Final Climate Week of 2023 gets underway in Malaysia

Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023 is upon us, hosted by the Johor state government in collaboration with the Government of Malaysia.

The final Regional Climate Week for 2023 will provide a vital platform for policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society to exchange knowledge on climate solutions, barriers to overcome and opportunities waiting to be realized in the Asia Pacific region.

In Asia Pacific, temperatures are rising twice as fast than the global average, which is increasing the frequency and severity of weather-related natural disasters that are affecting around 60 percent of the world’s population. Last year, there were more than 80 disasters on the Asian continent, mainly floods and storms, which led to the death of more than 5,000 people and affected 50 million more. Overall, these events are estimated to cost around USD 36 billion. The very existence of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Tuvalu and Kiribati is threatened by rising sea levels, with saltwater intrusion affecting agriculture and freshwater sources, displacing people and endangering their livelihoods.

As well as suffering keenly from the effects of climate change, Asia-Pacific is also critical to combating the problem, as some of the most populous and rapidly industrializing nations are situated in this region. Aligning their growth with the mission to build a global net zero, resilient economy and providing them the support to do so is crucial - not only for mitigating emissions, but also for alleviating poverty and ensuring equitable development.



Despite the challenges, there are encouraging signs of momentum. For example, Asia had the greatest proportional growth in the actual number of science-based targets in 2022, with the addition of 317 new companies, representing a 127 per cent increase in comparison with 2021. Japan Climate Initiative, a Race to Zero Partner, for example, has also been a critical player in mobilising non-state sector action in the region.

Pacific states, such as Fiji, Kiribati, and Tonga, are collaborating on effective bottom-up approaches to decarbonization, even though their emissions footprints are comparatively very low. For example the Marshall Islands already operate a sailing cargo vessel and are investing in a new wind-assisted vessel, as well as building small sailing canoes. If external finance can be accelerated these countries can deploy new innovation, such as wind assisted ships, enabling them to trade and travel within the ‘green corridors’ encouraging zero- and near-zero emission vessels and fuels and decarbonized ports.

From an adaptation perspective, cities, states and regions in the Asia-Pacific region are also increasingly coming forward with pragmatic and just solutions-oriented approaches to overcome their vulnerability. For example, in India, Race to Resilience member, the City of Delhi has committed to a comprehensive programme to enhance climate resilience while fostering sustainable development, including increasing the city’s green spaces, with the aim to reach 25% green cover within the next five years.

Asia’s reliance on coal can only be addressed through radical collaboration between countries, civil society and investors. The region’s coal plants are relatively young, mostly state-owned and - theoretically, able to operate well beyond the IEA’s 2040 milestone for countries to stop using coal. Therefore provision of finance for a just transition is vital, this is a major thrust of the Asia-Pacific chapter of GFANZ, which is soon expected to publish guidance that sets out how financial institutions can invest in phasing out coal. In this vein, another key topic of discussion at APCW will be the world’s first ‘Coal to Clean’ credit programme - designed to support coal phase outs in Asia through issuing ‘transition credits’ incentivising coal plant owners to invest in renewables and retrain workers. The programe, which is being spearheaded by Rockefeller Foundation and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is expected to be launched at COP 28 and holds major potential for Asia Pacific countries such as Vietnam.

The high-level segment of APCW, which will include ministerials on the just energy transition, finance, adaptation and the Global Stocktake and all main track sessions and events with webcast links can be found off the main APCW website and interactive programme. 

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP 27 and COP 28, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin and H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak called on participants at the Second Arab Regional Forum on Climate Finance to respond to the urgency of funding projects that both reduce emissions and build resilience for communities that are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Recently held in Dubai, the event co-hosted by the COP 27 and COP 28 Presidencies and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) convened governments, the private sector and international development organisations to accelerate the mobilisation of climate finance toward climate projects to be presented by Arab states.

The forum showcased a curated portfolio of investable projects aimed at advancing climate action in the areas of water, energy, transport, and biodiversity.

