HAPPY AND PROUD OF THE NEW DIPLOMA AWARDED TO ME BY THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM - FINANCIAL INITIATIVE (UNEP FI)

HAPPY AND PROUD OF THE NEW DIPLOMA AWARDED TO ME BY THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM - FINANCIAL INITIATIVE (UNEP FI) FOLLOWING MY PARTICIPATION ON MARCH 2, 2023 AT THE FREE VOCATIONAL TRAINING WEBINAR IN ENGLISH ON THE THEME "SCALING PRIVATE SECTOR CLIMATE FINANCE IN THE MENA REGION".

My thanks and congratulations goes to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) for organizing this very interesting online seminar!

The question addressed bun? me during the webinar was the following:?

"How do you think it should be tackle the confusion generated by the plethora of institutions issuing sustainability?reporting standards: UNEP FI TCFD & TNFD, IFRS-ISSB, EFRAG, GRI, CDP, ASCOR, ISO, Basle Committeee, European Central Bank, European Banking Authority, US SEC, ADB, etc? Thanks for the reply to my question."

My main conclusions on the webinar:

1. The global effort to fight climate change (climate mitigation) as well as the need to adapt and build resilience to the changing climate (climate adaptation) pose a set of challenges and opportunities for financial institutions in the MENA region.?

2. UNEP FI underwent a consultation process with member banks in the MENA region regarding climate finance in general and opportunities to provide support in scaling private sector finance for climate action in the region.?

3. Some recurring topics have been:

? Effective climate action requires clear sectoral priorities for banks to focus on, as well as typologies or taxonomies to guide lending portfolios.

? While banks recognise the importance and the business case for expanding their climate finance portfolios, and climate-aligned refinancing options are generally available, commercially viable climate finance projects are still scarce.

? Banks’ climate finance engagement often goes beyond their own lending books by advocating at the national and international levels, and shaping policies and priorities through their system-wide networks.

? The teams within banks frontrunning the climate finance market recognise the need for awareness building with other stakeholders (internal, competitors, regulators) in order to mainstream climate finance.

4. This study observed key macro trends for climate mitigation and adaptation in the MENA region and collected case studies showcasing projects and exemplifying observable trends.

5. The global push for strengthened climate adaptation was underpinned by its recognition as one of four goals of COP26 in Glasgow

6. The establishment of several initiatives, such as the Race to Resilience, the Adaptation Action Coalition and the Adaptation Research Alliance, as well as a renewed focus on the Global Goal on Adaptation, showcases the global political commitment towards climate adaptation action.

7. In the Middle East and North Africa, the physical impacts of climate change pose a major challenge, particularly sea level rise, heat stress and water scarcity, which will have dire consequences on food production, energy generation, and livelihood opportunities. Increasing risks and economic losses from climate change are creating a need for?

business models, technologies and investment that help countries manage these risks and build resilience in a positive and inclusive manner.

8.Global financing of climate adaptation solutions in the public and private sector falls significantly short of the scale needed to achieve resilience. The MENA region is no exception: public finance falls far short of targets and the private sector still fails to attract finance at scale, as climate adaptation solutions usually do not meet mainstream?

lending criteria of size, tenor and return, while blended finance approaches are underutilised.?

9. Furthermore, private sector finance is often focused on localised adaptation solutions (e.g. ‘flood protection’ or ‘efficient resource use’), while still failing to support holistic adaptation projects achieving wider socio-economic resilience.

10. Increased financing from financial institutions into these sectors would play a vital role in achieving climate resilience in the region

Once again my thanks and congratulations goes to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) for organizing this very interesting online seminar!

George Florin Staicu

Global Sustainability Ambassador; member of the International Finance Corporation - Grow Learn Connect Directory of Training Professionals; USAID banking scholarship recipient;

Graduate of the Reuters' digital journalism training course; member of Green Forum; member of the Professional Risk Managers' International Association;

Independent banking, microfinance, SME lending, GRC, CSR, ESG, GRC, UN SDGs, EU Taxonomy & Green Deal, nature-based infrastructure solutions, circular economy, green - blue inclusive sustainable development & finance, IFRS-ISSB, UNEP FI TCFD?TNFD & PRB,?EFRAG, GRI, CDP, ASCOR and ISO reporting standards, blended finance, Fintech & Ecotech promoter, Public-Private Partnership promoter, gender equality, social performance, learning & development, strategic planning, risk management, team leader, senior project manager, consultant, trainer and business coach

Member of the International Finance Corporation - Grow Learn Connect "Directory of Training Professionals" (https://lnkd.in/dwPhDdqF)

Signatory of the International Finance Corporation - GLC Principles for Learning (https://lnkd.in/e7rkAn6)

Global Ambassador of Sustainability - initiative - partnership UNESCO, UN Habitat and American University of Dubai -?https://lnkd.in/dxaSfHaY

Graduate of the Reuters' digital journalism training course - https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/glad-proud-receive-diploma-awarded-prestigious-press-company-staicu/

