The Green Climate Fund (GCF) this week welcomed over 170 representatives from Pacific Islands countries, Accredited Entities to the GCF, development partners, civil society and the private sector to the Pacific Regional Meeting. The meeting was co-hosted by Australia and the GCF.

Co-Chair of the GCF Board, Ewen McDonald, opened the high-level segment in the presence of Pacific Leaders and Ministers by stating, ‘The Pacific Islands are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and are making efforts towards reducing emissions and climate-resilient development. The Green Climate Fund exists to support that transformation and this workshop will help Pacific Island countries access this finance’.

Co-Chair Zaheer Fakir added, ‘This workshop is a key part of the Fund’s efforts to work with countries and accredited entities to attract high quality, ambitious and paradigm-shifting funding proposals. The Board has already approved over USD400 million in funding approvals, and we aim to reach USD2.5 billion in approvals by our final Board meeting for 2016 in Apia, Samoa in December.’

Ministers and regional partners recognised the good progress the Pacific region has made in securing over US$68 million in GCF funding to date. Participants shared experiences in accessing GCF funding and identified key areas that could improve the region’s access to the GCF, including strengthening country capacity, improving coordination and developing strong partnerships.

The event has contributed to building a pipeline of Pacific proposals for the GCF, with a range of potential proposal ideas across themes such as water, energy, strengthening resilience, and transport.

At the technical workshop over the last two days of the meeting, Pacific Island countries worked with Accredited Entities and other partners to further develop key ideas into proposals so they can be ready for GCF Board consideration later this year, and beyond. This included practical discussions on potential regional programmes including in renewable energy, energy efficiency, insurance, and oceans.

Participants developed a Pacific GCF roadmap that identified a range of potential country and regional level proposals to be prepared for GCF consideration. The roadmap, coupled with strong partnerships and networks formed during the Pacific Regional Meeting, will help maintain the momentum for the Pacific towards realising its ambition and maximising benefits for the region with the GCF.