These included a water desalination plant in Jordan powered by renewable energy; an urban mobility project in Tunisia; a land restoration project in Algeria; as well as a water treatment pipeline in Oman where the current lack of available water is putting the country’s food security at risk; plus a green hydrogen project in Egypt which aims to produce 800,000 tonnes per year for export.

The event marked the last in a series of Regional Platforms for Climate Projects convened in 2023 by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions in partnership with the COP 27 and COP 28 Presidencies and the UN Regional Commissions. The findings from the Regional Platforms for Climate Projects will be published in a report by the High-Level Champions at COP 28.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP 27 and COP 28 both attended the critical Pre-COP meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE to shape the upcoming climate negotiations, ensuring that world leaders are positioned to agree on ambitious outcomes capable of keeping 1.5 C within reach and strengthening adaptation and resilience. This year’s event saw record attendance, with 70 ministers and over 100 delegations coming together, more than double the usual number of participants for a Pre-COP meeting.

The event focused on mobilising progress on key issues including adaptation, mitigation, nature and climate finance. The Champions listened to Parties and shared how the work of cities, regions, businesses and civil society (non-State actors) are driving effective climate action.

At the event, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak commented on the first-ever Global Stocktake, which culminates at COP 28:

“The Global Stocktake shows that we must accelerate emissions reductions, adaptation and resilience, and nature regeneration by 2030 in order to meet the Paris goals.”

Dr. Mohieldin highlighted that the surge of science-based commitments made through various campaigns, initiatives and frameworks are already driving action, collaboration and ambition:

“The Marrakech Partnership Global Climate Action Pathways, 2030 Breakthroughs, Breakthrough Agenda, and Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, as well as the Race to Resilience and Race to Zero campaigns offer frameworks, targets and lessons learned that lay a crucial foundation from which non-State actors – in collaboration with governments – can respond to the Global Stocktake with speed and scale.”

At the event, Dr. Mohieldin also re-emphasised that the global climate finance system is “unfair, insufficient and inefficient”, pointing to the need for urgent interventions to unlock financing for climate transitions in developing countries - including debt relief and suspension, extending concessional finance and the use of innovative financial tools, such as carbon markets and debt swaps. Further information on the Pre-COP can be found here.

Remembering Professor Saleemul Huq, by David Howlett

From left to right: Professor Saleemul Huq, Mary Robinson, Sheela Patel and Nigel Topping at the launch of Roof Over Our Head, COP 27.

“I’m not sure if words can express the loss of my dear friend and colleague Saleemul Huq, who sadly died on Saturday 28th October. I have known Saleem for well over thirty years and his passing is a tragic loss first to his family, friends and work colleagues.

He was instrumental in helping set up the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions’ Race to Resilience first by working with Jorge Gastelumendi and myself to convince the Champions and their team that we needed climate action on both mitigation and adaptation. UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP 26, Nigel Topping, recognized this when he said “he was shocked and saddened to hear of Saleem’s passing. [He was a] friend and mentor who did more than anyone to encourage me to move beyond mitigation to work on resilience.”

More recently he has worked with the Champions on the need to ramp up action and finance to address the loss and damage that climate change is now causing. He quite rightly said in the Champions last ‘Actions After Impacts’ dialogue “we are in the era of loss and damage.”

Saleem was always a champion of local action. I can still remember his personal challenge to me, that - while the RtR’s goal to make four billion people resilient to climate change was well and good, big global goals didn’t really matter unless it was actually backed up by action that makes a difference to women and men living at the frontline of climate change.

We have taken this challenge to heart and while tracking the progress of RtR we have focussed on peoples’ solutions and stories to help ensure we are making a difference to people most vulnerable to climate change. We will continue to do so - and give voice to communities at the front line of climate change – especially those living in the least developed countries and small island developing states.

