The UN Secretary-General’s Climate Resilience Initiative (CRI) was announced on 30 November 2015.[1] It was launched by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and 13 UN member states at COP21 (Paris Climate Conference for the UNFCCC).[1] The Initiative seeks to bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, the UN organisations, the private sector, research institutions and civil society.[1]
Thirteen UN agencies are involved in the Initiative. They are: UNEP, UNFCCC, UNISDR, WMO, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, WFP, OCHA, UNOPS, UNFPA, UN-Habitat and UNICEF.[1]
Purpose of the Initiative
This initiative aims to develop climate resilience in the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It is intended to help improve the abilities of such countries to anticipate climate hazards and absorb subsequent shocks.[1] Another aim is to address and absorb climate risks through reshaping development so as to account for climate impacts, including those living only metres above sea level and in areas prone to flooding and droughts.[1]
Aims of the Initiative
The Climate Resilience Initiative uses the phrase: Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape. Behind this phrase is a determination to focus on transformative solutions to help those in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and African countries.[1]
In the five years from 2015, the Initiative will focus on:[1]
- The mobilisation of finances and knowledge
- Creating and setting in train partnerships on a local scale
- Providing assistance for coordinating activities that bring about real results
- Promoting research
- Creating new tools for solving climate change problems.
Transformative projects
Examples of the transformative projects in train include:
- Early warning systems and preparedness
- Insurance and social protection
- Decision making
- Private sector investment