“Connecting people for change”: that is what Both ENDS did at the COP
After a busy week filled with side-events, meetings, negotiations and covid, our colleagues Daan and Niels are back in the office in Utrecht. Together, they look back to their expereiences and results during the climate conference COP27 in Egypt.
How useful is a climate conference like this?
Niels: It's the best and worst global climate process that we have. A conference like COP shows the power generated by everyone being in the same place at the same time. In a little more than a week I spoke to leading Dutch political figures like Diederik Samsom and Rob Jetten, members of the Dutch parliament, ministers from other countries, dozens of Both ENDS' partners and climate activists from all over the world, and made a wide range of useful new contacts. The conversations in the corridors at the conference are so important for the negotiations that take place throughout the day. Your world literally becomes smaller.
Daan: That applies even more to our partners who are much less familiar with having access to policymakers at international events. It's my mission during such a conference to give our partners a podium on wchih to make their voices heard – connecting people for change. Our side-events are an example of that. In the session about gender-just climate finance, some GAGGA partner organisations engaged directly with representatives of the Canadian government, the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund on the need for giving local women and indigenous organisations a central role in the fight against climate change. And in our session on finance for acroecology, Rosinah Mbenya from our partner PELUM Kenya had the opportunity to cross examine one of the directors of IFAD. Niels and I were also able to facilitate many bilateral meetings between our partners and policymakers. This served to increase the sense of urgency among policymakers on these themes – some called it a reality check during their negotiations. Lastly it gave many partners the motivation and strength to continue their struggle, a factor that should not be underestimated and which also resounds in their local communities.
Niels: At the same time, there was a record number of fossil lobbyists at the conference, going around with 'green' sales pitches and false solutions. And they had a gigantic impact.
Tell us more: what impact did the fossil lobbyists have?
Niels: Civil society organisations and activists have been calling for years for fossil fuels to be included in the final texts of climate conferences. Last year there was a breakthrough with the phasing out of coal and fossil subsidies being referred to. But oil and gas have remained out of the firing line this year. The good news is that more than 80 countries, including Europe and now India too, want them to be mentioned. And there was a lot of discussion about them at this COP.
What were you lobbying the hardest for at this COP, and did you have some success?
Niels: After signing an agreement at COP26 last year, together with 38 other countries and financial institutions, to put an end to public funding for international coal, oil and gas projects, the Netherlands has now published the weakest policy of all those countries. I naturally wanted to do something about that. But climate and energy minister Rob Jetten dug in his heels at the conference and refused to abandon the transition period, leaving the door open for the fossil industry for another year. But that fight has not yet been lost: there's still to be a debate on the issue in the Dutch parliament!
Daan: My advocacy activities were focused on our GAGGA call to action for Gender Just Climate Finance, in which we call for local access to climate finance. This I discussed with the Dutch and Canadian delegations, the various climate funds and other actors like the Global Centre for Adaptation. Again, this topic that I have been promoting for many years, found resonance among many of those I spoke to but implementation remains severely lacking. Countless adaptation initiatives on which our partners are working – such as agroecological practices, but also other gender-just climate solutions – are ready to be financed but, due to a series of factors (and more importantly, choices!), climate financing is hardly finding its way to them.
For the first time, together with our partners, I was given concrete answers about the deployment of small grants funds to serve as bridges between the bureaucracy that stands in the way between climate financing and local initiatives. In the coming period, we will continue to advocate on the urgency of this with renewed vigour. But regarding this year's negotiations, it was disappointing to see how the outcomes on gender were somewhat diluted. Not surprising, but quite worrying nevertheless.
What do you both see as the most important breakthrough this year?
Niels: The main issues this year was loss and damage. If you cannot prevent climate change and cannot adapt to it, as with the floods in Pakistan, then that damage – economic and emotional - will occur. This year, the most vulnerable countries called for a loss and damage fund to be set up. And that is coming. That means, finally, recognition for people who are already suffering damage. Now we need to see the money. With a fossil industry that for the time being faces far too little resistance, I am very careful about getting overly enthusiastic. Because this is still a drop in the ocean.
Daan: I agree with Niels that a Loss & Damage Fund is an important step in the right direction, especially for the recognition and, to a certain extent, restoration of confidence among the countries of the Global South in this process, whichcould certainly do with a boost after many broken promises. However, I hope that the new Loss & Damage Fund does not come at the expense of other climate finance. Furthermore, 12 years ago when the Green Climate Fund was set up, the pledge was made to invest a large part of the 100 billion a year in mitigation and adaptation projects in the Global South, with many opportunities for smaller, transformational projects led by local organisations. This promise has not materialised, even after many awkward – to put it mildly – board meetings, so as civil society organisations it is our task to continue to push for access to this money for those in the Global South who need it the most. Because, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about!
And Niels, what are you going to focus on?
Niels: There are quite a few issues I'd hoped to have seen addressed at this climate conference, but which were not. The Netherlands and other rich countries, for example, should have joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and signed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. By doing so, the Netherlands would have taken its responsibility to finally stop extracting oil and gas in the Netherlands itself, such as below the Waddenzee, and stop providing fossil grants.
In addition, the financial sector should be compelled by law to set reduction goals, and fossil advertisements should also be banned. But above all, I will continue to work hard to achieve the correct implementation of the Glasgow Declaration: 100% fossil-free export credit insurance!
* Also read the report about the side-event on gender-just climate finance on the GAGGA website.