Many of you may not know the full expanse of Saleem’s career as a climate scientist and a champion of action. This was why he was such an excellent choice as an Ambassador for the High-Level Champions. His final post was the founding Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD). Prior to this he was the first Director of Climate Change at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). In this role, Saleem established the links between climate and sustainable development – until then, there was very little interaction between the climate world and the development world. And it was Saleem’s idea at COP 8 to start development and climate days at subsequent COPs to bring these two worlds together.

Saleem was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth in the 2022 New Years Honours List for his services to combating international climate change. The honour was awarded in recognition of his work to build climate expertise in Bangladesh, the UK, and across the world.

Saleem was a constant voice for climate action and justice for the Global South. He was the lead author of chapters in the third, fourth and fifth assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A professor at the Independent University, Bangladesh, and an advisor to the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group of the UNFCCC. Saleem published hundreds of scientific as well as popular articles and he was named by Nature in 2022 as one of its top 10 scientists.

Sadly, COP 27 was to be Saleem’s last COP. He is one of only a handful of people who attended every single one of the global climate summits. This knowledge meant much to many and led to his appointment to the COP 28 Advisory Committee. He will be sorely missed, but with all he has done and those he has influenced his legacy to increase climate action and deliver climate justice will be delivered.”

David was the former Head of Policy at the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) on secondment from UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) now the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). At GRP he was the co-focal point on resilience and adaptation for the Marrakech Partnership on Global Climate Action. He led with Jorge Gastelmundi on setting up the UN Climate Change High Level Champion Race to Resilience. For the last two years he has been directly working in their Climate Champions Team as a Senior Adviser and lead on loss and damage.

Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week calls for inclusive and nature-centric climate action

Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Climate Week brought forward an emphatic call for inclusive and adaptive climate action with nature at its core.

Protests denouncing a renewed contract for the Cobre Panama mine and Hurricane Otis provided a stark backdrop to the week. As tensions rose over the mine, which contributes almost 5 percent of Panama’s economic activity, and as Hurricane Otis wreaked havoc on Mexico’s Pacific coast, the urgency for climate resilience, inclusivity and a fair and just transition became ever more palpable.

This emphasis on a just transition was echoed in discussions on the Just Energy Transition Collaboration (JET-Co). Ramiro Fernández, Campaigns Director at the Climate Champions Team, emphasised, “The energy projects need to be inclusive – they are installed in physical spaces that affect the communities.” Ana Carolina Espinosa from the Natural Resource Governance Institute highlighted the moral and practical imperatives of a just transition, while climate leader from Honduras, Ricardo Pineda emphasised the need to protect environmental activists.

Dr. Mohieldin attended the event ‘Unlocking Finance for city-scale transformation through Multi-level Governance”, where he stressed the fundamental role of city leaders, local institutions and agencies in financing and implementing climate action in its various aspects at the local level. Mohieldin stated that working to bridge the climate finance gap depends mainly on the efforts of cities to mobilize finance from domestic resources, explaining that climate action in developing countries requires mobilizing about USD 2.5 trillion annually until 2030, of which $1.5 trillion must be mobilized from domestic resources.

Nature was also a key theme throughout the week, from commitments to double down on action to protect oceans – encouraged by newly launched initiatives such as the Coral Reef and Ocean Breakthroughs – to the acknowledgement of Nature-based Solutions as catalysts for the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns. Daniela Lerario, LAC Director at the Climate Champions Team, underlined that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are at the core of the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda – which sets measurable targets for enhancing resilience by 2030.

The conference also celebrated the dynamism of youth and the intrinsic wisdom of Indigenous communities, recognizing their roles in climate discourse and the need to re-distribute finance towards higher participation of those less involved – and also to solve the climate crisis in a just way. Johann Delgado from Cornell Coastal Solutions stated: “We often wait for magic formulas, but young people can create their own solutions.” José Antonio Mendez, representing OPIAC, added: “Who are the Indigenous peoples? Usually, they are seen as a minority. But we have our own government, we have direct relations with mother nature. This is what keeps the balance between all beings.”

