In the media

In a world where environmental degradation poses a grave threat to our existence, the urgency for ecosystem restoration has never been more apparent. 

In Uganda, the 7th Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) held from 18 - 22 March 2024, under the theme "Rethinking collective action and innovative solutions to water, environment, and climate change crisis," served as a poignant platform to reflect on the journey of Nyamuhizi Wetland restoration.

Nyamuhizi Wetland, located in Mitooma district, Uganda, stands as an example of the global challenges. Once a flourishing ecosystem, Nyamuhizi endured significant degradation, echoing the plight of many wetlands around the world. However, amidst this despair, there exists a beacon of hope. Through collaborative efforts spearheaded by the government of Uganda and UNDP, supported by funding from the Green Climate Fund, alongside active engagement from local communities, Nyamuhizi is undergoing a remarkable resurgence.

A workshop in Masvingo, hosted with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, sought to bring together media to strengthen the strategic role of media advocacy on climate proofing agriculture and climate resilient livelihoods.

The workshop included a tour of climate proofed Pikinini Jawanda Irrigation Scheme project in Mwenezi being implemented under the Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Africa programme. The programme is being implemented and co-funded by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in partnership with Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, alongside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is ramping up efforts to empower farmers and achieve Vision 2030’s goal of becoming a middle-income nation.

The initiative leverages a project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GFC) called “Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Africa” and focuses on strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly women farmers, in the face of growing climate challenges.

Speaking at a GCF media workshop in Masvingo yesterday Mrs Barbara Machekano, acting Director of communications for the Ministry said they were empowering farmers by expanding irrigation capacity.

The Government of Japan announced a contribution of US$500.000 to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to improve Moldova’s agriculture’s resilience to climate change and disasters that affect livelihoods.   

“The past few years have been difficult for the farmers all over the world, and particularly for Moldovan farmers which were affected by climate change and droughts, the various types of economic pressure from Russia, and high prices of raw materials also caused by Russia’s war. I can only pay great respect to the way Moldova's farmers and the entire society have managed to cope with such challenges. I feel proud to stand with such brave people. We thank the UNDP and other UN agencies and the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture for their effective help in implementing this project,” said Yoichiro Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Moldova. 

The tiny island nation of Tuvalu produces a minuscule amount of pollution but is the nation suffering most from climate change as it sinks into the ground.

The camera is zoomed in on a suited and booted Simon Kofe, Tuvalu's foreign minister, as he addresses COP26 from his country. 

"We must take action today to secure tomorrow," he says, as the shot slowly pans out and reveals that he is standing thigh-high in ocean water.

The Adaptation Initiative for Climate Vulnerable Offshore Small Islands and Riverine Charland in Bangladesh Project, a collaborative effort between the Department of Environment (DoE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was launched on Wednesday with an inception workshop at Charfesson Upazila Parishad in Bhola. 

This five-year project, initiated in January 2023 and funded by the Adaptation Fund through UNDP, aims to significantly enhance climate resilience at both household and community levels. The project encompasses a multifaceted approach to address the diverse challenges posed by climate change, with a focus on vulnerable communities living on coastal islands and riverine chars in Bangladesh.  

In the community of Aguacatal, in the picturesque municipality of Ojojona, in Francisco Morazán, an area that was affected by the barking weevil, one of the most destructive pests for pine forests, lives a group of women who meet periodically to make bread that they then sell in their communities. This allows them to generate decent livelihoods, such as support for their homes, and, in addition, they have learned to take care of and choose the right wood to bake their products, without having to destroy the forests.

In the small bakery, women have learned how to transform flour into delicious seeds, buns, cookies and other delicacies. Also, women have learned about the importance of community organization - as an agent that generates positive changes in their environment - basic knowledge of administration, which they put into practice in their bakery, and to continue taking care of the forests.

Fiji Government representatives, United Nations (UN) agencies and other key stakeholders have convened in Suva to lead an important initiative aimed at strengthening Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Fiji. Spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji, the core objective of the initiative is to develop a Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal that will address challenges and improve the effectiveness of Fiji’s EWS.

