Climate change is an existential threat that requires urgent action. The Earth’s temperature has increased by 1.1˚C since pre-industrial times, leading to rising sea levels, more frequent and severe heatwaves, and extreme weather events, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Addressing climate change requires a fundamental shift in how we produce and consume energy, as well as manage land and natural resources. It also requires significant investment in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and nature-based solutions. This is where climate finance comes in.

Climate finance refers to the flow of funds from developed countries to developing countries to support mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change. It also includes private investment in low-carbon and climate-resilient projects and businesses. Climate finance is crucial for two reasons: firstly, it supports the transition of developing countries to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, which is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 2˚C. Secondly, it catalyzes private sector investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure, which is necessary to achieve the scale of investment needed to address climate change.

There are several sources of climate finance, including public finance, private finance, and international finance. Public finance includes government funds allocated to climate change mitigation and adaptation, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility. Private finance includes investments in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure by banks, pension funds, and other financial institutions. International finance refers to funds provided by developed countries to developing countries through bilateral and multilateral channels, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the World Bank.

One of the key challenges of climate finance is the lack of sufficient funding to meet the needs of developing countries. According to the Climate Policy Initiative, the global climate finance landscape in 2020 amounted to $546 billion, a decrease from $579 billion in 2019. This falls significantly short of the estimated $3.5 trillion needed annually to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. This is particularly concerning for the most vulnerable countries, such as small island states and African nations, which are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change and lack the resources to adapt.

To address this challenge, several initiatives are underway to increase the scale and effectiveness of climate finance. One example is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). Bringing together over 160 financial institutions with assets of over $70 trillion, GFANZ aims to mobilize trillions of dollars of investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure and to ensure that financial institutions are aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals. Another initiative is the Adaptation Finance Mainstreaming Program (AFMP), which supports developing countries in integrating climate adaptation into their national planning and budgeting processes.

Besides scaling up climate finance, it is essential to ensure that it reaches vulnerable communities and supports nature. Nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable agriculture, can provide multiple benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and poverty reduction. However, these solutions often require substantial upfront investment with the risk that they may not generate sufficient financial returns to attract private investment. Therefore, innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds, impact investing, and blended finance, are needed to unlock their potential.

Another challenge of climate finance is ensuring it is used effectively and efficiently. This requires strong governance and accountability mechanisms.

Climate finance plays a critical role in supporting the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and catalyzing private sector investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. However, the current level of climate finance falls short of the Paris Agreement’s objectives. There is a particular need to ensure that the most vulnerable countries and communities can access sufficient funding. Initiatives such as GFANZ and AFMP are working to address the obstacles to climate finance. It is still essential to develop innovative financing mechanisms to support nature-based solutions and to ensure that climate finance is used effectively and transparently. By addressing these challenges and scaling up climate finance, we can make meaningful progress towards tackling the urgent threat of climate change and securing a sustainable future.

By David Carlin, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme – Finance Initiative