merrion street

Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, today restated Ireland’s commitment to meeting the needs of those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, announcing a €1 million contribution to the LIFE-AR Initiative which works on climate action at community level in developing countries.

Speaking at an online international Climate Adaptation Summit hosted by The Netherlands, Minister Brophy said:  

“Future generations will look at how we are responding to the challenge of climate change, including how we respond to the needs of those most vulnerable to its effects.  

I am pleased to endorse the Principles for Locally Led Adaption, brought forward by Least Developed Countries.  These principles guide Irish Aid’s approach to its investments in climate action, ensuring that our support reaches those most in need.  

As a practical demonstration of that support, I am pleased to announce a €1 million contribution this year to the LIFE-AR Initiative.  Ireland has supported the Initiative from the beginning, which promotes local communities having direct access to finance for climate action.”

The Least Developed Countries’ Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience – LIFE-AR - was established in 2019, at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York.  Ireland was a founder supporter of the Initiative.  

Today’s endorsement of the Locally Led Adaptation Principles is a practical demonstration of Ireland’s leading role in supporting the world’s least developed countries deliver their long-term vision for a climate-resilient future.  Ireland’s international climate support is focused on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States, with an emphasis on support to the furthest behind.  

Notes for Editors

• In 2015 Ireland pledged to provide €175 million in public funding for climate finance measures in developing countries over 2016-20.  Ireland had already surpassed this goal by 2018.  
• In 2019 Ireland committed to double the proportion of Official Development Assistance that is climate finance by 2030.  
• Ireland has a strong record of supporting the participation of the most vulnerable on the international stage.    
• Ireland is endorsing the Principles for Locally Led Action at the Climate Adaptation Summit.  Endorsement signals ongoing commitment to the LDC Group’s work to access more climate finance for adaption, and to channel 70% of climate finance to local level. Currently this figure is approximately 10%.  
• The Global Commission on Adaptation, together with the International Institute for Environment and Development—a partner organisation of the Department of Foreign Affairs—have drawn up these principles in collaboration with the UNFCCC Conference of Parties negotiating group of Least Developed Countries.  
• LIFE-AR, a newinitiative of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), is borne out of a longstanding frustration that the existing climate finance architecture is not meeting their specific needs. LDCs struggle to obtain sufficient financing for addressing immediate needs, and for building longer term institutional capacity to access multilateral climate funds and implement longer term climate plans.  Ireland is a board member of LIFE-AR.  Further details are available at http://www.ldc-climate.org/press_release/countries-sign-support-of-least-developed-countries-initiative-for-effective-adaptation-and-resilience/