Graduate of a 5 weeks (19 September - 20 October 2022) post-university training course?"Nature-based infrastructure for climate adaptation and sustainable development" offered by the Nature Based Infrastructure Resource Centre (NBI RC), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) , the MAVA Foundation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) -?https://lnkd.in/dhsVViKZ

Member of the Green Forum managed by the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership led by the?Global Green Growth Institute,?Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,?UN Environment Programme, United Nations Industrial Organization and?The World Bank?Group. -?https://lnkd.in/dnecxuDb

Expert and Mentor at the "Anticorruption Solutions Through Emerging Technologies" (ASET) Tech Sprint project (June 10 - 24, 2022) a partnership between the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes -?https://lnkd.in/d5hWtNpD

Member of UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum -?https://lnkd.in/dPCP4iaK

Post-university graduate of the Siena International School on Sustainable Development training course "Challenges and solutions of decarbonization" - Online Webinars (23 March – 20 May) sponsored by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS); Santa Chiara Lab – University of Siena; Enel Foundation; the Italian University Network for Sustainable Development (RUS) and the SDSN Europe -?https://lnkd.in/eMcHGuNG

Writer on the International Finance Corporation's Grow Learn Connect Blog -?https://lnkd.in/ewYTAm4N

Owner, creator and administrator of the LinkedIn group "Best practices in UN SDGs, EU GD, ESG, circular economy green blue sustainable development finance"?https://lnkd.in/evunwuN4

Owner, creator and administrator of the LinkedIn group "Microfinance Best Practices"?https://lnkd.in/eV4ZbihH

Member of the Social Performance Task Force standards projects - responsible finance -?https://lnkd.in/eWZgrY8k

Member of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Group (https://lnkd.in/eRvCzun7)

and

Member of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) DGROUPS -?https://lnkd.in/eWGP_NSR

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FERICIT ?I M?NDRU DE NOUA DIPLOM? CARE MI S-A ACORDAT DIN PARTEA PROGRAMULUI DE MEDIU AL ORGANIZATIEI NATIUNILOR UNITE - INITIA?IVA FINANCIAR? (UNEP FI) PENTRU PARTICIPAREA PE 2 MARTIE 2023 LA WEBINARUL GRATUIT DE FORMARE PROFESIONAL?, ?N LIMBA ENGLEZ?, PE TEMA ?ORGANIZAREA FINAN??RII SECTORULUI PRIVAT IN DOMENIUL SCHIMB?RILOR CLIMATICE DIN REGIUNEA ORIENTULUI MIJLOCIU ?I AFRICII DE NORD- MENA".

Mul?umirile si felicitarile mele merg c?tre Programul Na?iunilor Unite pentru Mediu - Initiativa Financiar? (UNEP-FI) pentru?organizarea acestui foarte interesant seminar online!

Intrebarea mea adresat? ?n timpul webinarului a fost urm?toarea:

"Cum crede?i c? ar trebui s? se abordeze confuzia generat? de multitudinea de institu?ii care emit standarde de raportare pentru sustenabilitate:

UNEP FI TCFD & TNFD, IFRS-ISSB, EFRAG, GRI, CDP, ASCOR, ISO, Comitetul de la Basel, Banca Central? European?, Autoritatea Bancar? European?, US SEC, ADB etc?"

Mai jos pute?i citi principalele mele concluzii la care am ajuns ?n urma particip?rii mele la acest webinar.

Intrebarea mea adresata ?n timpul seminarului a fost urmatoarea:

"Cum crede?i c? ar trebui s? se abordeze confuzia generat? de multitudinea de institu?ii care emit standarde de raportare pentru sustenabilitate:

UNEP FI TCFD & TNFD, IFRS-ISSB, EFRAG, GRI, CDP, ASCOR, ISO, Comitetul de la Basel, Banca Central? European?, Autoritatea Bancar? European?, US SEC, ADB etc?"

A? mai ad?uga faptul c? ?n ultima perioada am participat la mai multe asemenea seminarii online, gratuite, ?n limba englez?, organizate de in institu?ii importante precum Programul Na?iunilor Unite pentru Mediu - Initiativa Financiar? (UNEP-FI) in domeniile protec?iei mediului, schimb?rilor climatice, economiei circulare, finan??rii verzi si albastre (green and blue finance) managementul riscului climatic, etc. pentru care am primit diplome care sper sa-mi foloseasc? in viitorul apropiat in planul carierei mele profesionale.??

Dedic aceast? postare ?N PRIMUL R?ND scumpilor mei p?rin?i Aurelia? si Florin?, precum ?i dragului meu c??elu?, Picky?????, to?i trei afla?i, din p?cate, acolo sus, ?n Rai ?i, totodat?, TUTUROR prietenelor si prietenilor de pe Facebook, ?N SPECIAL celor care au fost ?i sunt al?turi de mine ?I la bine ?I la greu!?