Commenting on the week, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak said,

“Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week brought to the fore the power and urgency for collective action in driving the transformations our planet demands. Each story, each perspective shared, reminds us that our environmental actions must resonate with the heartbeat of our diverse communities, from the innovative spirit of the youth to the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. Above all else, we must remember that in protecting and respecting nature, we nurture a legacy of resilience and sustainability for all generations.”

Snapshot of Corporate Climate Action Launches

The We Mean Business Coalition, supported by the Climate Champions Team and Bain & Company, recently launched The Corporate Climate Stocktake (CCST), providing a snapshot of corporate climate action.

The CCST represents the most ambitious, forward-looking review to date of private sector progress, obstacles and opportunities for achieving net zero. Looking in detail at eight sectors – power, road transport, concrete & cement, steel, shipping, hydrogen, aviation and agriculture – the research presents progress against international or national targets, and identifies the barriers faced by businesses that are rapidly decarbonizing to meet their climate targets.

Maria Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition, said:

“It was eight years ago, as part of the landmark Paris Agreement, when world leaders agreed that in 2023 they would take stock of their collective efforts to meet the goals of the agreement.

“That moment is now here. And while good progress has been made since 2015 in the greening and electrification of energy uses, much more is needed to tackle sectoral and systemic interventions, especially in hard-to-abate sectors. Business is integral to achieving those goals.”

The CCST report is designed to help policymakers better understand the barriers that businesses face and what our most ambitious companies need from governments to go faster. The study presents the pace of change in each sector, and identifies the barriers faced by businesses that are rapidly decarbonizing to meet their climate targets. The report has been released ahead of - and to complement, the first Global Stocktake, which culminates at COP 28 in Dubai.

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Race to Zero latest developments:

Unleashing People Power: ‘Employee Race to Zero’ launches

Race to Zero has teamed up with carbon-cutting employee platform Giki to host the first ever ‘Employee Race to Zero’ - an initiative to scale climate action within companies. Participants will benefit from Giki’s award-winnng programme for businesses and employees – which offers over 160 ways to reduce carbon footprints. They can also access a comprehensive science-based carbon calculator, leaderboards, and impact data to incentivise the Race.

Race to Zero’s Director, Ramiro Fernandez said the initiative was, “an amazing opportunity to help employees learn what they can do for the planet and join a global competition for a fun, focused month of climate action”.

To find out more and to sign up, follow this link. To read the Race to Zero’s latest bulletin, find more here.

COP 28 to build response to Health and Climate crises

The climate crisis is a health crisis, with the potential to dwarf COVID-19 in terms of its impact on communities. WHO estimates that more than 12.5 million people die each year from diseases associated with environmental hazards, including those related to climate change. To address this, the upcoming COP 28 will host the first official ‘Health Day’ on the 3rd December, within the Presidency program, and a Ministerial Meeting has been convened to adopt a Declaration on Climate and Health.

Over the past few years, the global movement for climate and health justice has achieved significant wins, which the upcoming COP can build on. COP 26 was the first to identify health as a priority of the Presidency, leading to the adoption of the COP 26 Health Programme, launched jointly by the UK government, WHO and Race to Zero partner, Health Care Without Harm. Under this initiative, more than 75 countries have committed to developing climate-resilient, low-emissions and sustainable health systems, and WHO is supporting their implementation efforts through the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), established in June 2022. These, and many other achievements, provide evidence of a growing momentum for healthcare climate action.

The health sector currently represents almost 5 percent of global net GHG emissions, to address this Race to Zero has been helping to strengthen climate resilience and curtail emissions. For example:

●     In the run up to COP 26, hospitals and health centres from all over the world joined the Race to Zero through HCWH’s Health Care Climate Challenge, committing to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in alignment with the Paris Agreement.

