Global Center on Adaptation – Saudi Mirror http://www.saudimirror.com News On-line Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.2 Launch of YouthADAPT Challenge 2023: Empowering Africa’s Female Tech Innovators to tackle Climate Change http://www.saudimirror.com/launch-of-youthadapt-challenge-2023-empowering-africas-female-tech-innovators-to-tackle-climate-change/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=217309 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Oct. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank ("the Bank") and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has launched a call for applications for the third edition of the YouthADAPT Challenge, with support from the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) hosted by the Bank.

YouthADAPT is an annual competition that invites young entrepreneurs leading micro, small, and medium enterprises in Africa to submit innovative solutions and business ideas that can drive climate change adaptation and resilience across the continent.

This year's call is dedicated to female–owned enterprises pioneering Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies such as artificial intelligence; big data analytics; virtual reality; robotics; Internet of Things; quantum computing; additive manufacturing; blockchain and fifth generation wireless for climate adaptation.

The winners will be awarded $100,000 each and will receive training, mentorship and coaching to support their climate change adaptation solutions and business ideas in their communities and across Africa. They will also join the YouthADAPT Alumni Network to learn from dynamic community of youth entrepreneurs throughout Africa.

To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 35. Their ventures should be youth–led and offer tangible solutions to real–life climate challenges. They must be registered and operational in Africa, with at least two years worth of accounts.

Apply by visiting the application portal. The closing date for applications is 5th November 2023 at 5:00pm GMT
An information session is scheduled for October 23, 2023 at 11 am GMT, aimed at sharing details about the YouthADAPT Challenge 2023. This session will cover eligibility criteria, the application process, important deadlines, and the advantages of participation, such as grants, mentorship, and business development services.

Contacts

African Development Bank

  • Joash Ntenga Moitui, Communications and Knowledge Management, Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program: j.moitui@afdb.org

Africa Climate Change Fund

Global Center on Adaptation

  • Alex Gee, Head of Communications, Global Center on Adaptation: alex.gee@gca.org

Notes to Editors
About African Development Bank
The overarching aim of the African Development Bank Group is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries, thus contributing to poverty reduction. The Bank Group achieves this goal by mobilizing and allocating resources for investment in regional member countries and providing policy advice and technical assistance to support development efforts. In 2015, all multilateral development institutions agreed on the same set of objectives, the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more: https://www.afdb.org/

About Africa Climate Change Fund
The Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF or Fund) is a multi–donor trust fund well positioned to contribute to the achievement of the African Development Bank (AfDB)'s goal to triple its climate financing efforts and foster its drive for a climate–resilient Africa. Visit ACCF's website: https://accf.afdb.org/

About the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sectors. For more information, please go to www.gca.org


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William Ruto, President of Kenya, joins GCA Advisory Board http://www.saudimirror.com/william-ruto-president-of-kenya-joins-gca-advisory-board/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:08:21 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=217117 Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change has accepted an invitation from Ban Ki–moon, 8th Secretary–General of the United Nations and Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and CEO Professor Patrick Verkooijen, to join the GCA Advisory Board.

During a high–level official meeting which took place today at the State House in Nairobi , Professor Patrick Verkooijen and President Ruto discussed a roadmap to guide the mobilisation of the financial commitments for adaptation which were made at the Africa Climate Summit hosted by the President in Nairobi earlier this month.

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Country Compacts, announced during the Leaders' Dialogue on Adaptation, will drive the doubling down and scaling of adaptation action across the world's most climate–vulnerable continent. The country–led investment roadmaps, initiated by the Government of Kenya, outline adaptation investment priorities, financing needs, and finance mobilization strategies for implementing climate adaptation measures connected to the priorities outlined in National Adaptation Plans and other national strategies.

Recent research from GCA showed Africa may need a nearly tenfold increase in climate adaptation funding to $100 billion a year if it is to buttress its infrastructure, improve climate early warning systems and shield its agriculture from climate change.

On accepting the invitation, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya said:
"African governments, businesses and communities have paid heavily for climate–related destruction and disruption, and have already invested heavily in adaptation action, but we need stronger international partnerships to support adaptation more than ever before. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program , the world's largest adaptation program resulting from collaboration between GCA, the University of Nairobi, African Development Bank and the African Union Commission, is the best vehicle we have to mobilize additional funding. I look forward to working closely with Professor Verkooijen and the Board to build on the US$6.7 billion that the AAAP has already invested in resilient climate projects in 27 countries since 2021. By working together I am confident that we will make great progress in ensuring that international commitments to deliver highly strategic and comprehensive adaptation responses are fulfilled."

Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA and Distinguished Chair of the Wangari Maathai Institute said:
"It is only by adapting to climate change that Africa can reach its potential. Yet promised climate finance""which is necessary to underpin wider development goals""remains critically short of what is needed. President Ruto has played a crucial role in the implementation of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program across the continent and I commend his leadership in hosting the Africa Climate Summit. I look forward to our continued collaboration to ensure the Summit outcomes are delivered for Africa's march to sustainable economic transformation and green growth."

During the Africa Climate Summit, President Ruto announced Kenya will host regional headquarters for GCA in Nairobi:
"I have had opportunity to interact with the Global Center for Adaptation, an international organisation based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, whose constitution is an appealing emblem of our aspirations, from the aspirational design of its global headquarters and futuristic regional headquarters in Nairobi, comprising green walls and roof as well as rain gardens, to the collaborative culture of its staff. Unsurprisingly, the Center is intended to inspire the world to thrive with nature instead of pursuing the dangerous course of seeking to thrive at nature's expense."

