The Urgency and Importance of Climate Financing at COP 28

The UN’s annual climate change conference known as COP28 kicks off in Dubai Nov. 30. Finance is a big theme on the agenda, and in this episode of the ESG Insider podcast we’re talking to Hong Paterson, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). 

GCF is accountable to the UN and is guided by the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); it was established at a previous Conference of the Parties (COP) gathering to help achieve the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees C relative to preindustrial levels.  

"The Green Climate Fund is the largest climate-focused fund globally and is the main mechanism for the Paris Agreement," Hong says. "Part of the Paris Agreement was really to bring at least $100 billion per annum, which was the problem statement when the Paris Agreement was established. That problem statement is now multiple trillions of dollars per annum." 

In the episode, Hong also talks about her expectations for COP28 — including the role the private sector can play in addressing the massive climate financing gap. 

"There is a huge pool of funding that's waiting from private sector, and it's a function of trying to figure out how we can help them overcome the hurdles," Hong says.  

You can listen to previous episodes about what to expect from COP28 here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/what-to-expect-from-cop28-the-un-s-big-climate-change-conference  

And here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/intersection-of-gender-and-climate-in-focus-ahead-of-cop28 

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.      

Copyright ©2023 by S&P Global     

DISCLAIMER     

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.