●     So far, more than 70 healthcare institutions representing the interests of over 14,000 hospitals and health centers in 26 countries have joined the Race to Zero.

For more information on the healthcare and climate change nexus, Andrea Hurtado Epstein, Climate Program Manager for Latin America, recently wrote this article on how Latin America is meeting the challenge. 

Race to Resilience latest developments:

The Nature Conservancy’s Water Funds becomes Race To Resilience partner

At Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week, it was announced that The Nature Conservancy’s Water Funds has become a partner to Race to Resilience. The water fund is a governance and finance mechanism that improves water security through collective action, allowing downstream water users to invest collectively in upstream water and land conservation.

●     Dr. Mohieldin calls for “climate finance as development finance” at IRENA High Level Forum, attended by Tan See Leng, Minister of the Republic of Singapore.

At the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) High Level Forum, in Singapore, Mohieldin stated that “climate finance is development finance”, as financing energy transitions to reduce emissions is financing for the 7th SDG, relating to the transition to clean energy and providing energy to all people.

●     H.E. Ms Al Mubarak calls for financial institutions to place nature at the center of climate action

Writing in the Spanish newspaper El Pais, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak highlighted the GFANZ Latam launch, in the context of the disproportionate consequences of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean.

●     H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak highlights the importance of the (GFANZ) Latin America and Caribbean Network to Chileans

The Climate Champion for COP 28 spoke with Chilean newspaper of record, El Mercurio, for a feature on the Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) Latin America and Caribbean Network.

●     Dr. Mohieldin discusses fossil fuel sector’s role at COP 28, at the Financial Times Energy Transition Summit

Mohieldin joined a panel including COP 26 President, Sir Alok Sharma, to discuss the role of the fossil fuel industry at the upcoming COP 28 climate summit. Mohieldin highlighted that a successful COP requires collaboration with oil & gas producers, as well as with major consumers.

Credit: Financial Times.

●    Dr. Mohieldin answers ‘What to Expect from COP28?’ at London Stock Exchange Group event

Mohieldin participated in a webinar looking ahead to the COP, highlighting the need for climate finance to accelerate just energy transitions to achieve emissions reduction targets. 

●     H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak addressed the World Ports Conference, Abu Dhabi

The COP 28 Champion called on industry representatives to join the Ocean Breakthroughs, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35% by 2050.

●    Dr. Mohieldin participates in Competent Boards Meeting On Climate Change and Boards' Accountability

Mohieldin stressed that controversy over green washing can be overcome by agreeing on clear and credible standards for the environmental practices of private sector companies.

●  Dr. Mohieldin speaks on unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs to tackle the global waste crisis and accelerate the Race to Zero

The event, held at MIT, focused on overcoming gender inequality, which poses a unique threat to the livelihoods, health, and safety of women and girls - who are often frontline responders to climate disasters and leaders of solutions. 

●     Dr. Mohieldin attends ‘Championing Transition Finance For The Planet’s Future’

Mohieldin joined representatives from the UAE and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

●     On 12-14 October, a mandated inter-sessional workshop for Parties to develop elements for the political component of the Global Stocktake and explore areas of convergence and divergence, took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Non-Party stakeholders were able to intervene during the thematic sessions related to mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation and finance flows, loss and damage, response measures and enhancing international cooperation. Many Parties acknowledged the important role of non-Party stakeholders where the work of the High-Level Champions was also referred to. Broadcast links (day 1, day 2, day 3) as well as an informal summary by the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies are available.

●     The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) published the Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2023 report on 2 November providing a comprehensive overview of global climate-related primary investment.

●     UNEP launched its Adaptation Gap Report 2023 (2 November) which looks at progress in planning, financing and implementing adaptation actions as well as its Production Gap Report 2023 (8 November) tracking the discrepancy between governments’ planned fossil fuel production and global production levels consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.

●    Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW 2023): Johor (Malaysia), 13-17 November

●    COP 28: Dubai (UAE), 30 November - 12 December