DAI Looks Forward to Active Participation at COP28

November 30, 2023

Numerous DAI-led projects and technical experts are participating in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Dubai, which runs from November 30 through December 12. COP is the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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“We are delighted to have strong representation at COP28 by our experts and projects, who reflect DAI’s leadership in equitable climate finance, clean energy, and transparent climate governance at local and national levels,” said Jette Findsen, DAI Vice President, Environment.

The following projects and personnel will be present:

The European Union (EU) Global Support Facility for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) provides technical assistance and policy advice to support the design, update, and implementation of EU partner countries’ NDCs, long-term strategies, and national adaptation plans. The project will support European Commission staff during various COP sessions, acting as facilitators or moderators as required.
The DAI-led Support the Secretariat of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) project facilitates coordination mechanisms between the regional and the global covenants. Our technical assistance supports implementation of the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Regional and national covenants serve as local chapters of the broader Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy alliance. Our team, including Nadya Boneva, Head of DAI’s EU Climate Practice, will represent COM-MED (the Mediterranean Chapter of GCoM) and speak at the session on “Climate-neutral cities: A journey to reach zero emission” on December 11 (live-streamed).
The EU Acting for Climate in South Mediterranean (Clima-Med) project works to enhance partner countries’ energy security and adaptive capacity, leading to more stable, efficient, competitive, and climate-resilient societies and economies while increasing energy sovereignty and reducing emissions. Clima-Med works in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia. Clima-Med will be joining forces with GCoM at the “Climate-neutral cities: A journey to reach zero emission” on December 11.
Technical Assistance for the 11th EDF Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program (NDRRP). This EU-funded program strengthens resilience to disasters caused by natural hazards and extreme events in countries represented by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) through support to the OACPS Secretariat. A focus of the program is developing and sharing knowledge on disaster risk reduction by providing a knowledge management system, e-learning, and training. Program Team Leader Dr. Pendo Maro and Cristelle Pratt, OACPS Assistant Secretary General for Environment Climate Action, are speaking on Fostering Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Small Island States on December 1 in the Commonwealth Pavilion.
DAI also supports the Global Center on Local Adaptation Champions Awards ceremony held at COP. This year the GCA Awards Ceremony will be held in the Resilience Hub on December 5.
DAI’s Centre for Disaster Protection project will also share its expertise at COP. Funded by the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Centre works with national governments, development banks, humanitarian agencies, insurers, private sector actors, research institutions, and nongovernmental groups to help countries strengthen their pre-disaster planning and financial arrangements to respond more rapidly and effectively when a disaster strikes.

On December 2, the Centre will co-host a panel in the Resilience Hub with our partners Insurance Development Forum and REAP, where we will showcase the Centre’s flagship State of Pre-arranged Financing for Disasters 2023 report. Associate Director Lydia Poole will join virtually to present the report, and Associate Director Eleanor Hevey will join the panel in person alongside Board member Christina Bennett (CEO START Network).
On December 3, Centre Director Daniel Clarke will join the official launch of the Getting Ahead of Disasters: Charter on Finance for Managing Risks, authored by REAP and Zoe Scott, and endorsed by the Centre. The roundtable will be hosted by the UAE COP28 Presidency as one of its officially endorsed non-negotiated outcomes. U.K. Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell will also attend.
Also on December 3, the Centre will co-host a reception in partnership with the Alliance of Small Island States, REAP, and the Insurance Development Forum.

The Climate Ambition Support Alliance (CASA), funded by the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will be present to provide support for the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries. The Alliance represents the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and CASA’s role is to support these nations in influencing the outcomes of international climate negotiations.
The DAI team from the USAID Economic Governance Activity (Egypt) is supporting the following events:

On December 2, The Path Towards Institutionalizing Climate Change Governance side event at the Egyptian pavilion, Blue Zone, 15.00. Dr. Khaled Zakaria Amin, Lead Advisor for the project, will moderate a discussion on the efforts of the Government of Egypt towards climate change governance and how governance can improve the adoption of climate change solutions.
Also on December 2, Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Arab Countries side event at the Egyptian pavilion, Blue Zone, 12.00. Project Chief of Party Hermann Thiel, will join panelists to discuss green transition governance and policy coordination, financing the green transition, alternative instruments to meet new challenges, decarbonization, and green structural transformation of Arab economies.
On December 4, The Role of Women in Advancing Climate Action side event at the Egyptian pavilion, Blue Zone, 15.00. Dr. Khaled Zakaria Amin will join panelists in presenting various recommendations that highlight the significant role of women through the promotion of enhanced opportunities in education, skills development, decent employment, inclusive environmental governance, and social protection.

Manuel Bueno Vera, Senior Lead for Climate Finance at DAI, will host and present at Sustainable Banking Alliance: Lessons Learned in Engaging Financial Institutions for Climate Finance. The panel is held in the Climate Action stage of the Innovation Zone on December 7. Panelists include Jacqueline Musiitwa, Senior Climate Finance Advisor for USAID and Katja Silva Leander, Global Director, Development and Climate Finance.

Manuel is also moderating the second event in the Sustainable Banking Alliance series on December 9 at 4pm in the Colombia Pavilion (Zone B2, Bldg 17). During this session, panelists explore valuable insights and opportunities related to partnering with financial institutions to advance climate finance in Colombia, including early-stage lessons learned from USAID’s Sustainable Banking Alliance. The panelists include Razia Baqai, USAID Deputy Division Chief, Economic Growth, Environment, and Agriculture; Jessica Jacob, co-founder and CEO at Sureco and Partners; Ariane Pevide, Climate Finance Director at MUFG; Laura Ruiz Daza co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Diorama.

Shola Diop, Manager at DAI Capital, is contributing to the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples’ Platform.

DAI Teams with USAID, NASA on Climate Change Project

DAI is delighted to announce that we are collaborating with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to use earth observations from space to help forecast and adapt to the effects of climate change.