First-ever pledge by sub-national government to GEF climate fund boosts total new financing for LDCF to over $US 252 million
The Premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard, announced on Saturday in Paris a contribution of $CAD 6 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the GEF-hosted climate fund for the most vulnerable countries. The commitment, made at the Paris COP21 climate talks, is the first-ever by a sub-national government, and brings total new financing to the LDCF to more than $US 252 million.
Thanking Québec for its generous support to the LDCF, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), said: “This groundbreaking commitment by Québec shows the growing international cooperation to help the most vulnerable and most exposed to the impacts of climate change.”
The support for the LDCF was included in an announcement by the Québec government today of new international funding for climate cooperation. See the Québec press statement below.
“By contributing to the Least Developed Countries Fund, Québec, as a federated state, is setting a precedent in international climate funding. This new gesture is yet another demonstration of the essential contribution of federated states in the fight against climate change and Québec’s leadership in this area,” underscored the Premier.
Earlier this week, 11 donor countries pledged $US248 million to the LDCF.
Welcoming the injection of more money for adaptation support to some of the most vulnerable countries on the planet, Naoko Ishii, added: “Given that we’re already locked into climate change trajectories for many years to come, increased investment in adaptation has to be at the core of the new climate agreement.”