It is expected the new Africa headquarters will open in Nairobi in January 2025.

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sectors. Founded in 2018, GCA operates from the largest floating office in the world, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Beijing, China.

About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program
The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). It aims to mobilize $25 billion, over five years, to accelerate and scale climate adaptation action across the continent. This ambition is delivered through the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility managed by the Global Center on Adaptation and the African Development Bank's climate action window in the ADF replenishment. AAAP works across four pillars to achieve transformational results: Climate–Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security; African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator; Youth Empowerment for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa.

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President of Kenya visits GCA Headquarters to mobilize action ahead of Africa Climate Action Summit http://www.saudimirror.com/president-of-kenya-visits-gca-headquarters-to-mobilize-action-ahead-of-africa-climate-action-summit/ Sun, 07 May 2023 14:55:01 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=216018 Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — His Excellency William S. Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, visited the floating headquarters of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Rotterdam today to participate in a Strategic Dialogue on the Africa Climate Action Summit.

The Africa Climate Action Summit is being co–hosted by the Government of Kenya and the African Union Commission on 4th to 6th September 2023, and is co–convened by the African Development Bank and GCA. The visit follows a meeting between Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA and President Ruto in Nairobi in February 2023 where they discussed driving the implementation and financing of climate adaptation through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

GCA, as the only international organisation focused exclusively on climate adaptation, is working closely with the Government of Kenya to mobilize financial commitments for adaptation during the Africa Climate Action Summit. The Strategic Dialogue discussed developing Adaptation Country Investment Compacts and other mechanisms to determine the adaptation investment needs and financing opportunities for each country. The Summit will coalesce partners, including international financial institutions and the private sector, around accelerating adaptation financing and climate action leading into the United Nations Secretary–General's Climate Action Summit and COP28.

The President, who is the Chair of the African Union's Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, was welcomed to the city of Rotterdam and the GCA Headquarters by GCA CEO Professor Verkooijen; the Mayor of Rotterdam, Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb; Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2002–2010) and GCA Executive Board Member and Feike Sijbesma, Board of Trustees, World Economic Forum, GCA Co–Chair.

His Excellency Ban Ki–moon, 8th Secretary–General of the United Nations and GCA Co–Chair; Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment and Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice–President of the African Development Bank joined the Strategic Dialogue virtually to discuss the Africa Climate Action Summit. The discussion highlighted the importance of rich nations coming forward with commitments to honor the pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow to double adaptation financing by 2025 and how the Summit can help deliver the priorities of African governments to advance the "Green Agenda for Africa" including opportunities in green industrialisation.

Speaking during the dialogue, His Excellency William S. Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, said: "The world is now edging close and closer towards the brink of a climate disaster whose warning signs so far are the most catastrophic environmental and atmospheric phenomena humankind has ever encountered. The GCA exists to remind us of these fundamental truths, and to mobilise and empower effective responses in ways that are both reassuring and inspiring."

Professor Patrick Verkooijen highlighted the importance of the Africa Climate Action Summit to mobilize climate finance for adaptation: "African countries are at ground zero of our climate emergency – they are already losing up to 15% of GDP growth due to climate change even though they are responsible for only 3% of global emissions. They must be given the chance to survive and thrive even as they suffer the impacts of a crisis they did not cause. Africa has the solutions but it needs climate finance and investment. I commend President Ruto for his leadership in hosting the Africa Climate Action Summit and look forward to the real and tangible commitments it will deliver."

Notes to Editors

About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)
An Africa–owned and Africa–led program, the AAAP, is a joint initiative between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and GCA with the goal of mobilizing $25 billion for adaptation in Africa by 2025 through four pillars: food security, resilient infrastructure, youth entrepreneurship and job creation, and innovative climate adaptation finance. The African Union endorsed AAAP's two financing mechanisms. The first mechanism is the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility hosted by GCA, which has already influenced over $5.2bn in investment for adaptation in Africa since its inception in 2021. The AfDB administers the second financing mechanism through the climate set aside under the ADF–16 replenishment, which builds on the AfDB's commitment to finance $12.5 billion of adaptation programs "" half of the AAAP investment target.

About the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sectors. Founded in 2018, GCA operates from its headquarters in the largest floating office in the world, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Beijing, China.

About the Africa Climate Action Summit
The Africa Climate Action Summit in Nairobi will be held from September 4th to September 6th. This summit is expected to bring together leaders, experts, and policymakers from across the world to discuss the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on Africa. The Africa Climate Action Summit will focus on a number of key areas, including adaptation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate finance. Participants will share their experiences, best practices, and strategies for addressing climate change, and will work to develop a roadmap for African countries to achieve their climate goals.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: GLOBAL LAUNCH OF STATE AND TRENDS IN ADAPTATION IN AFRICA 2022 http://www.saudimirror.com/media-advisory-global-launch-of-state-and-trends-in-adaptation-in-africa-2022/ Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:35:06 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=213632 Rotterdam, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — What: Pre–COP27 Press Conference and Global Launch of State and Trends in Africa 2022

When: Thursday 3rd November at 13.00 "" 14.00 CET

Where: Virtual. Please register your attendance here for the press conference and to receive an embargoed copy of the report.

