By Sara Savva

According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report the MENA region is an arena of climate risks. These include high vulnerability to greater water scarcity; food insecurity; ecosystem losses; and deteriorating human health. These are due to the exacerbated dynamics of conflict and fragility, especially in Syria, with its 13-year ongoing crisis contributing to displacement, acute humanitarian needs and instability.

To date, humanitarian interventions are responding to immediate needs. However, they are not yet well placed to address both the longer-term impacts of climate shocks, support resilient recovery, or address its root causes.

Recognising this gap, the international community has repeatedly acknowledged that scaling up climate finance and action in fragile and conflict affected countries (FCS) is crucial in fulfilling the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

However, even within the broader category of FCS there are huge disparities in terms of access to climate finance. In the MENA region, conflict-affected countries have consistently received far less adaptation finance compared to other fragile states. Meanwhile, millions of displaced people inside Syria, highly vulnerable to climate impacts, rely on humanitarian aid because their livelihoods have been undermined by both climate change and conflict.

As part of its mission to address the climate crisis by bridging knowledge with climate action, GOPA-DERD emphasises the need for mobilising climate finance that links the humanitarian response to longer-term adaptation and resilience efforts.

Adaptation finance should be oriented to the needs of people – not along political fault-lines. The people in Syria should not left behind. Funding should get resources needed for adaptation and loss and damage, on time, to the people of Syria.

Practically, this should be reflected in the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) as well as in the Global Goal for Adaptation indicators. The NCQG must increase and simplify direct access to climate finance. This means decentralizing decision making to the lowest appropriate level by giving local institutions, local NGOs, and communities more direct access to finance, and support the long-term development of locally led responses.

Sara Savva, an ACT COP29 Delegate, is Deputy Director-General of ACT member GOPA-DERD in Syria.

In the photo: Sara Savva, left, participates in an action at COP29 with other ACT members, drawing attention to the need for improved climate finance. PHOTO: Albin Hillert/LWF

By Vincent Ondieki

As the world grapples with the urgent consequences of climate change, Africa stands at the forefront of this global crisis. Despite contributing the least to global warming, the continent is the most vulnerable to climate impacts, especially with temperature increases surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius. The repercussions are dire, posing systemic risks to economies, public health, agriculture, and overall livelihoods. This jeopardizes years of development progress, threatening to push many communities back into extreme poverty. 

In response to these challenges, innovative initiatives like the Locally Led Climate Fund (LLCF), spearheaded by ACT Alliance, are making significant strides. This project aims not just to address climate impacts but to empower communities across Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Liberia to take charge of their climate action plans. It consolidates resources and efforts at both community and national levels, aiming for transformative change that can lead to sustainable impact. 

In Buhera district, Zimbabwe, the resilience of local farmers showcases the tangible changes communities can achieve. Facing issues such as low agricultural productivity, crop failures, and food insecurity, local farmers are heavily reliant on climate-sensitive livelihoods like agriculture. The LLCF project has equipped these communities with climate-smart agriculture techniques—training that emphasizes water conservation, pest and disease management, and sustainable land use. As a result, two nutritional gardens have been established on communal land, directly benefiting 108 households. Beyond providing nutritional support, these gardens have become sources of income and educational resources, demonstrating the profound impact of localized climate initiatives. 

Climate finance needed

However, being proactive requires adequate funding, which is where climate finance comes into play. At the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan—dubbed the “climate finance COP”—the importance of engaging financial ministers in climate discussions cannot be overstated. These ministers have significant influence over public fund allocations and governance of climate finance institutions. Yet, with multiple competing demands on limited resources, there is a tendency to overlook locally led climate initiatives.  

To change the narrative, we must advocate for reforms that prioritize local climate actions and foster synergy between adaptation strategies and developmental goals. The opportunity cost of delaying such initiatives is too high; inaction will lead to heightened suffering for communities situated on the front lines of climate change. It also increases the costs and difficulties of future recoveries. 

With COP29 in progress in Baku, we must use this moment to scale up support for locally led climate finance initiatives. This is not just about securing resources; it’s about ensuring a resilient future for everyone. By prioritizing local actions, we can foster an environment of sustainability that uplifts communities while contributing to the global fight against climate change. Let’s seize this opportunity to advocate for a future where local voices and local actions are at the heart of our climate response. 

 Vincent Ondieki is the ACT Alliance Senior Programme Officer for Climate Justice working from Nairobi, Kenya.