** More finance for agroecological initiatives was one of our goals for this climate conference.
For more information
Read more about this subject
-
Dossier /
Finance for agroecology
The lion's share of public budgets for climate, agriculture and development still goes to conventional agroindustrial projects that contribute to the current climate, food and biodiversity crises. Both ENDS and our partners are calling for a transition to agroecological practices that are people- and environment-friendly.
-
News / 4 november 2022
Both ENDS to attend climate conference in Egypt
Climate action is urgently needed to slow down global warming. The effects of climate change are already showing themselves. Floods in Pakistan and closer to us, in the Netherlands, are causing loss of life and much emotional and economic damage, while local climate solutions are still largely being ignored. That's why Both ENDS is going to participate in COP27, the climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
-
Event / 13 november 2022, 18:30 - 20:00
Climate finance towards resilient and agroecological food systems
UNFCCC COP side event
Food systems account for 33% of GHG emissions, but receive only 3% of climate finance. Climate finance is urgently needed to fund the food systems solutions that can have real impacts and wide-ranging benefits in a diversity of contexts. How do we improve on current funding pathways?
Join this UNFCCC side event to find out more!
-
Publication / 18 juni 2018
-
Publication / 7 november 2022
-
Publication / 4 november 2022
-
Publication / 1 december 2021
-
Event / 11 november 2022, 15:00 - 16:30
Local perspectives to make gender-just climate finance a reality
UNFCCC-COP side event
In this session hosted by NTFP-EP and the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA), we will discuss the crucial steps to be taken to make gender-just climate finance a reality.
-
News / 10 november 2017
Delivering Money Where It Matters: Both ENDS' co-organised side event in Bonn
Both ENDS' Niels Hazekamp and Daan Robben are joining the Climate CoP in Bonn to actively follow the negotiations, with a special focus on certain topics such as subsidies and support for fossil fuels, climate finance, climate adaptation, and gender. Both ENDS also co-organises a side event together with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
-
Event / 5 december 2023, 12:00 - 13:30
Agroecology as a Climate Change Measure: Exploring financial opportunities for Agroecological Practices in Africa
Climate conference (UNFCCC) side event
This event will showcase the vital need to advance agroecology as a people, nature and livelihood-centred approach towards climate adaptation and mitigation. It will make the case for agroecology and climate action based on researched and carefully selected case studies on agroecology in Africa and how it is and can continue contributing to adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change.
-
Dossier /
Green Climate Fund: calling for local access to climate finance
Local organisations and groups must be given access to climate finance from the Green Climate Fund. They know exactly what is happening in their local context and what is required for climate adaptation.
-
Event / 19 juni 2018, 09:15 - 11:00
Adaptation Futures - Session on Small grants, big impacts
The Green Climate Fund aims to support transformational pathways to climate-resilient development, intends to reach those most vulnerable, and commits to a gender-sensitive approach. This session presents an important way of putting these commitments into practice: by engaging small grants funds. These funds can provide the much needed channel between large international institutions and local communities adapting to climate change, and assure financing reaches women and men to contribute to transformative climate action. But how to make this shift in how financing is delivered? The audience will be actively engaged in the discussion to come to concrete suggestions to strengthen local access and gender responsiveness of climate finance.
-
Publication / 4 november 2016
-
News / 19 december 2023
Climate conference in Dubai: Hopeful outcome with a fragile future
The UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) has come to an end. Both ENDS and our partners were well represented at the event. History was written, literally, in Dubai, as in the final document the attending countries finally put down on paper that the world must move away from fossil fuels. That is the beginning of the end for the fossil industry. Niels Hazekamp and Daan Robben look back: what did Both ENDS do there and what do we think of the outcome?
-
Event / 3 december 2019, 15:00 - 16:30
Side event Both ENDS at Climate COP in Madrid
On Wednesday December 4th 2019 Both ENDS together with Heinrich Böll Stiftung from he US organises a side event at the UNFCCC COP in Madrid: Can the GCF Catalyze Inclusive, Gender-Responsive Local Climate Action Globally and in Latin America?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Video / 28 augustus 2018
Webinar series: women’s rights and climate finance, #5
The fifth session of our five part series on women's rights and climate finance, Experiences and Perspectives of Women Engaging in Climate Finance, shared the insights of three activists who have been serving as GCF Monitors as part of the "Women Demand 'Gender-Just' Climate Finance" initiative. They spoke about their processes of learning about climate finance and connecting with others to monitor climate finance in their communities and regions, discussed the value they have found in this work, and answered questions from webinar participants.
-
External link / 29 mei 2019
Local access to climate finance (Annual Report 2018)
The vast majority of climate finance is channelled to (and through) big institutions and large-scale projects, often without taking into account the wishes and interests of local communities. Both ENDS is working with diverse partners worldwide to address this problem, with a special focus on the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
-
Event / 3 december 2015
COP21: Climate Change Conference Paris
During the COP21 in Paris, Both ENDS will be cooperating and presenting with partners on a number of events. If you plan on going, please consider visiting one or more of these sessions:
-
External link / 1 augustus 2018
Briefing paper: Gender and Climate Change
This paper by Prakriti Resources Center (Nepal) sheds light on the gender and climate change nexus, gender mainstreaming as a tool to address gender inequality, gender and climate change policy landscape both at international and national level, gaps and way forward.
-
Publication / 11 juli 2019