Global Center on Adaptation Honors Local Climate Heroes at COP29
B
aku, Azerbaijan, 13 November 2024 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) hosted its flagship COP29 event, “Global Champions for Locally Led Adaptation,” with support from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, at the Resilience Hub in Baku, Azerbaijan today. The event brought together the international community to spotlight the transformative power of locally led adaptation, celebrating the winners of the 2024 Local Adaptation Champion (LAC) Awards presented to four exceptional community initiatives from around the world.
At the high-level gathering, GCA underscored the urgent need for global leaders to sustain momentum towards the doubling of climate adaptation finance and to channel it to at risk communities, emphasizing that sustained support is vital for locally led solutions. The event amplified the voices of frontline champions who are driving pioneering adaptation initiatives, demonstrating transformative approaches that directly support the communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, delivered a keynote address highlighting the importance of locally driven adaptation:
“As the world confronts the accelerating impacts of climate change, locally led adaptation is essential for building global resilience. Today, we honored leaders and communities whose innovative, scalable solutions are protecting lives and transforming futures. These champions remind us that adaptation, when guided by local needs and supported by global solidarity, is one of the most powerful tools we have. The Global Center on Adaptation is committed to bridging the gap between international finance and local action, and with COP29, we must see a doubling in adaptation finance, ensuring no vulnerable community is left behind.”
Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Development at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “The Local Adaptation Champion Awards showcase the incredible innovation and resilience of communities and leaders on the front line of the climate crisis. They show us the vital importance of local communities being at the centre of decision making. The UK government is deeply committed to developing genuine partnerships with local communities and national governments to build climate resilience.”
Lutfey Yasser Siddiqi, Hon’ble Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser speaking on behalf of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Hon. Chief Adviser of the interim government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh said:
“Adaptation is not a luxury, it’s not an option, it’s a necessity for us. For Adaptation to be transformative it must be locally informed and locally driven. Communities know their landscapes and their ecosystems best. Our task is to empower them in their decision making. Adaptation is a priority pillar for us.”
Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and GCA Board Member noted “Adaptation has become the number one priority for my country. As an atoll the fate of my country will be decided by the climate crisis. The damage of climate change has been real for many years already and it is constantly getting worse. COP29 must priotize adaptation finance to protect those of us on the frontline. We need a quantum leap in adaptation finance.”
Philip Isdor Mpango, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan said:
“By standing up for the local people, by helping them stand up on their own terms, that is how we can help them become champions for adaptation. We must stand firm on climate finance reaching the most vulnerable local communities.”
Jenny Bates, Director General of Economics, Climate and Global Issues of the United Kingdom and GCA Board Member said:
“We know from the evidence that local communities being at the centre of decision making is the right thing to do and drives better decision making in terms of climate impacts. We are really proud to be involved in the work GCA is doing and we are looking forward to the learning that can be shared through the release of this report today. In the UK we are committed to partnering further on locally led interventions.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation said:“Climate change is changing the way we trade. We have to reimagine trade to include the green comparative advantage.”
Rémy Rioux, Director General of the Agence Française de Développement and GCA Board Member said: “I want to commit today to engage in a community of practices to help disseminate the findings on locally led adaptation with public development banks so these solutions are really at the heart of community and development finance.”
Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the Federal Republic of Somalia said: “Empowering our local communities is not a policy, it is essential for our survival. We urgently need financing mechanisms that reach the heart of local communities.”
Ole Thonke, Under State Secretary for Development Policy of Denmark said: “We need to go from mitigation mode into adaptation mode. We need to solve adaptation with local solutions. In Denmark we have reserved 30% of our development budget for climate change nad out of that 60% for adaptation. We are looking for innovation solutions and schemes. We need to attract more private finance. Communities have the solutions, they are extremely innovative and they know how to use the money in the best way possible.”
The four LAC Award recipients, selected from a shortlist of 21 outstanding projects, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to community-driven strategies for addressing climate challenges:
- Food Security: Tree Aid, a UK-based charity, won for its community-centered initiative in Burkina Faso that aids rural populations in adapting to climate change through sustainable land practices. This project has empowered women and improved food security with tree-based enterprises and nutrition gardens.
- Water Security: Green Hope Foundation received the award for its solar-powered water farms in Kiribati, providing clean water to communities and reducing carbon emissions. This initiative promotes resilience and economic independence, especially for women and youth.
- Local Entrepreneurship: Aliet Green in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, won for introducing climate-smart technologies that support over 1,500 smallholder farmers, mainly women, in adapting to climate impacts on coconut sugar production.
- Urban Adaptation Solutions: Instituto Internacional de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (IIED) América Latina was awarded for its nature-based solutions project in Buenos Aires, helping residents combat extreme heat through increased green spaces and community collaboration.
The Award winners were selected by a prestigious judging panel: Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation Board and 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations; Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development, Norway; Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Development, United Kingdom and Professor Patrick Verkooijen, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation.
The event also featured high-level discussions led by international leaders, including Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser of the interim government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, exploring key priorities for scaling locally led adaptation as well as Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Hon. President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; Philip Isdor Mpango, Hon. Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization.
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.
Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.
