IsDB/ESCWA High-Level Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate in Development Planning and Mobilizing Climate Finance
Statement of Dr. Rola Dashti
United Nations Under Secretary-General
Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
2 November 2021
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
I am pleased to welcome you today to the High-Level Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate in Development Planning and Mobilizing Climate Finance. Thanks is extended to our partner, the Islamic Development Bank, for the collaborative efforts to organize this dialogue. Let me take this opportunity to thank the UK for hosting COP 26
We are meeting today to share progress in mainstreaming climate considerations in national development planning and how to mobilize the financial resources needed to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It is essential that sustainable development pathways help countries to recover from the coronavirus pandemic by promoting economic growth while enhancing resilience as we pursue global climate goals. An important enabler is the alignment of climate change policies and commitments in national and sectoral development plans.
Dear Colleagues,
Our region faces increasing climate impacts. ESCWA RICCAR regional climate modelling projections shown an expected average increase in daily temperature by 4 to 5 °Celsius for the business-as-usual scenario by end of century in Arab Region. The region also suffers from extreme weather events, including flash floods, heatwaves, sandstorms and droughts that impacting coastal communities, agricultural livelihoods and vulnerable groups. Science-based assessments should inform the development of integrated climate change strategies and the mainstreaming of climate consideration in strategic sectors.
The Arab countries are taking action to reduce emissions as reflected in their reviews of the NDC and adaptation has been a priority for our countries. At this COP 26, Parties are negotiating a “collective quantified goal” from a floor of $100 billion where many outstanding issues still need be resolved to ensure that the agreed finance targets are meaningful. However, the quantity and quality of financial support provided to Arab States needs to be improved. Adaptation finance remains 3.5 times lower than financing for mitigation, despite the fact that 90% of the region’s population – meaning 392 million people – reside in countries that are water scarce. Debt financing also overshadows grant funding for climate action by a factor of 8, with the Arab region’s Least Developed Countries also falling behind.
In addition, climate finance provided to Arab countries is not always consistent with national and local priorities. The climate change strategies and development plans that we will hear about today from our distinguished panel of participants demonstrate that project pipelines exist, and greater alignment should be pursued between national needs and the assistance being received.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To tackle these climate financing challenges in our region, ESCWA is working with the UNFCCC and League of Arab States to prepare an Arab Climate Finance Mobilization and Access Strategy. The strategy will help to mobilize resources in line with the articulated needs and priorities of the Arab States and also identify innovative financial instruments and arrangements.
ESCWA also launched the Climate/SDGs Debt swap-Donor Nexus Initiative to support Member States in bridging their climate finance gaps and reducing their high debt burdens by working with partners to reallocate debt related payment for priority climate actions in support of the SDGs. ESCWA pursues this work through its Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies with key partners.
Moreover, ESCWA has been diligently supporting the Arab Negotiations Group on Climate Change since 2013 and has a longstanding engagement with the League of Arab States and its Ministerial Councils. Our climate change support to Arab States builds on science to identify and promote nationally determined climate policy and action across sectors.
In addition, efforts were made with UN and regional partners to strengthen capacities of Arab experts and negotiators on key negotiation issues and implementation of Paris Agreement in particular the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)
Excellencies
Your commitments are important but advancing climate Actions is what the region needs now
And ESCWA stands ready, as always, to support
Thank you and congratulation for Egypt hosting cop27.