Dumnezeu s? ne binecuvanteze pe TO?I!?

Inc? o dat? mul?umirile si felicitarile mele merg c?tre Programul Na?iunilor Unite pentru Mediu - Initiativa Financiar? (UNEP-FI) pentru?organizarea acestui foarte interesant seminar online!

George Florin Staicu?

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Principalele concluzii ale webinarului:

1. Efortul global de combatere a schimb?rilor climatice (atenuarea schimb?rilor climatice), precum ?i nevoia de a se adapta ?i de a construi rezilien?a la schimb?rile climatice (adaptarea la clim?) reprezint? un set de provoc?ri ?i oportunit??i pentru institu?iile financiare din regiunea MENA.

2. UNEP FI a trecut printr-un proces de consultare cu b?ncile membre din regiunea MENA cu privire la finan?area climatic? ?n general ?i oportunit??ile de a oferi sprijin ?n extinderea finan??rii sectorului privat pentru ac?iunea climatic? ?n regiune.

3. Cateva subiecte recurente au fost:

? O ac?iune eficient? de combatere a schimb?rilor climatice necesit? priorit??i sectoriale clare pe care s? se concentreze b?ncile, precum ?i tipologii sau taxonomii care s? ghideze portofoliile de creditare.

?n timp ce b?ncile recunosc importan?a ?i argumentul de afaceri pentru extinderea portofoliilor lor de finan?are climatic?, iar op?iunile de refinan?are aliniate la clim? sunt ?n general disponibile, proiectele de finan?are pentru clim?, viabile din punct de vedere comercial, sunt ?nc? rare.

? Angajamentul b?ncilor ?n domeniul finan??rii climatice dep??e?te adesea propriile eviden?e contabile prin promovarea sus?inerii acestui tip de finan?are la nivel na?ional ?i interna?ional ?i modeland politici ?i priorit??i prin intermediul marilor lor re?ele de unita?i la nivel de sistem.

? Echipele din cadrul b?ncilor care sunt lidere pe pia?a finan??rii climatice recunosc necesitatea con?tientiz?rii altor p?r?i interesate (interne, concuren?a, autorit??ile de reglementare) pentru ca finan?area climatic? s? devin? activitatea reprezentativ? a b?ncilor.

4. Acest studiu a observat macro-tendin?ele cheie pentru atenuarea ?i adaptarea la clim? ?n regiunea MENA ?i a colectat studii de caz care prezint? proiecte ?i exemplifica tendin?ele observabile.

5. Impulsul global pentru adaptarea consolidat? la clim? a fost sus?inut de recunoa?terea sa ca fiind unul dintre cele patru obiective ale COP26 de la Glasgow

6. ?nfiin?area mai multor ini?iative, cum ar fi Cursa c?tre rezilien??, Coali?ia pentru Ac?iunea de Adaptare ?i Alian?a pentru Cercetare pentru Adaptare, precum ?i un accent re?nnoit pe Obiectivul Global de Adaptare, demonstreaz? angajamentul politic global fa?? de ac?iunile de adaptare la clim?.

7. ?n Orientul Mijlociu ?i Africa de Nord, impactul fizic al schimb?rilor climatice reprezint? o provocare major?, ?n special cre?terea nivelului m?rii, stresul termic ?i deficitul de ap?, care vor avea consecin?e grave asupra produc?iei de alimente, producerii de energie ?i oportunit??ilor de trai.?

Riscurile tot mai mari ?i pierderile economice din cauza schimb?rilor climatice creeaz? o nevoie de modele de afaceri, tehnologii ?i investi?ii care ajut? ??rile s? gestioneze aceste riscuri ?i s? dezvolte rezilien?a ?ntr-o manier? pozitiv? ?i incluziv?.

8. Finan?area global? a solu?iilor de adaptare la clim? ?n sectorul public ?i privat este semnificativ sub amploarea necesar? pentru a atinge rezilien?a. Regiunea MENA nu face excep?ie: finan?ele publice sunt cu mult sub ?inte, iar sectorul privat ?nc? nu reu?e?te s? atrag? finan?are la scar? mare, deoarece de regul?, solu?iile de adaptare la schimb?rile climatice nu se potrivesc cu?

criteriile de creditare privind volumul, durata creditului ?i rentabilitatea, ?n timp ce abord?rile de finan?are mixt? (blended finance) sunt subutilizate.

9. ?n plus, finan?area sectorului privat se concentreaz? adesea pe solu?ii de adaptare localizate (de exemplu, ?protec?ia ?mpotriva inunda?iilor” sau ?utilizarea eficient? a resurselor”), f?r? a sprijini, ?n acela?i timp, proiectele de adaptare holistice care realizeaz? o rezilien?? socio-economic? mai larg?.

10. Finan?area sporit? din partea institu?iilor financiare ?n aceste sectoare ar juca un rol vital ?n realizarea rezisten?ei la schimb?rile climatice ?n regiune.

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