This session looks at unlocking much-needed funding for the South Mediterranean region and considers the example of two initiatives in the region. Speakers include Ramadan Seddik, Director General of Environment – Luxor Governorate; Oussama Kaassamani, Clima-Med key expert; Olgu Okumus, Clima-Med Policy and Finance Strategy expert; Sophie De Coninck, UNCDF LoCAL Global Manager.

Both the use of SEACAPs as the funding tool for climate projects and other tools prepared by Clima-Med project (National Coordination Groups, SEACAP Support Mechanisms, Finance model, and funding Guidelines) and the LoCAL mechanism can factually help increase the flow of climate finance, and in parallel, can help increase funding capacities of local governments.

This session, organized by the Union for the Mediterranean, will discuss how to unlock much-needed funding in the South Mediterranean region and will take the example of two initiatives that have been or will be implemented in the region. The Clima-Med project is implemented by a DAI-led consortium. Speakers at the event will include Clima-Med experts Mr. Oussama Kaassamani, Clima-Med SEACAP expert for Mashrek region, and Ms. Olgu Okumus, Clima-Med Policy and Finance Strategy expert.

Local authorities are uniquely positioned to identify the climate change adaptation responses that best meet local needs. Furthermore, they typically have the mandate to undertake the small- to medium-sized adaptation investments needed to build climate resilience. Yet they frequently lack the resources to do so, especially in a way aligned with established decision-making processes and public planning and budgeting cycles.

The EU cooperates with its Southern neighbors to support their green transition and help the region adapt to climate impacts. The EU also supports local authorities and their affiliation with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) initiative through its Mediterranean branch, the Covenant of Mayors Mediterranean.

The Clima-Med project is implemented by a DAI-led consortium. Speakers at the event will include the Clima-Med Team Leader, Mr. Naguib Amin and Mr. Georges Youssef, Mayor of Menjez, Lebanon. The event is organized by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).

This session will discuss financing for climate action with particular attention to local contexts, highlighting challenges and opportunities facing local authorities wishing to take a leading role. It will also consider lessons learned from EU projects and identify obstacles, solutions, and best practices for efficient use of climate finance by local authorities.

Considering the challenges the Mediterranean is facing, there is an urgent and critical need for countries to adapt and increase the region's resilience to climate change. The event will discuss challenges, joint responses and initiatives, draw lessons learned from the bilateral and regional cooperation, and reflect on how best to support the region going forward in view of the changing context.

In light of the challenges the Mediterranean is facing, there is an urgent and critical need for countries to adapt and increase their resilience to climate change. The EU is committed to supporting the region in these endeavors in its ongoing cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood region. The event proposes to discuss challenges, joint responses, and initiatives, draw lessons learned from bilateral and regional cooperation, and reflect on how best to support the region in the future, given the changing context. The event is organized by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and moderated by Mr. Naguib Amin, Team Leader for Clima-Med. The Clima-Med project is implemented by a DAI-led consortium.

This event will present the 2022 Annual Report of the Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance. The Report, delivered by DAI staff through the Expert Advisory Call Down Service, draws out the key achievements over the past year and provides recommendations. Lord Goldsmith will give the opening address. On the panel will be the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, the Managing Director of the World Bank, and senior representatives from Germany, Rwanda, Uganda, and Fiji.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO’s) Centre for Disaster Protection, managed by DAI, will be part of the Global Resilience Partnership’s podcast series that seeks to illuminate and debunk some key myths that impede action and investment into resilience. The podcast will focus on risks relating to disasters and financing countries to move from reaction to readiness to plan better for future disasters.

The ClimaTech Run is a competition addressing start-ups and digital artists from around the world, aiming to increase their role in raising climate change awareness and establishing innovative and sustainable solutions for climate action. The competition is organized by the Egyptian Ministries of International Cooperation (MOIC), Environment, and Communications and Information Technology in partnership with USAID, Afreximbank, World Food Programme, Google, the United Nations Population Fund, General Motors, and the Mansour Group. The DAI-led Business Egypt team is managing the online platform for the competition, providing virtual space for sharing ideas and designing climate solutions, and will support MOIC with the Pitching Event for the 15 finalists. Winners’ Announcement for the ClimaTech Run 2022 will take place in the Blue Zone.

