Executive Director’s remarks

Nobody questions the fact that conflict is a critical impediment to eradicating poverty and ensuring development and prosperity. Because of this, it should be of great concern to all of us to observe that the number of people worldwide living in close proximity to conflict has doubled over a 10-year period.

Moreover, 43% of the world's poor are in fragile and conflict-affected states.

The linkages between climate change and conflict have been questioned for some time. Hopefully, this is no longer the case. It is no random event or coincidence that 17 of 25 countries least prepared to adapt to climate change are conflict-affected.

More than 32 million climate-linked internal displacements were recorded in 2022, which is a 41% increase from 2008.

It is also estimated that the direct effects of climate change on agriculture productivity will cause further internal migration of up to 216 million people by 2050.

This should be quite concerning, which is why it's so important to make this agenda a priority.

In terms of the Green Climate Fund, we have committed USD 2 billion of our funds to 31 of the 37 countries classified as in conflict or institutionally and socially fragile over the last eight years. 

But much more is needed. Deliberation and fit-for-purpose processes within institutions are key. But when we think carefully within our institutions about what it takes to respond to the specific circumstances in such countries, we can commit resources, as GCF did in record time for Somalia, for example. We are committed to doing much more in other fragile and conflict-affected states.

For all those reasons, we are fully committed to working with you to ensure that these fragile and conflict-ridden countries are not left behind and forgotten. They are currently receiving less than two-thirds per capita climate funding of other low-income countries. This is not acceptable.

And, for all those reasons, we are here in full support to endorse the Baku Call, the establishment of the Baku Hub and the common principles for effective climate finance and action for relief, recovery and peace.