With less than one week until COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Global Center on Adaptation is gathering global leaders to discuss expected outcomes from COP27 and to present the findings of its flagship report "State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa 2022" (STA22).

STA22 is the most comprehensive guide to assess progress on climate adaptation in Africa and provide guidance and recommendations on best practices in adapting to the effects of a changing climate and building resilience to climate shocks. The report highlights successful adaptation initiatives from the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) which have the potential to be scaled up and replicated. It also presents key policies, skills and finance gaps that must be addressed if adaptation is to be effective and reach those who need it the most.

Agenda

Opening address and report launch

  • Professor Patrick Verkooijen, Chief Executive Officer, Global Center on Adaptation

High–Level Speakers

  • Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group
  • Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships
  • Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission.

Technical presentation of the report

  • STA22 Co–Directors Professor Jamal Saghir and Ede Jorge Ijjasz–Vasquez

At COP26 in Glasgow last year, the global donor community promised to double finance for adaptation from the current rate of up to a quarter of climate financial flows earmarked for the developing world. It is expected at COP27 that significant progress will be made on climate finance including the delivery of the promised $100 billion a year to assist developing countries.

This year's report found that cumulative adaptation finance to 2030 will come to less than one–quarter of the estimated needs stated by African countries in their National Determined Contributions (NDCs). In 2019 and 2020 an estimated $11.4 billion was committed to climate adaptation finance in Africa with more than 97% of the funds coming from public actors and less than 3% from the private sector. This is significantly less than the $52.7 billion annually to 2030 it is estimated African countries will need.

To increase the volume and efficacy of adaptation finance flows to Africa over the coming decade, the report makes a number of recommendations:

  • Financial institutions must mainstream resilience into investments they are making.
  • Policy makers and other stakeholders must build an enabling environment for adaptation investment.
  • Financial innovation for adaptation must match country–level policy and market conditions.

Notes to Editors

About Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector. Founded in 2018, GCA operates from its headquarters in the largest floating office in the world, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China.

Contact

Alex Gee

Alex.gee@gca.org

Chinedu Moghalu

Chinedu.moghalu@gca.org


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African Leadership: World Must Double Down on Climate Adaptation to Secure Africa http://www.saudimirror.com/african-leadership-world-must-double-down-on-climate-adaptation-to-secure-africa/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:18 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=213327 Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — African and global leaders joined the Africa Adaptation Summit at the Global Center on Adaptation, outlining the most critical elements of the global community's response to the climate crisis that heavily affects Africa as the world's most exposed region, two months ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference at Sharm el–Sheikh, Egypt (COP27).

Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) said:

"Africa is unstoppable. But Africa is ground zero for the global climate breakdown. Nobody benefits if Africa fails to tackle it. Climate fallout in Africa cannot be contained so adaptation action can and must scale at breakneck speed across the continent. The world has to double down on adaptation at the UN climate summit in Egypt just weeks away."

He added that "We need an adaptation delivery breakthrough for Africa at COP27. That means adaptation finance visibly flowing in Africa. It means the financial ask on wealthy nations for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program and its Upstream Financing Facility is delivered by COP27. If we fail, all the progress of Glasgow's COP is at risk."

The Summit's five–point Communique highlighted that Africa was at a tipping point due to being most exposed to the food crisis triggered by the Ukraine conflict as well as the frontline of the global climate breakdown. It underscored that Success at COP27 will depend on whether the needs of Africa, the world's most climate–vulnerable continent, are met, with finance flowing into key country–led adaptation programs such as the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

Macky Sall, President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union said:

"You have to adapt or die. We do not have the choice. Our time to act is coming to an end. Africa must prioritize adaptation. Africa needs to invest massively in adaptation and resilience. As Chairperson of the African Union, I urge Africa's development partners to fully fund the AAAP and make it an exemplary model of what is possible when we collaborate. This impact will be enhanced through your support to the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility and the African Development Bank's Climate Action under the ADF Replenishment. The AAAP is what delivers on the vision of the Africa Adaptation Initiative."

"COP26 marked a breakthrough thanks to your determination to put adaptation on the global agenda by doubling adaptation finance. Now, with your help, we must keep that promise. With your support, the AAAP can make this vision a reality," concluded President Macky Sall.

The Summit highlighted that Africa is warming faster than other regions. Its underlying socio–economic vulnerabilities also mean that nine out of ten of the world's most vulnerable countries are in Africa, where food expenses make up 75% of the income of the continent's poorest groups when more than a fifth of all Africans are already food insecure. The number of Africa's poorest nations at high risk of debt distress has also tripled in the past decade.

President Akufo Addo of Ghana and Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) said:

"If we want Africa to thrive, we must adapt to climate change. Africa must close the adaptation financing gap. We cannot wait. I look forward to the swift implementation of the AAAP. The fate of our continent and the planet depends upon it." President Akufo Addo also highlighted adaptation priorities for COP27 including calling for "a standalone implementation plan of the COP26–agree doubling of adaptation funding by 2025. It's time to turn words into deeds and ambition into action. Crucially, we expect progress and we expect to see how funds will flow into country–led programs like the AAAP.”