Despite the acknowledged efficacy of EWS in mitigating disasters, global deficiencies persist, particularly in translating warnings into timely actions. In response to this pressing need, the Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2022.

In his opening address, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, the Honorable Sakiasi Ditoka, emphasized the pressing need for Pacific Island Countries to confront the dual challenges of frequent natural hazards and limited risk management capacity. “The Advancing Early Warning for All project is more than just a project; it's a commitment to the safety and well-being of every Fijian. Through our collective efforts, we can ensure that our nation is better prepared, more resilient, and capable of thriving in the face of adversity,” Minister Ditoka stated.

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.

Despite a global increase in climate finance - to $940 billion in 2021 - there remains a significant gap in reaching the most vulnerable nations. In response, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Nordic Development Fund, in collaboration with UNDP, are launching a multi-country project proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) called the Green and Resilience Debt Platform (GRDP).

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.

Anne-Cécile Ragot, the project lead at AVN, says every one of these arched homes built in the Sahel saves on the carbon emissions usually associated with construction and indoor cooling. A few years ago, Ragot and her team began wondering if they could use this fact to scale up construction: could the carbon savings from one family’s Nubian Vault fund the construction of another?

They managed to secure support from the UNDP-Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) to answer this question. AFCIA grants are intended to help accelerate innovative technologies, practices and business models for local adaptation, by tapping into the incredible potential of NGOs, civil society, women and young innovators.

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. 

On behalf of the President of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Kasule Lumumba, the Minister for General Duties and focal point minister for the Sustainable Development Goals called upon all leaders at all levels in the country especially the local councils to wake up and protect all wetlands.

Through the Green Climate Fund-funded project "Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda", UNDP has played a pivotal role in revitalizing these fragile ecosystems. The project has empowered communities surrounding the wetlands especially women, girls and youth with alternative livelihood and economic opportunities, while simultaneously enhancing the technical capacity of relevant institutions under the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Uganda National Meteorological Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and selected District Local Governments.

“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.

Under the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, implemented by UNDP and financed by the Green Climate Fund, 7.3 hectares of new, raised land has been installed in the Tuvalu capital of Funafuti, providing flood-free areas for island communities. Now, plans are underway to safeguard the long-term future of the island, with barriers stretching 665 meters along the coast on the outer island of Nanumaga and 1,330-meters on the island of Nanumea.  

These “Berm Top Barriers” consist of bags filled with local sand and water, revegetated to fit in with the natural environment. The barriers will protect communities from salt intrusion in food and water, and from large cyclone events and waves overtopping road infrastructure and buildings.  

The vision is not only to protect the island, but the community and wider identity of the people of Tuvalu.  

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.

Until now however, the private sector has not been fully engaged in climate action, and especially in climate adaptation. Shovon Kibria, Private Sector Engagement Specialist at UNDP outlines four key reasons, as well as how the challenges can be turned into opportunities, and promising examples of progress.

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.

The new funds, overseen by UNDP, are anticipated to benefit over five million people –with a special focus on vulnerable populations– and to crowd in additional financing. Alongside the GEF, the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations and local communities, UNDP will focus on aiding countries to curb coastal pollution, transform food systems, and bolster wildlife and biodiversity conservation efforts. 

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.

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. It is against this background that we are starting this dialogue to raise awareness on investment opportunities in climate change adaptation, share ideas on fostering private sector engagement, advocate for enabling conditions for scalable investments, and identify the incentives for the development of a solid adaptation pipeline. Building on the SDG Investor Map, the discussion today will focus on 4 sectors: healthcare, food and beverage, renewable energy, and infrastructure." 

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.

To support farmers in Iraq adapt to climate change, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing training programs and financial grants to enable them to adopt sustainable agriculture practices. The Building Resilience through Employment Promotion (BREP) programme - funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) provided through the KfW Development Bank - will provide more than 1,000 small farmers across Iraq with training on sustainable agriculture practices and grants to boost farm productivity and enhance agro-enterprises.
 

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.