Katowice, Poland (December 12, 2018) — In a resounding endorsement of the Adaptation Fund’s impactful work supporting vulnerable nations and a powerful push for increased global climate action, the Fund witnessed an unprecedented wave of financial commitments at its Contributor Dialogue held during the COP 24 climate conference on December 11th. These pledges underscore a growing international recognition of the urgent need for adaptation finance and the critical role the Adaptation Fund plays in delivering tangible results on the ground.
A remarkable total of approximately 129 million USD in new pledges was announced, setting a new single-year record for the Fund. This significant milestone was achieved through the generous contributions of nine governments, notably including first-time pledges from two major entities. This outpouring of support surpassed the previous record of US$ 95.9 million established just the year before, highlighting a clear upward trend in commitment to adaptation finance.
Leading the charge, Germany pledged a substantial 70 million EUR, while France committed 15 million EUR, and Italy 7 million EUR. Sweden demonstrated its continued strong support with 50 million SEK. Belgium’s Walloon Region and Brussels-Capital Region contributed 4 million EUR and 465,000 EUR respectively. Significantly, the European Commission joined as a first-time contributor with a pledge of 10 million EUR, and New Zealand marked a groundbreaking moment as the first non-European government to contribute, pledging NZ$ 3 million. Following these announcements, Ireland further added to the momentum with a commitment of 300,000 EUR during the COP24 high-level statements. Throughout the dialogue, recipient governments, national implementing partners, and civil society representatives shared compelling success stories illustrating the transformative impact of Adaptation Fund projects.
Ms. Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, set the stage for the dialogue by acknowledging the unprecedented demand on the Fund, with a record US$ 264 million in project requests for its last Board meeting alone. She emphasized the Fund’s crucial role in bridging the adaptation finance gap and its pioneering approach through Direct Access, empowering developing countries to take ownership of adaptation efforts. “We need to see greater ambition,” she stated. “The Adaptation Fund has a vital role to play. It works to bridge one of the most crucial gaps by funding concrete adaptation projects for the most vulnerable countries to climate change. It is also a pioneer through Direct Access in developing country ownership in adaptation. Most importantly it’s about the people, societies and ecosystems that support them. The Adaptation Fund needs more support. Let’s do all we can to ensure the vision, energy and imagination embodied by the Adaptation Fund continues well into the future.”
Delegates at the Adaptation Fund Contributor Dialogue during COP24 in Katowice, Poland. The event saw record-breaking pledges to the Fund, reaching nearly 129 million USD, highlighting increased global ambition for climate adaptation finance.
Prime Minister of Fiji and COP 23 President, H.E. Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, reinforced the call for urgent scaling up of climate finance. He lauded the Fund’s project in Fiji, which is helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change and disaster risks. “The Fund has been successful, including in Fiji,” he affirmed. “Many more projects need to be funded, not just in Fiji, but all over the world to communities in need.”
Major Contributions Reflect Trust and Urgency
The announced donations spanned a spectrum from long-standing supporters to entirely new contributors, signaling broad confidence in the Fund’s operational model and strategic importance.
Germany’s substantial 70 million EUR pledge marked the largest single donation the Fund has ever received. Dr. Karsten Sach, Director General for Climate Policy, European and International Policy at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, explained, “We believe in the quality and work that the Fund has done.” He referenced recent independent evaluations that lauded the Fund’s efficiency, effectiveness, and relevance in the climate finance landscape.
Sweden, a consistently strong contributor, committed 50 million SEK. H.E. Ms. Karolina Skog, Sweden’s Minister for the Environment, Ministry of Environment and Energy, emphasized the pressing need for adaptation in the face of escalating climate impacts. “Recent extreme weather events around the globe have once again reminded us that climate change is not something in a distant future – it is here and now,” she stated. “The issue of adaptation is high on our agenda. We hope that our pledge of support sends a clear signal that Sweden stands in solidarity with people and countries particularly affected by climate change. We hope that this pledge will contribute to a positive momentum. The Adaptation Fund plays an important role in climate finance, not least by spearheading the Direct Access Modality, which has proven immensely valuable to build crucial national capacity. Sweden’s objective is to make the Adaptation Fund an integral part of the financial architecture of the Paris Agreement. And we highly appreciate the efforts made by the Adaptation Fund to mainstream gender into project design and implementation.”