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and co–host of the PreCOP27 said:

"We are here because we believe the AAAP is needed not just for Africa, but for the world. When Africa wins, the world wins. We cannot let Africa be held back and undermined by the climate crisis. We need partnership to forge a resilient future. With an African COP this year, we cannot miss out on a win for Africa on climate. To secure that win, we need to at minimum see the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility mobilized, positioning the AAAP to drive the full $25 billion in adaptation projects on the ground." He added that "our Pre–COP meeting in Kinshasa next month aims to springboard the priorities of Africa and the most vulnerable nations to center–stage at COP27. As a part of the Pre–COP we will also host the CVF's high level Forum of Vulnerable Nations event because this is the voice that matters the most in the climate crisis."

Deputy Secretary–General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, said:

"The Glasgow decision urges developed countries to collectively double adaptation funding by 2025. This must be delivered in full, as a base line. Developed countries need to provide, by COP27, a clear roadmap of how and when they will deliver on this commitment."

The Deputy Secretary–General of the United Nations also underscored that delivery on adaptation finance will be a "litmus test" for countries honouring their end of the Glasgow Pact, and joined the call for COP27 to deliver a breakthrough on implementation for adaptation.

The Summit at the GCA's floating headquarters in Rotterdam harbour announced US$55 million in new contributions from the United Kingdom ($23m), Norway ($15m), France ($10m), Denmark ($7m), among other supporters to the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility managed by the GCA, whose 1:100 leverage ratio will influence over 5 billion in climate adaptation investments across Africa. The Upstream Financing Facility was described by GCA Chair and 8th Secretary–General of the United Nations Ban Ki–moon as the "transmission belt" for the best global and regional knowledge and innovation directly to large–scale investment projects in Africa.

Donors announcing new funding commitments to the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility at the Summit further commented, as follows:

President of COP26 Alok Sharma:

"COP26 was an important milestone for adaptation, but we have to pick up the pace and turn commitments made in the Glasgow Climate Pact into urgent action if we're to protect those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

As agreed at COP26, developed nations need to at least collectively double climate adaptation finance to developing countries by 2025.

Public finance will not be enough, which is why initiatives such as the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme are key to mobilising private sector engagement and investment for adaptation."

Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development, Norway:

"Norway has committed to double our climate finance and at least triple support to adaptation by 2026. For Norway, GCA is a key partner in advancing the climate adaptation and food security agenda. We welcome GCA's cooperation with the African Development Bank on the AAAP. AAAP's objectives are fully in line with our priorities. How can we "" together "" minimize the risk of climate disasters? How can we make food systems more resilient "" making the most vulnerable better placed to cope with the next drought, flood or plague? How can we – at the same time – create much needed jobs, especially for the youth? AAAP is definitely an important part of the answer. I would therefore encourage more partners to join our efforts."

Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, France:

"France remains highly committed to tackling climate change and supporting adaptation in African countries. On behalf of President Macron, I am proud to announce our decision to invest 10 million euros in the AAAP's Upstream Financing Facility. This effort should leverage a total of 1 billion euros of adaptation investments, and support concrete local improvements in environmental quality and resilience."

Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, :

"Denmark has set a clear goal: 60% of our climate aid will help developing countries to adapt to climate change. In total, Denmark expects to give at least 1% of the collective target of 100bn I hope this can pave the way for massive investments in adaptation and green energy in Africa. And Denmark will continue to do our part. We are deeply committed to meet climate challenges, and to deliver on our promises."

Over seventy leaders from the international climate and development community attended the Dialogue which concluded with a Communique adopted in the presence of the Dialogue's Co–Conveners, Chair of the GCA Board, Ban Ki–moon; CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, Professor Patrick Verkooijen; African Union President Macky Sall of Senegal; Climate Vulnerable Forum Chair President Akufo Addo of Ghana; PreCOP27 host President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Co–Chair of the GCA Board, Feike Sijbesma.

The following are the five points of the Africa Adaptation Summit's Communique:

  1. Africa at a tipping point: The international community needs to reckon with the multiple economic, climate and health crises that are pressuring Africa.
  2. Most vulnerable continent: Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the consequences of the climate crisis.
  3. Adaptation Finance Doubling Implementation: Progress and transparency on the COP26 agreement to doubling international finance for adaptation by 2025 through delivery into the country programs of the most vulnerable will be central to the success of COP27.
  4. Capitalizing Africa's Adaptation Program (AAAP): COP27 is the opportunity for the international community to show solidarity with the bold adaptation efforts of the world's most vulnerable continent by closing in on the outstanding resourcing need for the African Development Fund (ADF) climate action window.
  5. Delivering the AAAP Upstream Facility: Making available the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility's full resourcing needs by COP27 positions the AAAP itself to drive its full ambition into adaptation projects on the ground across Africa, a headline deliverable for the "African COP."

In closing remarks Feike Sijbesma, Co–Chair of the GCA, noted:

"Investments in global climate adaptation cooperation are a big opportunity for countries like the Netherlands to share some of our best innovations with those who need them the most. The AAAP will be a crucial vehicle for triggering far greater business investment across Africa into green and resilient solutions. This is a collective effort, we need every sector, every contribution possible to see off the climate crisis in Africa, and the private sector, in particular, has a massive role to play."

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, the GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. The GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high–level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.

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Global Center on Adaptation showcases findings of Ghana’s National Assessment to Enhance the Resilience of its National Infrastructure Systems http://www.saudimirror.com/global-center-on-adaptation-showcases-findings-of-ghanas-national-assessment-to-enhance-the-resilience-of-its-national-infrastructure-systems/ Thu, 24 Mar 2022 10:44:07 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=214445 Accra, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During a Ministerial Dialogue in Accra, hosted by Ghana's Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Environment (MESTI), the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) announced the findings of Ghana's first National Assessment to explore how best to enhance the resilience of its national infrastructure.

