Monday, 1 April 2019

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

UN City Copenhagen

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Official meeting

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Biographies

Interactive dialogues on measures and actions on finance, that promote integration of climate objectives and a range of SDGs..

Moderator:

Mr. Pa Ousman Jarju, Director, Division of Country Programming. Green Climate Fund

Panel

• Mr. Ditlev Engel, Special Envoy for Climate and Energy, Denmark
• Mr. Sohel Ahmed, Managing Director, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh
• Mr. Rohit Khanna, Practice Manager, World Bank
• Mr. Jens Sedemund, Senior Advisor on Development Finance, OECD
• Mr. Nicolai Boserup, General Counsel and Senior Vice President,Investment Fund for Developing Countries
• Ms. Monica Perez dos Santos, Financial Director, Itaipu Binacional

Context

The global community is at a decisive moment for climate action. The scientific consensus presented in the IPCC’s report on impacts of global warming of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, warns that climate impacts are being felt more rapidly than before expected. The investment decisions of the next decade will determine whether we are in reach of achieving the needed transition toward a low-emissions, climate-resilient global economy.

The goal of this session is to raise key issues related to mobilizing means of implementation for climate action and identify areas for synergies and collaboration among different sectors to mobilize resources and drive impact at scale for the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Proposed guiding questions

• Denmark has been requested by the UN Secretary-General to lead the energy transition track of this year’s Climate Action Summit. This is a recognition of Denmark’s strong political commitment for climate action, particularly for being a front-runner in the field of green transition. How do you plan to use your role as Denmark’s Special Envoy for Climate and Energy to engage countries, international organizations, investors, and the civil society in global climate and development cooperation?
• The UN Committee for Developed Policy (CDP) conducts a triennial review of the list of Least Developed Countries (LDC) that may qualify for inclusion to or graduation from the LDC category. The review is based on a rigorous methodology using a wide range of sustainable development indicators. The 2018 Report of the CDP states that Bangladesh fulfilled the criteria for graduation for the very first time and will be recommended to leave the LDC category in 2024, if the country meets again the graduation criteria in 2021. What has Bangladesh been doing that allowed it to meet CDP’s criteria for graduation and how do entities such as Grameen Shakti are contributing?
• The World Bank Group is committed to achieving the SDGs, which are fully aligned with the “twin goals” of ending extreme poverty and building shared prosperity in a sustainable manner. COP24 in Katowice kicked off with the World Bank announcing that it will invest around $200 billion over the next five years. How does this contribute to the World Bank’s commitment to help catalyze the SDGs and the rest of the 2030 agenda?
• The OECD Ministerial Council Meeting highlighted the importance of the role of the organization in fostering policy coherence for sustainable development and reaffirmed its commitment to contribute to the success of the 2030 Agenda. Can you tell us more about OECD’s action plan on the Sustainable Development Goals? What do you consider is the most crucial element needed to ensure its successful implementation?
• The Investment Fund for Developing Countries aims to contribute significantly to the implementation of Denmark’s strategy for development cooperation by tapping private companies in developing countries and emerging markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe as partners. What are some examples of business investments or effective partnership models that you can share, which bring the private sector to the table in working towards climate action solutions?
• Since the opening of the hydroelectric dam on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, Itaipu Binacional has been known as a leader in clean and renewable energy generation. However, many argue that low-carbon technologies are too costly for mainstream use, especially in developing countries. Can this myth be debunked based on the experience of your company? If clean renewable energy is affordable or even financially attractive, does that mean there is scope for more ambitious NDCs in 2020?
• What should we do over the next five months to ensure that there is strong support for climate finance issues at the UN Climate Action Summit?