Climate Change Operational Framework 2017-2030: Enhanced Actions for Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Resilient Development

By Asian Development Bank

The Climate Change Operational Framework 2017-2030 is intended to provide broad direction and guidance for enhancing resilience and strengthening climate actions in the operations and business processes of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It positions ADB to facilitate, collaboratively and proactively, a regional shift toward a low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development path. The operational framework provides guidance across all ADB sector and thematic groups to support climate adaptation and mitigation actions, operationalizing ADB's commitment to provide at least $6 billion per year in climate change financing from its own resources by 2020. It outlines actions and the institutional measures to be implemented to enable ADB to meet the climate needs of its developing members.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Release date: Aug 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9789292579081

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CLIMATE CHANGE OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK 2017–2030

Enhanced Actions for Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Resilient Development

July 2017

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO)

© 2017 Asian Development Bank

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Some rights reserved. Published in 2017.

ISBN 978-92-9257-907-4 (Print), 978-92-9257-908-1 (e-ISBN)

Publication Stock No. TCS178947-2

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22617/TCS178947-2

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

* Until 29 June 2017, before assuming post of Director General, Pacific Department.

* *Until 29 June 2017, before assuming post of Director General, SDCC.

ABBREVIATIONS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background and Context

Climate change is already imposing significant costs in Asia and the Pacific—costs that will increase over the coming years, and that translate directly into adaptation needs. The Asia and Pacific region has the largest number of climate-vulnerable people worldwide, women being among the most vulnerable. The region already experiences average daily losses of $200 million per day as a consequence of disasters, and climate change is increasingly contributing to rising losses. Expected future climate change impact threatens recent development gains and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Noteworthy steps have been taken to adapt to climate change, but significant challenges demanding an urgent response lie ahead.

The region is a major and growing source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Future climate change will be less severe only if such emissions are reduced. Because of rapid urbanization and economic and industrial growth, more energy is consumed and GHG emissions are rising. However, since much of the needed infrastructure in the region is yet to be built, low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development still presents a great opportunity.

Most developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have ratified the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while aspiring to limit warming to 1.5°C. ADB will support its DMCs in meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement and in increasing their levels of ambition over time.

Many countries have already embarked on a low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development path. Many DMCs are engaging in climate mitigation and adaptation interventions in line with their national climate plans and strategies, and most have outlined their post-2020 nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Some recent revisions in investment approaches, notably the significant acceleration into investment in renewable energy, underscore the fact that positive change is already happening, but not yet at the required scale or pace. However, most mitigation targets set in the DMCs’ NDCs generally depend, at least in part, on external financial and technical support for their achievement.

ADB Agenda for Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Resilient Development

ADB is developing Strategy 2030, a corporate strategy for the period up to 2030. Strategy 2030 will position ADB to meet the emerging needs of its diverse DMC clientele by (i) eliminating poverty, (ii) promoting prosperity, (iii) deepening inclusion, (iv) strengthening sustainability, and (v) building resilience. Given the central role of integrated climate change action in achieving both the SDGs and Strategy 2030 objectives, ADB has identified the need for a Climate Change Operational Framework 2017–2030 (CCOF2030).

The CCOF2030 is intended to provide broad direction and guidance for enhancing resilience and strengthening climate actions in ADB’s operations and business processes, including its country partnership strategies, country operations business plans, sector and thematic strategies, DMC programs and projects, technical assistance, and knowledge support; in accordance with the goal to deliver stronger, better, and faster support to its DMCs as One ADB.

The CCOF2030 positions ADB to facilitate, collaboratively and proactively, a regional shift toward a low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development path. The ultimate intent is to support this transition, in line with the Paris Agreement, by making finance flows consistent with a pathway toward low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development. The CCOF2030 also recognizes and supports the heterogeneity of DMCs and their national climate and development aspirations.