EU side-event - CoP18: Paving the Way for Climate Compatible Development: Experiences from the Global Climate Change Alliance

Through the GCCA and geographical programmes, the EU provides assistance for climate change across the world with a special focus on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

As the most vulnerable countries are already experiencing the effects of climate change, the fight against climate change is an integral part of EU regular development aid € 2.8 billion for climate relevant projects was provided between 2007 and 2011.

Support is also provided through specific programmes like the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA). The GCCA is the EU-supported initiative to strengthen exchange and cooperation with developing countries most vulnerable to climate change, in particular the LDCs and the SIDS. The GCCA acts as platform for policy dialogue and exchange of experiences and provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets and to implement adaptation and mitigation interventions.

From 2008 to 2012, the GCCA has engaged more than EUR 235 million in support of over 35 programmes across the world. An additional 9 countries are expected to benefit from the GCCA in 2013, bringing the total value of the initiative to over EUR 285 million.

The GCCA is thriving to make climate change support effective, helping government partners to integrate climate change into national development planning and budgeting and piloting budget support. In doing so, it ensures full alignment with country's strategies and systems and long-term institutional strengthening. Through this focus, the EU is also helping countries increasing their absorptive capacities and preparing to receive long-term climate change finance, paving the way for long-term climate compatible development. It also serves as catalyst to further integrate climate change into EU regular development aid, thereby creating a multiplier effect.

To complement country and regional programmes, the GCCA is also organising workshops for decision-makers of LDCs and SIDS on mainstreaming climate change adaptation into national development planning and budgeting. Following a first series of 10 successful workshops across the world, more sessions will be organised on demand at the national or regional level.

As evidenced by the recently held Global Learning Event, the GCCA is starting to collect early results and lessons learned.

The side-event will explore experiences from countries like Mauritius, Bhutan, Samoa and Guyana bringing voices from the field, partner countries and development actors. It will investigate how the focus of the GCCA can help strengthen institutions in the long-term and preparing to receive long-term climate change finance. As the future of the GCCA is being shaped, the side-event will inform its development over the next EU programming cycle (2014-2017).

 Planned speakers to the side event include:

-                 Mr Etienne Coyette from the EU who will present an overview of the GCCA with a focus on climate change mainstreaming, budget support and long-term institutional strengthening, and its linkages with climate relevant regular development aid.

-                 Mrs Edwige Botoni from Le Comite permanent inter-Etats de luttre contre la Secheresse (CILLS) who will discuss long-term climate change finance and capacity needs, and the role of regional organisations and GCCA in this respect

-                 A country representative from Nepal who will address the benefits and challenges related to climate change mainstreaming based on their experience (to be confirmed)

-                 A country representative from Samoa who will address the benefits and challenges related to budget support for climate change based on their experience in the water sector

-                 Mr. AndreaS Karaolis, from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus, which as EU Member State contribute to the GCCA, who will highlight the importance of joint programming and financing and the added value of the GCCA

Videos on other GCCA interventions will be shown to give a broader prospect on the work supported by the GCCA.

The interventions will be followed by a lively discussion with the floor.