their adaptation plans and actions in accordance with the priorities and needs outlined in their adaptation communication and/or nationally determined contributions;

19. Encourages the Green Climate Fund to continue to enhance its support for adaptation and requests the Green Climate Fund to:

(a) Swiftly conclude its work on guidance on the approach and scope for providing support to adaptation activities;

(b) Continue to enhance its support for the implementation of national adaptation plans, in line with Board decisions on enhancing readiness programming;

20. Also encourages the Green Climate Fund to continue to collaborate with the Climate Technology Centre and Network and the Technology Executive Committee with a view to both strengthening cooperative action on technology development and transfer at different stages of the technology cycle and achieving a balance between support for mitigation and support for adaptation;

21. Invites the Board of the Green Climate Fund to continue providing financial resources for activities relevant to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage in developing country Parties, to the extent consistent with the existing investment, results framework and funding windows and structures of the Green Climate Fund, and to facilitate efficient access in this regard, and in this context to take into account the strategic workstreams of the fiveyear rolling workplan of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts. 

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