France’s 15 million EUR contribution was announced by Mr. Adrien Zakhartchouk, Head of Climate, Environment and Agriculture at the French Treasury, who underscored adaptation as a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement. “We want to demonstrate our support to adaptation,” he said. “Our support [to the Fund] is a signal of support to beneficiaries with catalytic effects on the ground, Direct Access and country ownership and governance that it is working well.”
Expanding Donor Base and Global Reach
The Adaptation Fund’s appeal extended to new donors, with the European Commission’s first-ever climate finance contribution of 10 million EUR to any climate fund under the UNFCCC. Mr. Mauro Petriccione, Director General of Climate Action for the European Commission, affirmed Europe’s commitment to “support the most vulnerable developing countries” and expressed confidence that COP24 would further strengthen the Fund’s capacity to scale up its vital work.
Adaptation Fund Manager Mikko Ollikainen highlighted the significance of this new partnership: “It is the first climate finance contribution by the Commission to any climate fund under the UNFCCC and is a great recognition of the Fund’s work,” he noted.
New Zealand’s landmark contribution of NZ$ 3 million marked the first time the Fund received support from outside Europe, broadening its global donor base. H.E. Mr. James Shaw, Climate Change Minister of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, stated, “New Zealand hears the calls for increased support for adaptation,” during high-level statements the previous day. “The Adaptation Fund is a vital source of small-scale adaptation finance, including for our region, the Pacific. New Zealand’s contribution demonstrates our commitment to the Fund’s ongoing viability and its future under the Paris Agreement.” He further emphasized the Fund’s unique position in the climate finance landscape and its crucial role in assisting vulnerable populations to adapt to climate change.
Italy, a consistent supporter, pledged an additional 7 million EUR. Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director General for Sustainable Development, Energy and Climate at the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land & Sea, recognized the Fund’s impactful work: “We believe people in the Adaptation Fund are doing a very good job. The Adaptation Fund makes a very good difference,” he asserted.
Regional governments also reiterated their commitment, with the Walloon Region of Belgium pledging 4 million EUR and the Brussels Capital-Region of Belgium contributing 400,000 EUR. Ministers from both regions, H.E. Mr. Jean-Luc Crucke and H.E. Ms. Céline Fremault, respectively, praised the Fund’s focus on vulnerable populations and its innovative Direct Access modality.
Ireland continued its support with a 300,000 EUR contribution, as announced by H.E. Mr. Richard Bruton, Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. “This Fund finances projects and programmes in developing countries to help vulnerable communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” he noted, underscoring Ireland’s strong commitment to adaptation action.
Impact on the Ground: Real-World Adaptation
The surge in pledges, totaling nearly 129 million USD, signifies a critical injection of resources for the Adaptation Fund to expand its on-the-ground work. To put this figure into perspective, approximately 129 million USD is equivalent to roughly 117 million euros (based on exchange rates at the time of the announcement), highlighting the substantial financial commitment made by European nations and others to this crucial cause.
The official press release announcing the record-breaking pledges to the Adaptation Fund, highlighting the nearly 129 million USD mobilized to support climate adaptation projects in vulnerable countries.
Victor Viñas, Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board, expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support: “We are extremely grateful and appreciative for the outpouring of support we saw here today. It says a lot about the trust the Fund has built up over the years for its effective adaptation work on the ground for the most vulnerable countries,” he stated. He emphasized the Fund’s pioneering Direct Access approach and the urgent need for long-term financial sustainability to meet the ever-increasing demand for adaptation solutions.
During the dialogue, concrete examples of the Fund’s impact were presented. H.E. Mr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Environment in Rwanda, described a project in northwest Rwanda that transformed lives and restored farmlands through terracing, afforestation, and de-silting caves. Ms. Le-Anne Roper from Jamaica highlighted a Direct Access project empowering agricultural communities through water and land management. Ms. Elin Lorimer from South Africa showcased an innovative Enhanced Direct Access project empowering local communities and another project reducing flood and drought risks for 25,000 people, including a significant number of women farmers.
About the Adaptation Fund
Since 2010, the Adaptation Fund has committed US$ 532 million to 80 concrete adaptation projects in vulnerable communities across developing countries, directly benefiting 5.8 million people. The Fund’s pioneering Direct Access modality empowers national ownership and builds capacities in climate change adaptation. The record-breaking pledges received at COP24 will enable the Fund to further expand its reach and impact, providing crucial support to those on the front lines of climate change.
Communications: Matthew Pueschel, [email protected] or +1-202-473-6743
