A national consultation workshop on the Green and Resilient Debt Platform (GRDP) organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Dhaka has focused on mobilizing debt capital for sustainable initiatives through innovative financial instruments.  

In light of the growing climate crisis and Bangladesh’s national and international commitments on climate actions, there is an escalating need for climate finance.

French organisation, Association la Voûte Nubienne (AVN), has enabled the construction of over 7,000 of ‘Nubian vault’ climate-friendly houses in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Ghana and Benin since the year 2000, using the 3000 year-old Nubian Vault traditional technique originating in Upper-Egypt.

The Government of Uganda has officially gazetted all wetlands in the country, recognizing their critical role in protecting communities from climate change and providing essential benefits for millions. This landmark decision is aligned to the Ramsar Convention and comes after years of collaboration between the Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners on restoration of wetlands and associated catchments. 

“Climate justice means providing a safe environment now for people, and for action now and not later. Scientists have predicted Tuvalu will be uninhabitable by 2050. This is why we are advocating for social justice alongside climate justice,” says Teresa Lifuka-Drecala.

The costs of transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future are immense (although it the cost of inaction is even greater) and governments alone are unable to shoulder them. It is estimated that the agriculture and land use sectors alone require 26 times more than current levels of funding.

In a pivotal moment for countries supported by UNDP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved US$208 million in finance to fast-track global action on nature and biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution control.

The funding will be deployed by UNDP to 20 countries, including eight Fragile States, seven Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and two Small Island Development States (SIDS), to tackle urgent and complex environmental challenges in a holistic way.

Opening remarks from Ms. Alissar Chaker, Resident Representative at UNDP Cambodia, at SDG Investor Map deep-dive on climate change adaptation: "Today we are taking a step forward with the deep dive on private investment opportunities in climate change adaptation. This is key for Cambodia, as it ranks amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change... Climate change is also expected to affect the private sector in the country.

Despite the challenges posed by conflict and climate change, farming remains a vital sector of Iraq’s economy, ​​providing livelihoods for millions and ensuring the country's food security.

Bangladesh's Minister for the Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, said that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will increase its activities in Bangladesh for the development of the country’s overall environment and forests and to combat climate change.  The minister said the incumbent government will work closely with UNDP to implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.

UNDP's Deputy Resident Representative for the Federated States of Micronesia, Kevin Petrini, blogs on the challenges associated with climate change and water security in the North Pacific and what UNDP is doing to help.