Format: Two panels
Date: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Duration: 90 minutes
Time: 13:15 – 14:45 BRT
Organisers: Climate Security Mechanism at the United Nations, with the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, and ODI Global
Location: Side Event Room 4, Blue Zone at UNFCCC COP30, Belém, Brazil
Languages: English, with simultaneous interpretation into French and Arabic
The event aims to generate political momentum and operational pathways for equitable climate finance in fragile and underserved settings, with a particular focus on supporting country platforms as a central mechanism. It is expected to welcome country platforms, spotlight the Improved and Equitable Access Network on climate finance for countries affected by climate change, conflicts, and high levels of humanitarian needs, and announce readiness support or pledges to build capacity, convene stakeholders, and develop investment pipelines. Through this, the event seeks to bridge the gap between global climate finance mechanisms and local needs. The discussion will reinforce linkages between climate finance, resilience and peacebuilding, and pave the way for follow-up engagement through the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) and the Network.
During the session, all participants – not only speakers – will be invited to share pledges and partnership commitments in support of climate, peace and security action. A live digital “Pledge and Commitment Wall” powered by a simple online form and displayed on screen, will showcase submissions, highlighting the entity, representative and nature of each contribution. Participants can scan a QR code or email csm-core@un.org to submit financial, technical or policy commitments, which will remain visible during the closing remarks and compiled in a summary posted on www.un.org/csm.
Session description:
In line with the COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace, the side event will unite global climate and development leaders to align efforts, share progress, and co-develop solutions for scaling climate finance in underserved climate-vulnerable settings, with a focus on conflict-affected Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
This event will bring together leaders from climate finance institutions, national governments, and multilateral agencies to explore how to scale and tailor climate finance for countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change and affected by conflict and a high level of humanitarian need.
The discussion will spotlight the Improved and Equitable Access Network on climate finance for countries affected by climate change, conflicts, and high levels of humanitarian needs, chaired by Chad and comprising Burundi, Iraq, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Somalia, Timor-Leste, and Yemen. The Network provides a platform to share experiences and advocate for solutions tailored to the realities of climate-vulnerable settings affected by conflict and a high level of humanitarian need. Chad, speaking on behalf of the Network, has expressed interest in deepening collaboration with the CSM and work jointly towards strengthening access to finance.
The panel will also include perspectives from the African Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, and key UN actors, highlighting opportunities to bridge the gap between global climate finance efforts and the realities of underserved countries.
Event run of show:
OPENING AND WELCOME (10 MINUTES)
- Moderator: Dr. Rebecca Nadin, Director of Global Risks and Resilience, ODI Global
- Co-Chair, CSM Joint Steering Committee: Ms. Elfriede More, Deputy Director-General of International Climate, Environment, and Energy Affairs, at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, Republic of Austria
- Co-Chair, Group of Friends on Climate and Security: Dr. Heike Henn, Director General for International Climate Action, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany
PANEL I: HIGH-LEVEL REMARKS (30 MINUTES)
- Somalia: H.E. Lt. Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
- Yemen: H.E. Mr. Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi, Minister of Water and Environment
- South Sudan: H.E. Mr. Joseph Africano Bartel, Undersecretary of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forestry of South Sudan
- Ireland: H.E. Mr. Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs
SCENE-SETTING TRANSITION (5 MINUTES)
- Climate Security Mechanism: Ms. Jennifer Baumwoll, Head of Climate Strategies and Policy, UN Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the CSM
PANEL II: PANEL DISCUSSION (40 MINUTES)
- Green Climate Fund: Mr. Thomas Eriksson, Director, Department of the Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East Region
- Chad: Mr. Oumar Gadji Soumaila, Director General, Special Fund for the Environment, Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
- Papua New Guinea: Ms. Debra Sungi, Acting Managing Director, Climate Change and Development Authority
- African Development Bank: Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth
- Climate Security Mechanism: Mr. Tendai Kasinganeti, Climate, Peace and Security Advisor, UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) on behalf of the CSM
- Fund for responding to Loss and Damage: Ms. Jihyea Kim, Program Manager, Programming and Country Engagement
Closing Remarks (5 MINUTES)
- Co-Chair, CSM Joint Steering Committee: Ms. Maisoon AlDah, UAE Deputy Ambassador to Brazil
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We kindly request that any pledges or commitments known in advance be shared with csm-core@un.org so they can be included in the meeting summary.