Wednesday, 6 September 2023, 2:00 – 3:30pm, +7 GMT (Bangkok)
Asia Pacific is not on track to achieving the 2030 targets of the sustainable development goals based on a 2022 report. The Covid-19 pandemic and impacts of climate change on development results have stalled progress. While there have been improvements in some goals, climate action (goal #13), has regressed in every sub-region in Asia Pacific since 2015. Emissions are rising and there has been increased negative impact of natural disasters. This would require improved collaborations to achieve better results and focus resources on climate action anchored on SDG #17 on partnership for the goals.
According to UNESCAP, reversing the negative trend on climate action should be a top priority of the region. For example, ESCAP finds that the volumes of public-private partnerships for infrastructure need to be increased. Asia Pacific only has a 15% share of climate finance globally despite 60% of the world’s population in the region. According to a UNFCCC assessment of financing needs based on NDCs in Southeast Asia for example, at least USD 422.16 billion is needed for both mitigation and adaptation.
As a contribution to narrowing the finance gap, UNDP’s Climate Finance Network will host a regional webinar to showcase opportunities of how philanthropy can be utilized for climate action as an alternative source of climate finance, especially for adaptation and resilience. Broadly covering endowments, foundations, and other asset owners, philanthropists can play a key role in bridging the gap and also blending public and private capital. The population of billionaires in Asia is projected to grow by 27% between 2018 and 2023. Further estimates show Asian philanthropists can share more than current volumes, especially towards climate action as traditional sectors supported include education, health, and poverty reduction measures.
The event will bring in representatives from various institutions to share perspectives on the different functions and roles stakeholders play to facilitate philanthropic giving for climate and shed light on past and ongoing experiences to further incentivize and engender philanthropy for climate. In turn, representatives from government at the national and local levels, associations of foundations, and other collectives within the philanthropy, private, public partnership ecosystem are invited to learn not just about opportunities but also examples to replicate in the domestic context alongside cross-border giving.
TPI will be part of a panel of speakers including the World Economic Forum, the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, the Asia Philanthropy Circle, and Porticus.
The webinar is part of the Climate Finance Network’s knowledge sharing initiatives across 18 countries in the Asia Pacific. The virtual speaker series provides a platform for information exchange and knowledge sharing among government officials and subject matters from within and outside the region.