"Ghana: Roadmap for Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate", was initiated by GCA and developed under the leadership of MESTI in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As a result of climate change, Ghana is expected to experience more acute climate hazards such as flooding, as well as more frequent and intense droughts. This has the potential to threaten the socio–economic development gains which made Ghana a middle–income country. The National Assessment focused on the energy, transport and water sectors to assess climate hazards to infrastructure assets and to prioritize adaptation investments to address those risks.

Key findings from "Ghana: Roadmap for Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate" include:

  • Energy ""Future energy availability for about a quarter of a million people in rural parts of Ghana is threatened by drought given their reliance on wood fuel for household energy generation. Equally, climate risks threaten major components of the electricity generation and transmission due to exposure to drought and flooding.
  • Water supply infrastructure "" 54% of dams assessed are exposed to floods and 23% to droughts under a high–hazard by 2050; the Weija dam, supplying 80% of the drinkable water for Accra's metropolitan area, was found to be particularly exposed to flooding.
  • Transport "" in a likely 2050 flooding scenario, analysis revealed the potential of $3.9 billion in damages to roads and highways – triple the estimated $1.3 billion Ghana invested in transport infrastructure in 2019.

GCA contributed to the National Assessment as part of its Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), a joint initiative with the African Development Bank to mobilize USD25 billion of investments in climate adaptation and resilience in Africa.

Speaking during the Ministerial Dialogue, Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation remarked "I don't need to remind you that Ghana will become hotter, wetter, and drier. Given how we know the climate crisis is evolving, these are very alarming statistics. But, this is not the full story. For us at the Global Center on Adaptation, the real story on climate adaptation in Africa is a story of resilience, of responsibility, of solidarity, of opportunities for a safer, greener, more prosperous continent. It is this story that is captured in the roadmap we are launching today."

His Excellency Dr Kwaku Afiyie, Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation said:

"Extreme weather and rapid changes to Ghana's climate present a profound risk to key sectors of Ghana's socio–economic development. Infrastructure in these sectors are the bedrock of the country's economic growth and development. Ghana, through MESTI in July 2020, received support from the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) through UN Office for Project Services (UNOPs) under the "enhancing the resilience of Ghana's National Infrastructure Systems to the impact of climate change" project ["] the implementation of the resilience road map will now require additional financial resources from both Government and Development Partner institutions."

The National Assessment proposes 35 adaptation options for funders and investors to invest in Ghana's future, offering impactful, evidence–based adaptation projects and enabling environment interventions backed by robust research and analysis.

GCA, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), through AAAP, is already working to implement the Scaling Renewable Energy Mini grid and Net Metering Program which seeks to support Ghana in the electrification of island communities and move closer moving closer to identified development objectives such as Sustainable Energy for All by 2030. GCA is working with the AfDB conduct climate risk assessments on potential climate hazards in the districts that will benefit from the electrification program.

Through its Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to access and leverage climate finance, GCA is also providing technical support to the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) as part of its application to become a Direct Access Entity to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enable Ghana to be able to take greater ownership of the implementation of climate finance.

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high–level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.


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Global Leaders Call: No Success at COP26 without a fair deal for Africa http://www.saudimirror.com/global-leaders-call-no-success-at-cop26-without-a-fair-deal-for-africa/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:49:49 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=214501 Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global leaders, hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta, spoke at the launch of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) "State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021 "" How Adaptation Can Make Africa Safer, Greener and More Prosperous in a Warming World" (STA21) to call for COP26 and development partners to increase resources to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

STA21 presents a blueprint for climate adaptation and showcases the opportunities climate adaptation offers to solve previously intractable problems and put Africa on a more resilient pathway towards "green growth".

The report outlines the financial and macro–economic risk climate change poses to Africa and the imperative for the continent to scale up adaptation to reduce the economic costs of climate change. Without adaptation action, projections estimate that climate change will lead to an equivalent of 2 percent to 4 percent annual loss in GDP in the continent by 2040, with the poor, women, and excluded populations bearing the brunt of the impact. Yet the GCA report shows that the benefits of adaptation measures are frequently more than twice or as much as five times or greater than their costs. In addition, moving quickly to adapt is especially beneficial, with a benefit–cost ratio for early action of at least 12 to 1.

Speaking during the launch event, Ban Ki–moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, Chair of the GCA said:

"The climate emergency has Africa at the cross–roads. Business as usual is a sure–fire route to chaos. But adapt to it and Africa will thrive."

Secretary–General Ban Ki–moon also spoke in support of the African–led and African–owned Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, as a pathway to mobilizing the balance of the promised $100 billion in annual international climate finance. He highlighted AAAP as an important opportunity to realize a resilient and prosperous future for Africa.

Patrick Verkooijen, in his inaugural annual lecture as GCA CEO, commented:

"Africa will suffer higher GDP losses than most other regions of the world. These impacts can only be reduced with adaptation. Thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods have already been sacrificed in Africa because we are far from delivering what is needed in adaptation today. For COP26 to succeed, Glasgow must deliver for Africa. To do so, it must bring more ambition and more finance to help Africa adapt to the pace of a climate emergency devastating the continent with increasingly serious consequences for the world's poorest and most vulnerable."

