Climate Asia Newsletter: December'23

Dear Readers,?

As we usher in the holiday season and reflect on the remarkable journey of 2023, we're delighted to bring you exciting updates and stories from the climate sector.?Take a stroll through the key moments, climate job opportunities, and recommended readings, providing insights into the strides made and the path ahead, in this edition. With the COP 28 coming to a close this year, the UN Climate Change Conference held in Dubai saw many milestones like the effective focus on the critical need to safeguard vulnerable countries from the detrimental impacts of weather conditions.?

As we revel in the joy of the holiday season, let's carry the spirit of unity and environmental consciousness into the coming year. May the new year bring fresh opportunities for collaboration, sustainable initiatives, and a renewed commitment to building a resilient and harmonious world. Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and a fulfilling journey ahead. Happy holidays!

IMPACT NEWS

COP28: The Rockefeller Foundation , ACEN Corporation, Monetary Authority of Singapore Partner to Explore Phasing Out Coal Plant in Philippines

The Coal to Clean Credit Initiative (CCCI), led by The Rockefeller Foundation, collaborates with ACEN Corporation for a pilot project in the Philippines. This initiative aims to retire a coal-fired power plant using carbon credits, potentially becoming the world's first to leverage carbon finance for early decommissioning. With the support of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, CCCI's 'coal-to-clean' credits incentivize a just transition to clean energy, aligning with global climate goals. This innovative project addresses challenges in retiring coal plants, particularly in developing economies, and contributes to The Rockefeller Foundation's commitment to building a sustainable future. Read more here.

CLIMATE FELLOWSHIP

Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps

EDF Climate Corps facilitates collaborations between skilled fellows and impactful organizations. In 2023, Younus Sheikh partnered with JSW Cement to explore circular bioeconomy for sustainable expansion. Shehanas Pazhoor collaborated with Pula Advisors to explore carbon farming for smallholder farmers, supporting Pula's climate insurance efforts. Sharan Ghai , in 2022, aided Mahindra Group in becoming a sustainability leader through expertise in scope-3 emissions, carbon trading, and credit generation.

Applications are now being accepted for hosts. For additional details, please reach out to the provided emails.

[email protected]- for host applications

Apply here to become a host.

PANEL DISCUSSION?

Presenting a glimpse of our??panel on "Building Climate Resilience: Strengthening Grassroots Initiatives through Capacity Building" as a part of?Climate Asia's Conference

Climate Asia recently hosted a panel discussion focusing on "Building Climate Resilience: Strengthening Grassroots Initiatives through Capacity Building." The distinguished panel featured Poonam Choksi ( A.T.E. Chandra Foundation ), Sohini Mookherjee ( Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) ), and Swati Agarwal ( Oak Foundation ), with Koushik Yanamandram moderating the discussion. Each panellist shared valuable insights, providing key takeaways to guide organizations to enhance their capacity building towards climate resilience and grassroots empowerment:?

-?Prioritizing funding for capacity building is essential, with a focus on creating awareness. Recognizing the significance of strategic planning and clear intentions is crucial for NGO growth, and a mindset shift is needed to turn existing donors into capacity-building donors.

-??Capacity building is a continuous, long-term process. Leveraging organizational strengths in partnerships is vital for effective capacity building. Building an ecosystem that collectively addresses challenges and utilizes organizational expertise is key.

-??Strengthening is essential for every organization, but the specific needs may vary. Building trust and open communication with partners are crucial aspects of capacity building. Constantly adapting to evolving ecosystems and investing in the right types of capacity needs contribute to organizational success in the context of Climate Change.

The panel discussion came to a close with an interactive Q&A session, offering an opportunity for the audience to pose questions and receive valuable insights from the speakers

CLIMATE JOBS

1. Lead - People Management, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE)
2. Researcher - Climate Resilient Agriculture, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)
3. Principal Scientist, Conservation, Centre for Wildlife Studies
4. Managing Partner, Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs
5. Programme Associate – Distributed Renewable Energy, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)
6. Lead - Livelihoods, Global SDG7 Hubs

READINGS FOR THE MONTH

1. Singapore Launches Taxonomy to Define Green and Transition Activities Across Key SectorsThe Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched the Singapore-Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, defining green and transition economic activities in eight key sectors. This framework, unique for Asia, includes a "transition" category and a "traffic light" system to combat greenwashing. Green activities follow EU criteria with regional adaptations, while Amber activities show commitment to a green transition. The taxonomy encourages a sustainable transition through a "measures-based approach," aligning with global efforts to classify sustainable economic activities. It addresses Asia's challenges in balancing net-zero goals with economic development and rising energy demands. Read more here.
2. The India Climate Finance Report- The Age of AdoptionIn transitioning from the 'Age of Innovation' to the 'Age of Adoption' by 2030, the Climate Capital Network's second annual report highlights the critical role of climate finance in rapidly amplifying proven climate technologies. The report highlights the urgency to scale climate innovations using climate finance, emphasizing the need to address identified gaps in the climate capital stack. To achieve this, a key focus is placed on purpose-fit financial innovations, recognizing the essential need for specialized climate finance. The report advocates for seamless integration across stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of combining grant, equity, and debt to drive innovation. Overall, the report outlines a roadmap for navigating this crucial shift, urging a concerted effort in leveraging climate finance to propel the adoption of proven climate technologies. Read more here.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. ALTéRRA
2. Energie AG Innovation Challenge
3. Asia Climate Solutions (ACS) Design Grant

?YEAR RECAP

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