Green Climate Fund Structured Dialogue in Asia

Venue: Furama Resort, Da Nang City

Excellency Nguyen The Phuong, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Vietnam;

Ministers, Excellencies;

Mr. Javier Manzanares, GCF Deputy Executive Director;

Distinguished National Designated Authorities and GCF Focal Points in Asia;

GCF board members and advisors;

Representatives from the private sector and civil society;

Distinguished guests;

On behalf of the United Nations system in Viet Nam, I would like to welcome all national and international stakeholders to this four-day dialogue here in Viet Nam.

I would like to congratulate the Green Climate Fund Secretariat for making such great progress in enhancing its operations since its establishment in 2010. The GCF has quickly and surely become one of the most important financing mechanisms to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter the effects of climate change. In the same vein, I would like to commend the Board of the Green Climate Fund for making swift decisions and approving a number of strategic projects that focus on transformative action to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global climate change challenges can only be met if we can strengthen our collaboration and joint action for both adaptation and mitigation measures. This will require a significant increase of financial and technical contributions from all partners, including the private sector, academia and civil society organizations. Sustainable development is one of the GCF's six key investment criteria, together with impact, paradigm shift, needs of the recipient, country ownership, efficiency and effectiveness. Bringing these criteria together will create an effective framework for climate action, but it will need ownership by all involved partners and should be backed up by effective management and strong monitoring systems.

Please allow me to congratulate the Vietnamese Government on the approval of two GCF projects focusing on "improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Viet Nam" and "scaling-up energy efficiency for industrial enterprises in Viet Nam". These projects aim to address two of the most important adaptation and mitigation concerns in this country.

The first project, approved in 2016 as one of the first projects in Asia, has been developed and is being implemented in close cooperation between the Government and UNDP in Viet Nam, aiming to strengthen storm and flood protection for coastal communities. The project will therefore support resilient housing, planting and rehabilitation of mangrove forests, and systematized climate risk assessments for the public and private sectors. The project has seen joint effective management, and has set up strong monitoring systems, ensuring that benefits are achieved for all target groups.

I wish to use this example and opportunity to highlight the effort that UN agencies – both as accredited entities and readiness delivery partners – including the FAO, UNDP and UN Environment as well as the Multilateral Development Banks, make to ensure that important and critical assistance is delivered to countries that need it most, and in the quickest possible time. The challenge of climate change requires effective partnerships and long-term commitment, and the success of the GCF and UN agencies in assisting countries to tackle climate change and achieve the SDGs is fundamentally intertwined. It is clear that climate change action needs to be viewed as integral to the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN in Viet Nam as well as in Asia will continue to support Governments to prepare their National Country Framework for the GCF through an inclusive and transparent process, ensuring that the prioritization of investments is decided upon jointly by all stakeholders, including those communities coping directly with the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, we stand ready to provide the technical and operational support needed by governments, the private sector and civil society partners to raise awareness around the Green Climate Fund and identify strategic opportunities for Asian countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to conclude by saying that I trust that through the fruitful discussions which I am sure will take place at this dialogue forum you will strengthen and refine the specific and collective actions needed for low-carbon and climate resilient development.

We look forward to strengthened collaboration between Viet Nam, the UN and the Green Climate Fund in the coming months and years. And, we will continue to support the GCF's effective monitoring of climate action by helping to institutionalize policies and best practices on key issues such as ensuring the participation of ethnic minorities, the full integration of environmental and social management, as well as gender equality and social inclusion concerns.

Thank you! Xin Cam On!