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group said:

"AAAP provides a unique opportunity for wealthier nations to meet their commitments and help Africa tackle the consequences of climate change. I am optimistic that our partners will deliver the first round of financing of $6 billion to $8 billion that we need for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program in 2021."

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) spoke about the importance of finance for adaptation:

"Key to success in adaptation and resilience "" like so many other issues related to climate change "" is adequate finance. At COP26 we will continue to call for wider–ranging and comprehensive financial support for developing nations. The $100 billion pledge was a commitment that was made in the UNFCCC process more than 10 years ago. It's time to deliver."

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund said:

"Effects of climate change in Africa threaten lives, jobs, and the substantial economic and development progress of the past two decades. As the GCA State and Trends in Adaptation report rightly says, adaptation is a necessity and must go hand–in–hand with reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. African countries need to do their part and have created the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program but cannot do it alone. Along with bold action to reduce emissions at COP26, the international community must deliver on its commitment to provide at least $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries where financial flows for adaptation must be on a par with financial flows for mitigation. This is essential for securing a sustainable global recovery."

Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya said:

"This program, in principle, aims to scale up and accelerate adaptation here in Africa by providing financial and technical support to African adaptation efforts. This initiative greatly paves the way for the continent to manage its climate related challenges. It is important to appreciate that effective climate adaptation will require a paradigm shift that harnesses the full potential of science and innovation."

Ngozi Okongo–Iweala, Director–General, World Trade Organization said:

"Ensuring that supply chains are resilient can be a key component of Africa's adaptation strategies. This will require significant efforts to climate–proof key trade–related infrastructure. Initiatives like the WTO's Aid for Trade can help mobilize investment in climate–resilient infrastructure.

Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union said:

"Climate change could wipe out 15 per cent of Africa's gross domestic product by 2030. This means an additional 100m people in extreme poverty by the end of the decade. This is a cruel fate for a continent that contributes so little to global warming. Our way out is to strengthen our ability to respond and adapt to climate change. That's why the African Union, working with the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank and other partners, is endorsing the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program."

Notes to Editors:

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, the GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. The GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high–level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.

For more information please go to www.gca.org

About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program

As the global solutions broker on adaptation and resilience, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has joined forces with the African Development Bank to create the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) focusing on bringing four critical areas for adaptation action to scale in partnership with African countries and partners. The four critical areas of Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security; African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator; Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help address the nexus of climate change, COVID–19, and the economy and will support African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post–COVID recovery development paths. AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africa's adaptation plans over five years ($5 billion per year). The AfDB has already committed half of the total, $12.5 billion by 2025. The program has been endorsed by President Tshisekedi, Chair of the African Union and President Ali Bongo of Gabon, the African Union Champion for Adaptation.

For more information please go to www.gca.org/programs/africa–adaptation–acceleration–program/

About the State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021

The GCA's 2021 State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa report presents the most comprehensive overview of the present and future prospects of the African continent in the light of climate change. It is also a blueprint for how individuals and institutions in the African and international policy space can design, finance, and implement adaptation plans to best protect the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of African people. Published ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the report is an evidence–based advocacy tool to put adaptation and resilience in Africa higher on the agenda nationally and internationally using the report's actionable policy recommendations. As adaptation is scaled up in response to the challenge of climate change, the report is expected to influence the design of projects and programs, including those supported by the African Adaptation Acceleration Program.

Contact
For additional enquiries and interview requests please contact:
Alexandra Gee
Head of Communications, Global Center on Adaptation
alex.gee@gca.org


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8380167)

]]>
Global Leaders Call: No Success at COP26 without a fair deal for Africa http://www.saudimirror.com/global-leaders-call-no-success-at-cop26-without-a-fair-deal-for-africa/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:49:49 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=214500 Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global leaders, hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta, spoke at the launch of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) "State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021 "" How Adaptation Can Make Africa Safer, Greener and More Prosperous in a Warming World" (STA21) to call for COP26 and development partners to increase resources to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

STA21 presents a blueprint for climate adaptation and showcases the opportunities climate adaptation offers to solve previously intractable problems and put Africa on a more resilient pathway towards "green growth".

The report outlines the financial and macro–economic risk climate change poses to Africa and the imperative for the continent to scale up adaptation to reduce the economic costs of climate change. Without adaptation action, projections estimate that climate change will lead to an equivalent of 2 percent to 4 percent annual loss in GDP in the continent by 2040, with the poor, women, and excluded populations bearing the brunt of the impact. Yet the GCA report shows that the benefits of adaptation measures are frequently more than twice or as much as five times or greater than their costs. In addition, moving quickly to adapt is especially beneficial, with a benefit–cost ratio for early action of at least 12 to 1.

Speaking during the launch event, Ban Ki–moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, Chair of the GCA said:

"The climate emergency has Africa at the cross–roads. Business as usual is a sure–fire route to chaos. But adapt to it and Africa will thrive."

Secretary–General Ban Ki–moon also spoke in support of the African–led and African–owned Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, as a pathway to mobilizing the balance of the promised $100 billion in annual international climate finance. He highlighted AAAP as an important opportunity to realize a resilient and prosperous future for Africa.

