The Green Climate Fund (GCF) board will consider Cook Islands’ application for accreditation of Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) as a nationally accredited entity, deputy prime minister Mark Brown has confirmed.
Brown, who is attending the inaugural Global National Designated Authorities (NDA) Conference in Incheon, South Korea, said accreditation would mean the Cook Islands could apply directly to the GCF for climate finance.
He praised the Climate Change team at the Office of the Prime Minister and MFEM, especially leader Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, for the achievement.
Brown was invited to the meeting to speak on two panels about climate financing as it applies to the Cook Islands.
The meeting was to explore how GCF climate finance can help drive climate action around the world.
Around 30 ministers joined other government representatives in GCF’s largest gathering of developing country governments, to explore how developing country access to GCF financial resources can open up low-emission and climate-resilient “pathways”. National Designated Authorities, or focal points, represent developing country governments in their dealings with GCF.
During the discussions Brown laid a climate finance “lens” over the Cook Islands financial policies and budget.
Cabinet ministers on the panel were invited to discuss their perspectives on progress made in the mobilisation of financial resources for climate change mitigation and adaptation action taking into account remaining gaps and challenges. They also presented their vision for the GCF’s role within the broader climate finance landscape in the future.
Participants shared their views on the current climate finance scene and the status of international mobilisation of financial resources for climate change action.
Climate Change Cook Islands director Wayne King also spoke at the event.
