Global Center’s next chapter: Perspectives from CEO Patrick Verkooijen
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ransformation is at the heart of climate adaptation. The simple fact is a climate resilient future requires a course change in how adaptation is integrated into economic and development policies and investments. Transformation is also defining the Global Center for Excellence on Adaptation (GCECA) as we focus in on our purpose and our fearless ambition for the future.
That’s why we have begun our next chapter as the Global Center on Adaptation. Our new name, logo, and our new look and style is just the beginning of our transformation and evolution. As I step into the leadership role of our organization, joined by the expertise of new senior staff, it is my hope to inspire a new clarity behind the adaptation agenda, built on genuine, pragmatic steps forward that can help address policies, investments, financing, and governance needed to help societies across the globe, and those most in need, become more resilient to climate-related threats.
The strategic focus of the Center is to bridge gaps in knowledge, serve as a resource for technical expertise, and help guide investments in adaptation solutions. Broadly, our mission is to accelerate knowledge-sharing, investments in people, and financing of solutions to ensure that building resilience becomes a higher priority at all levels of decision-making.
Our new chapter is also marked by the Center’s exciting role as the co-host, together with the World Resources Institute (WRI) of a new Global Commission on Adaptation, overseen by 8th U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Microsoft Founder and Gates Foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates, and World Bank Group CEO Kristalina Georgieva. The Global Commission on Adaptation will elevate the political importance of adaptation and focus on solutions. It will be launched on October 16, 2018.
The Center will work actively to help realize the recommendations of the Commission, as well as robustly embrace new opportunities that help us maximize our role as a catalyst for implementation of a global climate adaptation agenda.
Join us on our journey.