Patrick Verkooijen, in his inaugural annual lecture as GCA CEO, commented:

"Africa will suffer higher GDP losses than most other regions of the world. These impacts can only be reduced with adaptation. Thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods have already been sacrificed in Africa because we are far from delivering what is needed in adaptation today. For COP26 to succeed, Glasgow must deliver for Africa. To do so, it must bring more ambition and more finance to help Africa adapt to the pace of a climate emergency devastating the continent with increasingly serious consequences for the world's poorest and most vulnerable."

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group said:

"AAAP provides a unique opportunity for wealthier nations to meet their commitments and help Africa tackle the consequences of climate change. I am optimistic that our partners will deliver the first round of financing of $6 billion to $8 billion that we need for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program in 2021."

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) spoke about the importance of finance for adaptation:

"Key to success in adaptation and resilience "" like so many other issues related to climate change "" is adequate finance. At COP26 we will continue to call for wider–ranging and comprehensive financial support for developing nations. The $100 billion pledge was a commitment that was made in the UNFCCC process more than 10 years ago. It's time to deliver."

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund said:

"Effects of climate change in Africa threaten lives, jobs, and the substantial economic and development progress of the past two decades. As the GCA State and Trends in Adaptation report rightly says, adaptation is a necessity and must go hand–in–hand with reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. African countries need to do their part and have created the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program but cannot do it alone. Along with bold action to reduce emissions at COP26, the international community must deliver on its commitment to provide at least $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries where financial flows for adaptation must be on a par with financial flows for mitigation. This is essential for securing a sustainable global recovery."

Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya said:

"This program, in principle, aims to scale up and accelerate adaptation here in Africa by providing financial and technical support to African adaptation efforts. This initiative greatly paves the way for the continent to manage its climate related challenges. It is important to appreciate that effective climate adaptation will require a paradigm shift that harnesses the full potential of science and innovation."

Ngozi Okongo–Iweala, Director–General, World Trade Organization said:

"Ensuring that supply chains are resilient can be a key component of Africa's adaptation strategies. This will require significant efforts to climate–proof key trade–related infrastructure. Initiatives like the WTO's Aid for Trade can help mobilize investment in climate–resilient infrastructure.

Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union said:

"Climate change could wipe out 15 per cent of Africa's gross domestic product by 2030. This means an additional 100m people in extreme poverty by the end of the decade. This is a cruel fate for a continent that contributes so little to global warming. Our way out is to strengthen our ability to respond and adapt to climate change. That's why the African Union, working with the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank and other partners, is endorsing the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program."

Notes to Editors:

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, the GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. The GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high–level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.

For more information please go to www.gca.org

About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program

As the global solutions broker on adaptation and resilience, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has joined forces with the African Development Bank to create the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) focusing on bringing four critical areas for adaptation action to scale in partnership with African countries and partners. The four critical areas of Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security; African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator; Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help address the nexus of climate change, COVID–19, and the economy and will support African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post–COVID recovery development paths. AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africa's adaptation plans over five years ($5 billion per year). The AfDB has already committed half of the total, $12.5 billion by 2025. The program has been endorsed by President Tshisekedi, Chair of the African Union and President Ali Bongo of Gabon, the African Union Champion for Adaptation.

For more information please go to www.gca.org/programs/africa–adaptation–acceleration–program/

About the State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021

The GCA's 2021 State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa report presents the most comprehensive overview of the present and future prospects of the African continent in the light of climate change. It is also a blueprint for how individuals and institutions in the African and international policy space can design, finance, and implement adaptation plans to best protect the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of African people. Published ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the report is an evidence–based advocacy tool to put adaptation and resilience in Africa higher on the agenda nationally and internationally using the report's actionable policy recommendations. As adaptation is scaled up in response to the challenge of climate change, the report is expected to influence the design of projects and programs, including those supported by the African Adaptation Acceleration Program.

Contact
For additional enquiries and interview requests please contact:
Alexandra Gee
Head of Communications, Global Center on Adaptation
alex.gee@gca.org


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8380167)

]]>
Global Center on Adaptation releases new research on the benefits of climate adaptation for Africa http://www.saudimirror.com/global-center-on-adaptation-releases-new-research-on-the-benefits-of-climate-adaptation-for-africa/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 11:56:04 +0000 http://www.saudimirror.com/?p=213969 Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today released the findings of its "State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021 "" How Adaptation Can Make Africa Safer, Greener and More Prosperous in a Warming World" (STA21) during a virtual event at the University of Nairobi hosted by the Government of Kenya under the leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya.

The report presents a comprehensive overview of the present and projected climate risks for Africa together with a blueprint for climate adaptation which will be addressed through the four pillars of GCA's Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). It showcases the opportunity climate adaptation offers to solve previously intractable problems and put Africa on a more resilient pathway towards "green growth".

The report states that even if the Paris Climate Agreement goals are achieved, the economic costs of climate change in Africa are projected to be large. It is likely that Africa will experience higher relative impacts (as a percentage of GDP) than most other world regions, even though it is less responsible (whether historically or in the present day) for global greenhouse gas emissions than other major regions of the world. If the Paris Climate Agreement goals are missed, the economic costs will be very significant in Africa, and potentially catastrophic in some sub–regions.

GCA's analysis of the data demonstrates that only adaptation can reduce the economic costs of climate change in Africa over the next 20 years and that Africa needs to scale up adaptation now. The level of climate change in the next 20 years for Africa is already locked in, and these impacts can only be reduced by adaptation. Climate change will affect public finances: it is now considered a financial and a macro–economic risk.