This event will highlight university students’ participation in and the challenges they face contributing to climate action. Students who participated in the Model COP and the Climate Change Changers programs in Egypt will share their experiences. Speakers at this event include H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt; Leslie Reed, USAID Egypt Mission Director; and Dr. Mohamed El-Khosht, president of Cairo University and Cairo University students.

This panel discussion will showcase female mayors and stakeholders from the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM’s) signatory cities, including GCoM Board members. The Secretariat is a joint venture between the European Commission, represented by DAI, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The focus will be on recognizing the importance of their role in leading climate actions and highlight their contribution to integrating gender into climate and energy policies. The event will be moderated by Ms. Myriam Makdissi from the EC-funded Clima-Med program managed by DAI with keynote speakers including the Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Noorliza Awang Alip; Mayor of Nabeul, Tunisia, Basma Maatoug; former Mayor of Bethlehem, Palestine, Vera Baboun; former-Minister of the Environment, Egypt, Dr. Laila Iskandar.

Launched by The Global Centre on Adaptation in 2022, the DAI-managed Local Adaptation Champions Awards spotlight and reward innovative, exemplary, inspiring, and scalable locally-led efforts that address the impacts of climate change and build effective climate resilience among the most vulnerable communities. The Awards ceremony will celebrate the adaption work achieved by local actors from around the world, joined on stage by Dr. Patrick V. Verkooijen, CEO of The Global Center on Adaptation; Saima Wazed Putul, Thematic Ambassador, Climate Vulnerable Forum; Dr. Rania A. Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Arab Republic of Egypt; Sheela Patel, Director, Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres.

Hosted by the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), this session will begin with a series of short showcase presentations from speakers in the form of short lightning talks, followed by an interactive roundtable discussion to discuss opportunities, synergies, and challenges. Sofía Martínez, DAI Climate Team, will join the roundtable discussion, which will convene energy and transport professionals to discuss barriers and opportunities for entrepreneurship in the space. ICSI will be joined by participating organizations, including Climate Resolve, TryKe, youthinkgreen Egypt, and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM).

Climate governance is critical to promoting climate action and must be at the center of effective responses to climate change. This event will discuss challenges and opportunities relating to climate change governance and share knowledge and experiences. Speakers include Dr. Ali Abo Sena, Chief Executive Officer, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; Eng. Sherif Abdelrehiem, Head of Central Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Environment, Egypt; Eng. Yasser Sherif, Climate Change Governance Egypt, and Tawfik El-Kheshen, Environmental Governance Technical Advisor.

This panel discussion will present the key urban adaptation and mitigation tools that are increasing resilience to climate change and helping prepare for its adverse impacts. Through the valuable accounts of Mayors and local leaders from all over the world, the panel will explore cities’ achievements in reducing their vulnerability to climate change and environmental hazards. This side event is supported by the GCoM Secretariat, a joint venture between the European Commission, represented by DAI, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

This debate will feature Mayors and local leaders discussing their energy transition efforts, including GCoM signatories from Poland, Lebanon, Australia, Zambia, Moldova, and Chile. Eero Ailio, DG ENER, will moderate the discussion, exploring the key drivers and barriers behind the signatories’ success stories and considering future expectations relevant to the energy transition. The Secretariat is a joint venture between the European Commission, represented by DAI, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

GCoM’s Annual Aggregation Report sheds light on the collective influence of its signatories at the frontlines of the fight against climate change and calls for a significant boost in urban climate finance flows to realize the full potential of city climate action. The launch event will hear from GCoM Board Mayors on the overall impact across the alliance; from the secretariat team to draw out regional highlights, and from regional covenants and cities to detail actions on reducing emissions, building resilience and adaptation responses, and addressing clean energy access and energy poverty. The Secretariat is a joint venture between the European Commission, represented by DAI, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.