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At UNDP, climate change is an integral component of our development agenda. As the leading global organization in the fight against poverty, we are responding on the front lines of climate change—where it hits the poorest people the hardest, though they are the least responsible for the problem.

UNDP is working with developing countries to increase their capacity to negotiate effectively in Copenhagen for the best possible climate change deal as well as their ability to access carbon finance. We are assisting governments in the developing world to move towards a low-carbon poverty-free future. We also help vulnerable people to adapt to climate change—from the poor farmer who wants to grow more resilient crops to the family whose home has just been destroyed by a flood.

In 2008, UNDP implemented environment and sustainable development programmes in 120 countries, disbursing US$408 million through 2,729 projects that address all aspects of climate change. From 2004 to 2007, UNDP invested $1.6 billion in protecting and preserving the environment.

Results

Adaptation

Niger

Through its community-based adaptation programme, UNDP and its partners are working with the small farmers and pastoralists of Niger’s drylands where more droughts and floods threaten to destroy the communities’ delicate ecosystem. Projects include reducing erosion around increasingly fragile water points, trialing quick-maturing crop seeds and establishing seed banks to help farmers even out their production despite an increasingly variable ecosystem. The Niger projects form part of a $4.5 million programme supporting community-driven projects across 10 pilot countries between now and 2012.

Disaster risk reduction

Bangladesh

Experts are predicting that as sea levels continue to rise, Bangladesh could lose up to 18 percent of its land area, making 30 million people environmental refugees by 2050. UNDP, in partnership with the Government, is working to strengthen the country’s emergency response planning at the district and lower levels, in addition to increasing its leaders’ ability to make decisions that can save lives and livelihoods and preserve security. To that end, UNDP has partnered with the Government and international donors to enact the Bangladesh Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme.

Low-carbon future

Brazil

In Brazil, UNDP is working with the Minister of Environment and private and public partners across 26 states on an unprecedented nation-wide initiative to prevent dangerous chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from being released into the atmosphere. Through the collection of CFCs from equipment being maintained or replaced, the programme developed a network of companies to capture and recycle CFCs as a valuable asset. In addition, UNDP worked with the lead home appliance producer to launch new, CFC-free and energy efficient appliances and bring financial assistance from the Multilateral Fund.

Based on the energy efficiency legislation passed in 2000, the Brazilian government fomented a model where power distribution companies can exchance old and inefficient refrigerators in low-income families for new ones, leading to a 20 percent drop in their energy costs and preventing the release of dangerous gases. UNDP is also helping both public and private sector partners to find alternative sources of funds to sustain those initiatives, from the fridge manufacture phase to the end of its life cycle, including the destruction of CFCs, which are also powerful green house gases, contained in fridge insulation foam.

Croatia

UNDP and partners are supporting the Government’s ambitious programme to cut national energy consumption, save more than $1.3 billion and preserve the landscape that brings more than 10 million tourists per year. With a focus on the energy efficiency of buildings, over half of all cities and counties in Croatia have already conducted energy audits in offices, schools and hospitals. UNDP supports a public campaign to help people reduce their own carbon footprints by switching to more efficient heating systems and home appliances. UNDP’s support included producing a national Human Development Report for Croatia on the impact of climate change on the country.