Excellencies, colleagues, and friends,

Welcome to GCF’s second replenishment Pledging Conference.

Let me begin by congratulating Germany for demonstrating remarkable leadership in climate finance. Thanks to the German leaders and team for being a steadfast champion of GCF’s mission; a champion of this replenishment and hosting us today.

This is my first time participating in a GCF replenishment and being here today in this remarkable/historical place is something I will certainly not forget and treasure.

Vielen Dank!

Please join me in giving them a round of applause.

Let me also thank all of you for recognizing the importance of this Conference and investing your precious time for being here today!

This is an important day. And the rationale is quite straightforward.

The more we raise ambition on international climate finance - the more we raise ambition of climate action in developing countries and… the closer we get to our collective climate goals and our humanity.

Our climate goals will be won or lost in the developing world because that’s where most of the world’s population live, where most of global GDP is generated. But it is also in these countries where most of the impacts are being felt, in particular by those most vulnerable.

We have the responsibility to show leadership and by the power of our actions and example demonstrate to all that we are consciously aware that there is only one common destiny for us all – independently of where we are from and where we live.

The dual challenge and opportunity of climate action in developing nations is why the Green Climate Fund was established.

We are the funding mechanism of the Paris Agreement, the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, and we are uniquely positioned to drive substantial impact.

Let me remind you why.

Because of the strong joint ownership and governance of the fund among all parties.

Because of the scale of the resources and the extraordinary flexibility in using them.

And because of the unparalleled and new network of institutions GCF can work with, empower and bring together for higher ambition.

GCF’s-2 replenishment stands to elevate GCF’s impact and enable it to reach the higher ambitions set out in the 2024-2027 strategic plan which the Board approved early July this year.

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