Without adaptation action, projections estimate that climate change will lead to an equivalent of 2 percent to 4 percent annual loss in GDP in the continent by 2040, with the poor, women, and excluded populations bearing the brunt of the impact. Yet studies show that the benefits of adaptation measures are almost always more than twice the costs, and often are more than five times higher. In addition, moving quickly to adapt is especially beneficial, with a benefit–cost ratio for early action of at least 12 to 1.

STA21 revealed that the cost of taking effective adaptation action in the agricultural sector (particularly in priority areas like research and extension, water management, infrastructure, land restoration, and climate information services) is estimated at US $15 billion per year, less than a tenth of the estimated US $201 billion annual cost of inaction, which includes paying for disaster relief and recovery after floods. With agriculture dominating economic life in many African countries, accounting for between 30 to 40 percent of GDP, and a leading source of jobs for over two–thirds of Africa's population, the impact of climate change on agriculture has far reaching consequences for African economies as a whole without accelerated adaptation action. AAAP aims to address the climate challenges in this key sector through its Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security which aims to scale up access to climate–smart digital technologies and associated data–driven agricultural and financial services for at least 30 million farmers in Africa by 2025.

At the same time, Africa has the highest rates of urbanization in the world. About half of Africans now live in cities, and the urban population is expected to nearly triple by 2050, driven by high population growth rates and increasing migration from rural areas to cities. STA21 outlines how, as cities expand, they can undertake a range of adaptation actions that require little in the way of financial resources but generate immediate and significant benefits or lay the groundwork for enhanced adaptation measures as part of post–COVID recovery plans. Such actions include: strengthening early warning systems, providing affordable safe housing, creating urban parks and better drainage systems to soak up stormwater and reduce urban heat, promoting innovative urban agriculture (such as vertical farms on the walls of homes), strengthening and decarbonizing power grids, and generating energy from wastes. The AAAP Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator will ensure by 2025 that climate risks and resilience are integrated into at least 50% (by value) of new infrastructure investments in Africa across key infrastructure sectors, including water, transport, energy, ICT, and waste management to help close the infrastructure gap and achieve sustainable development in the face of climate change.

With the youngest population globally located in Africa, STA21 also outlines the importance of engaging young people on the importance of adaptation action to ensure the development gains of recent years and their future welfare are not threatened by the impacts of climate change. STA21 outlines how Africa's massive endowment of nature can be harnessed as both an engine for jobs and a pathway for cost–effective adaptation, allowing the continent to embark on a more sustainable development pathway. Africa also has the potential to provide greater employment opportunities for youth by taking a growth path focused on labor–intensive modern industries in eco–tourism services, climate–smart agriculture, the ocean economy and green building and infrastructure. The AAAP pillar Empowering Youth through Jobs and Entrepreneurship is promoting sustainable job creation through entrepreneurship in climate adaptation and resilience in Africa by unlocking $3 billion in credit for adaptation action.

Nevertheless the amount of money available for adaptation action is $265 billion less than the investment need of $331 billion for the continent by 2030. STA21 outlines the urgent need, therefore, to increase support from developed nations, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, development banks, philanthropies, foundations, non–profits, and other sources, as well as integrating adaptation into national budgets. STA21 also outlines the opportunities for deploying innovative financing models, mainstreaming resilience into investment decision–making and building the enabling environment for adaptation investment. AAAP pillar Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa aims to increase financial flows for Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) to the continent with a total increase of adaptation finance on the continent to over $5 billion per annum by 2025.

Notes to Editors:

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization which works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Founded in 2018, the GCA is hosted by the Netherlands, working from its headquarters in Rotterdam with a knowledge and research hub based in Groningen. The GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dhaka, Bangladesh and Beijing, China. Through this evolving network of offices and global and regional GCA teams, the organization engages in high–level policy activities, new research contributions, communications, and technical assistance to governments and the private sector.

For more information please go to www.gca.org

About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program

As the global solutions broker on adaptation and resilience, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has joined forces with the African Development Bank to create the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) focusing on bringing four critical areas for adaptation action to scale in partnership with African countries and partners. The four critical areas of Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security; African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator; Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience and Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help address the nexus of climate change, COVID–19, and the economy and will support African countries in designing and implementing transformational adaptation of their economies and post–COVID recovery development paths. AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to support Africa's adaptation plans over five years ($5 billion per year). The AfDB has already committed half of the total, $12.5 billion by 2025. The program has been endorsed by President Tshisekedi, Chair of the African Union and President Ali Bongo of Gabon, the African Union Champion for Adaptation.

For more information please go to www.gca.org/programs/africa–adaptation–acceleration–program/

About State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa Report 2021

The GCA's 2021 State and Trends in Adaptation in Africa report presents the most comprehensive overview of the present and future prospects of the African continent in the light of climate change. It is also a blueprint for how individuals and institutions in the African and international policy space can design, finance, and implement adaptation plans to best protect the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of African people. Published ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the report is an evidence–based advocacy tool to put adaptation and resilience in Africa higher on the agenda nationally and internationally using the report's actionable policy recommendations. As adaptation is scaled up in response to the challenge of climate change, the report is expected to influence the design of projects and programs, including those supported by the African Adaptation Acceleration Program.

Contact
For additional enquiries and interview requests please contact:
Alexandra Gee
Head of Communications, Global Center on Adaptation
alex.gee@gca.org


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8380024)

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