MANILA, AUGUST 17, 2010 — This is to provide clarification on some of the points made in news articles published in several newspapers today regarding the Climate Change Adaptation Fund.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is correct in noting that developing countries like the Philippines can directly access the Adaptation Fund to finance climate change adaptation programs and projects. The World Bank Group in fact supports this approach and stands committed to support more initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation to reduce people’s vulnerabilities to the impact of natural disasters.
The Adaptation Fund was established by the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to finance adaptation initiatives in developing countries. It can be accessed either through a National Implementing Entity (NIE) accredited by the Adaptation Fund Board or multilateral implementing entities (MIE), which include multilateral organizations and regional development banks accredited by the Board. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has applied for NIE accreditation and is awaiting confirmation from the Adaptation Fund Board. Currently, the accredited MIEs include the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), but there are other MIE applications to the Board under consideration.
The Philippines is free to submit proposals directly to the Adaptation Fund Board through an accredited NIE. However, whether a proposal is submitted directly by the country through the NIE to the Adaptation Fund Board or through a MIE, this needs to be endorsed by the Government through the National Designated Authority, which is the DENR, to ensure that the proposal is consistent with the national sustainable development strategy of the Philippines. As of now, the DENR has not endorsed any proposal to the Adaptation Fund Board pending the completion of the Philippines’ National Climate Change Action Plan.
The proposal for a flood early warning system for Metro Manila was developed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Services Administration (PAGASA) for the Adaptation Fund, and was discussed with the Bank. This proposal, however, has not been officially submitted to the World Bank. The multi-stakeholder consultation held in June among Government agencies, led by the DENR, decided to defer the possible endorsement of the DPWH proposal to the Adaptation Fund Board to the next round pending the crafting of the Philippines’ National Climate Change Action Plan.
The World Bank is committed to support the Philippines’ efforts to reduce the country’s vulnerabilities to natural disasters. This agenda is part of the Bank’s commitments under its Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Philippines. The Bank has, in fact, provided a significant amount of grant financing in support of several climate change-related programs and projects in the country, and will continue to work with the government, civil society, private sector and the development partners in addressing the challenges of climate change in the most transparent manner.
xxx
