World Bank’s “Shock Waves” report applauded by Climate Investment Funds

The Climate Investment Funds has welcomed and applauded the World Bank’s new report, “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty”.

The report makes clear the fundamental connection between the goals of stabilizing climate change and eradicating poverty – neither can be achieved without the other.

The good news, as the report indicates, is that “good development” in the next 15 years can prevent the worst potential impacts of climate change on the world’s poor. “Good development”, according to the report, is rapid, inclusive, and climate informed.

CIF Program Manager Mafalda Duarte says “The findings of ‘Shock Waves’ should shock the global community into ramping up its ‘good development’ efforts. This report shows why it is so important that leaders work for an ambitious deal at United Nations climate negotiations this month in Paris.”

“Climate change is hitting poor people first and worst,” says Duarte, “‘Shock Waves’ estimates that without sufficient good development, climate change could push an additional 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. For the sake of people and planet, we need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in a more resilient future.”

The CIF is the world’s largest active multilateral climate finance vehicle, with US$8.1 billion to date of climate finance. CIF programs channel money to communities, enabling them to carry out projects that secure their livelihoods and increase their capacity to cope with climate change.

CIF is working in 72 developing and emerging countries worldwide, transforming these countries into leaders in inclusive development that increases climate resilience.

The CIF is already supporting 44 projects with US$791 in nine countries and two regions (including nine small island nations) to help them adapt to climate change.

The CIF leverages about eight dollars from other sources for every one dollar it contributes directly: at this rate, the CIF is likely to drive an estimated $US57 billion in climate finance from other sources to emerging markets worldwide.

Ghana’s investment plan in renewable energy endorsed by CIF

The Climate Investment Funds (CIF), at its recent governing body meetings, unanimously endorsed Ghana’s ambitious investment plan to transform and promote its renewable energy sector.

The plan is slated to receive $40 million in funding from the CIF’s Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP).

It is structured around four key projects: renewable energy mini-grids and stand-alone solar PV systems; solar PV-based net metering with storage; utility-scale solar PV/wind power generation; and a technical assistance project, supported by the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).

With a significant number of its citizens without access to basic electricity, Ghana is committed to drawing on its wealth of renewable resources to build a sustainable energy sector, and has already adopted a set of energy policy targets, including providing universal access to electricity by 2016 and achieving a 10% contribution of renewables in the electricity generation mix by 2020.

However, the country’s renewables sector faces challenges including inadequate regulatory, contractual and tariff frameworks, and limited interest from investors.

The infusion of SREP funding, along with $53.5 million in support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and financing from other development partners, will help the country scale up and leverage private and public financial resources to build the country’s renewables sector and carry out the innovative set of projects.

“We are very pleased to receive this important endorsement from SREP,” stated the Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor, who led the country’s delegation for the presentation of the investment plan to the SREP Sub-Committee.

“The potential we see through this plan for scaling-up the country’s renewable energy development is enormous, not only because of the funding to be provided, but because it will help increase investor confidence, reduce regulatory, institutional and contractual barriers, and provide needed technical support and capacity, and ultimately help Ghana’s citizens to sustainably access climate-friendly energy.”

The SREP investment plan is Ghana’s second investment plan under the CIF. The country also has an active portfolio under the CIF’s Forest Investment Program (FIP) – one of a handful of countries with plans in several sectors – and the SREP decision allows the country to exponentially expand its landscape of climate-smart development overall.

The $8.1 billion CIF provides developing countries with grants, concessional loans, risk mitigation instruments, and equity that leverage significant financing.