Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoSide Events
High-level Event on Climate Change - Panel 2
The second panel discussion, on “Mobilizing stakeholders for ambitious actions on mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation”, was moderated by Rachel Kyte, Vice-President of the World Bank Group. The panellists were Laurence Tubiana, France’s Special Representative for COP21; Jean Pierre Clamadieu, Chief Executive Officer of Solvay; Hela Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund; Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; Adnan Amin, Executive Director of IRENA; and Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment Facility.
Ms. Tubiana said that with a view to the $100 billion goal, national contributions would need to be increased over time along a clear pathway and with hopes of sending a clear message for a framework on how to fund greener, cleaner economies. The transition to a carbon-free and resilient economy was not only necessary, but also beneficial. Negotiations had attached insufficient attention to innovative technologies, she said, emphasizing that research and development investments were essential.
From a private-sector standpoint, Mr. Clamadieu said the business community had mobilized efforts to combat climate change, including holding a recent conference on how to deal with the challenges. The community was also ready to participate with Governments towards common goals. As a chemist, he said, his laboratories were developing technologies such as insulation, lighter and better performing automotive parts to reduce emissions.
Ms. Cheikhrouhou said her country, Tunisia, and other African States were facing climate crises, including water shortages, where action was needed. The Green Climate Fund was a key institution for the climate finance architecture and its resource mobilization efforts were ongoing, with 130 developing countries having reached out for support. An increasing percentage of annual investments in developing countries should be focused on climate change issues.
Ms. Barbut said the Paris agreement should put the world on a path to green growth, which was absolutely essential given the increasing population. Restoring land for farming would ensure the world’s ability to feed its people. Discussions were now being held to support a fund to finance the rehabilitation of 12 million hectares annually of deteriorating land. It would also help to strengthen the resiliency of vulnerable communities, she said, appealing for funding support.
Mr. Amin said renewable energy was the way to reduce emissions, noting that the total investments were rising and costs were dropping — solar energy by about 75 per cent and wind generation by 30 per cent. Solar power was cheaper than gas in the Middle East region, he said, noting that Egypt had been investing in wind energy. As the prices fell around the world, more and more countries were choosing renewable energy sources. Among the constraints to renewable energy were high costs for financing projects and the accompanying unrealistically high risk factors.
Ms. Ishii said the Global Environment Facility supported several projects, including three aimed at promoting green urban planning, which sought to mitigate 100 million tons of carbon dioxide, reduce illegal reforestation and achieving food security in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative financing efforts were also being made to help small power producers and to address challenges in agro-forestry. Resilience was essential in current and future projects. She hoped Member States would help to unlock that funding on the road to Paris.
Participating in the interactive dialogue, including at the ministerial level, were representatives of Suriname, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Panama, Chile, Mexico, Sierra Leone, India, Japan, Angola, Spain, Germany (on behalf of the G7), Rwanda (on behalf of the African Group), Trinidad and Tobago (on behalf of the Caribbean Community), Maldives (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States), Guatemala (on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean), Australia, Lebanon, New Zealand and Hungary. A representative of the African Union also participated, as did a representative of Action Aid in Bangladesh.
