Development lenders set $120bn climate finance goal for poorer countries

MDBs climate financing includes $42b for adaptation, and they aim to mobilise $65b from private sector

By Mehtab Haider
November 13, 2024
A view shows a sign of the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference with a backdrop of the cityscape in Baku, Azerbaijan on October 31, 2024. — Reuters
A view shows a sign of the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference with a backdrop of the cityscape in Baku, Azerbaijan on October 31, 2024. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have estimated their collective annual climate financing for low and middle-income countries will reach $120 billion by 2030.

The MDBs on Tuesday issued a joint statement at COP29 in Baku, outlining financial support and other measures for countries to achieve ambitious climate outcomes.

According to the statement, MDBs climate financing includes $42 billion for adaptation, and they aim to mobilise $65 billion from the private sector. For high-income countries, this annual climate financing is projected to reach $50 billion, including $7 billion for adaptation, and MDBs aim to mobilize $65 billion from the private sector.

MDBs significantly exceeded their ambitious 2025 climate finance projections set in 2019, with a 25pc increase in direct climate finance and mobilisation for climate efforts doubling over the past year.

“While the scale of MDBs’ financial commitments is essential, MDBs’ most significant impact comes from our ability to drive transformative change”, the statement said.