Thursday, September 15, 2011

UN launches guide for developing countries to access more climate funding

Xinhua: With climate change funding gaining steam, the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP) launched on Wednesday a set of guidelines aimed at providing a resource for developing countries to better benefit from the global flow pledged for climate finance.

"It's astounding, considering how much money is on the table -- there is a real difference in what countries are collecting these funds and what countries are being able to access these funds," Cassie Flynn, author of the guidebook and UNDP climate change policy expert, said in a phone interview with Xinhua.

A tool for policymakers, economists, investors and donors, the UNDP publication "Blending Climate Finance through National Climate Funds" provides a step-by-step guidebook on setting up national climate funds, particularly for developing countries to better take advantage of globally promised money to combat climate change.

The guidebook also featured several national climate funds, which are country-tailored, focusing on priorities for that country. According to UNDP, between 2009 and 2010, clean energy sector investments worldwide rose 30 percent to a record 243 billion U.S. dollars. "Unfortunately not all countries have the same access to these funds," Flynn said....

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