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Accessing International Climate Change Related Finance in Latin America and the CaribbeanFinancing projects and programs to mitigate impacts of, and adapt to, the climate change is a matter of necessity not choice. This green expenditure policy note looks at factors facilitating the access to international financial instruments for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries that support mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. This policy note explores two questions: (i) does the quality of government institutions matter for enabling action aimed at mitigation or adaptation to the climate change?; and (ii) what financial instruments are available to governments in addition to own resources to address climate change challenges? This policy note aims to present them with advice on how to achieve greater access to international financing or co-financing of projects supporting renewable and alternative energy generation for transport, agriculture, housing, preservation of unique ecosystems, and other projects supporting sustainable development. This policy note describes the climate challenges facing the LAC region and then discusses the various climate financing flows. It discusses the factors affecting LAC countries' access to climate financing, and how countries can apply to several of the principal global and regional climate funds. The objective is to disseminate knowledge that will help governments of all LAC countries, and particularly finance ministries, understand and access new climate funds and financing mechanisms. The policy note consists of three parts: part one reviews the global landscape of the climate change financing for mitigation and adaptation and emerging trends, identifies various financial instruments, and presents an overview of the LAC's share of available finances from several public financing sources, both bilateral and multilateral. Part two reviews two case studies for Bolivia and El Salvador that demonstrate how each of these countries addresses environmental challenges through its policies, institutional systems and involvement of the civil society. Part three includes technical annexes, which represent a compilation of technical information presenting main climate change financial instruments. A list of global and specialized climate funds of possible interest to LAC countries appear in annex one. A complementary list of climate finance instruments appears in annex two, in which climate funds as well as financial tools are named, described, and categorized according to their primary purpose. A more detailed description of several of the largest climate funds including when such funds were founded, their purpose, and eligibility requirements are presented in annex three. Annex four provides a step-by-step description of how to apply to the largest climate funds. Annex five lists the LAC projects that have been supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) by country.
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Achieving urban climate adaptation in Europe and Central AsiaMany cities across Europe and Central Asia are experiencing the impacts of climate change, but most have not integrated climate adaptation into their agendas. This paper examines the threats faced and measures that can be taken by cities in the region to protect buildings, heritage sites, municipal functions, and vulnerable urban populations. In general, local governments must be proactive in ensuring that existing buildings are climate ready, paying particular attention to emerging technologies for retrofitting the prefabricated, panel style buildings that dominate the landscape while assessing the viability of homes situated in flood plains, coastal areas, and steep slopes. They also must ensure that new developments and buildings are designed in ways that account for climatic fluctuations. Although the resilience of all populations needs to be considered, historical patterns of discrimination require that special provisions are made for the poor and for ethnic minorities such as the Roma because these groups will be most at risk, but are least likely to have access to adequate resources. Urban climate adaptation requires national-level support and local commitment. However, centralized planning and expert-led decision-making under the former regimes may affect the ability of cities to pursue programmatic approaches to adaptation. Therefore, while national governments need to make adaptation a policy priority and ensure that municipalities have adequate resources, local government agencies and departments must be transparent in their actions and introduce participatory and community-based measures that demonstrate respect for diverse stakeholders and perspectives.
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Achieving urban climate adaptation
 in Europe and Central AsiaMany cities across Europe and Central
 Asia are experiencing the impacts of climate change, but
 most have not integrated climate adaptation into their
 agendas. This paper examines the threats faced and measures
 that can be taken by cities in the region to protect
 buildings, heritage sites, municipal functions, and
 vulnerable urban populations. In general, local governments
 must be proactive in ensuring that existing buildings are
 climate ready, paying particular attention to emerging
 technologies for retrofitting the prefabricated, panel style
 buildings that dominate the landscape while assessing the
 viability of homes situated in flood plains, coastal areas,
 and steep slopes. They also must ensure that new
 developments and buildings are designed in ways that account
 for climatic fluctuations. Although the resilience of all
 populations needs to be considered, historical patterns of
 discrimination require that special provisions are made for
 the poor and for ethnic minorities such as the Roma because
 these groups will be most at risk, but are least likely to
 have access to adequate resources. Urban climate adaptation
 requires national-level support and local commitment.
 However, centralized planning and expert-led decision-making
 under the former regimes may affect the ability of cities to
 pursue programmatic approaches to adaptation. Therefore,
 while national governments need to make adaptation a policy
 priority and ensure that municipalities have adequate
 resources, local government agencies and departments must be
 transparent in their actions and introduce participatory and
 community-based measures that demonstrate respect for
 diverse stakeholders and perspectives.