Norway signs new agreements for climate adaptation with NOK 500 million

During COP28, Norway announces new support for climate adaptation worth NOK 520 million. The money will enable people who are already feeling the effects of climate change to continue their lives. During the climate summit in Glasgow, Norway pledged to triple its support for climate adaptation by 2026. 

'The sounds of climate change are dry crops crunching under the feet of desperate farmers and the splashing of small lakes where there should be ripening grain. Climate change is here, and the world must adapt. The poorest people need help to adapt to secure food on the table', says Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim. 

Financing climate change adaptation is one of the areas to be reviewed during COP28 in Dubai, also known as the stocktake. According to the UN Environment Programme, UNEP, climate adaptation financing is reduced by 15 per cent globally. Because adaptation is an existential issue for farmers, who are completely dependent on the land they cultivate, it is essential that Norway and other countries deliver on their promises.   

'The agreements which Norway is announcing during COP28, are largely aimed at the least developed countries. These are the countries that are least able to make the necessary adjustments themselves. At the same time, it is crucial that they are in the driver's seat and leading the creation of the solutions, ensuring they are relevant. We contribute to that through this support', says Tvinnereim. 

During COP28, the following agreements for financing climate adaptation will be announced:  

• Africa Disaster Risk Financing Programme (ADRiFi ): Support through the African Development Bank with the aim of increasing resilience and preparedness to extreme climate-related events in African countries by strengthening climate risk management.  The grant will finance the participation of African countries in the Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance programme. ARC is the largest provider of insurance against climate related catastrophes in Africa. The focus going forward is to make insurance payments in advance of devastating events based on early warning and risk analyses.

Sum: 70 million over 3 years.

• Early warning of extreme weather: With changing weather patterns and more extreme weather, extreme weather warning systems are crucial to save lives, crops and property. Norway is increasing its support for all aspects of early warning systems, from measuring weather observations to disseminating weather warnings to end users and preventing damage caused by extreme weather. Norway already supports the global Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF), which finances investments in monitoring stations in the poorest countries. We are now making an additional contribution of NOK 50 million to this fund. In addition, we will enter into a new agreement with the global fund CREWS (Climate Resilience and Early Warning Systems), which finances the use of weather data to prepare warning systems and disseminate weather warnings to end users.

Total: 150 million over 3 years (50 million for SOFF, 100 million for CREWS)

• RISE Challenge: Studies show that the climate and nature crisis has led to increased violence against women, partly as a result of increased resource scarcity. The RISE Challenge is an initiative that links local women's organisations and environmental organisations to reduce the extent of gender-based violence in the environmental sector. The Norwegian support goes to climate adaptation and fisheries.

Total: NOK 30 million over three years.

• Norwegian consortium improving access to weather services among small-scale farmers in Africa.  Small-scale farmers and communities in sub-Saharan Africa have limited access to high-quality weather forecasting, as well as advice on how to adapt their agricultural production methods to adapt to climate change and become less vulnerable. A consortium led by the Norwegian Refugee Council and including the Development Fund, Norce, the Christian Michelsen Institute and NMBU will address this challenge with targeted climate and weather services aimed at small-scale farmers in Malawi and Ethiopia. Access to reliable weather and climate services will help small-scale farmers to make informed agricultural decisions and make informed choices based on weather forecasts and resulting agricultural recommendations.

Sum: 230 million over 5 years

• Expansion of BOLD (Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development. BOLD aims to enable national gene banks to sustainably conserve the genetic diversity of key crops and their wild relatives, and ensure long-term availability and access for farmers, breeders and other users. The expansion of BOLD aims to contribute to food and nutrition security and climate resilience using neglected underutilised species (NUS).  Increased production of NUS, in agricultural landscapes, is a proven mean to promote diversification and nutritional security, and provides increased resilience to climate change.

Sum: 40 million over 2 years.