ADBI-Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Climate Change Regional Policy Dialogue: Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Event | 18 - 19 June 2020
Online

Time of event

Day 1: 15:00–18:15 (Tokyo time)
Day 2: 15:00–17:45 (Tokyo time)

Background

Contrary to the detrimental effects that the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the healthcare system and socio-economic activity, the environment has been impacted in a more favorable way. Due to the lockdown measures widely imposed to control the pandemic and ensuing slowdown in global economic activity, air quality in some affected areas has improved. Such a phenomenon offers lessons for advancing national climate and development plans. This includes achieving Nationally Determined Contributions and targets of the Paris Agreement.

At the same time, increasing pressure on public funding as a result of the COVID-19 crisis is prompting countries to mobilize greater private sector participation in their climate investment plans. The integration of green finance into financial sectors and design of conducive regulatory frameworks markets could enable green investment development in the current environment.

This ADBI-CAREC Institute regional policy dialogue will examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change policy priorities, green finance, and potential ways forward for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific. The focus will be on country experiences and recommendations related to climate insurance, infrastructure, and innovative schemes to promote private sector financing for climate change mitigation efforts.

Objectives

• Enhance policy maker and stakeholder knowledge of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change mitigation
• Spotlight lessons learned and new approaches for addressing related insurance, infrastructure, financing, and governance issues
• Promote regional cooperation for strengthening climate change resilience

Participants

• Approximately 100 senior and middle-level policy makers from CAREC and Asian Development Bank (ADB) member countries specializing in climate change, the environment, energy, or development sectors
• Experts from ADBI, the CAREC Institute, ADB, and other international organizations, think tanks, and universities
• All participants are required to have internet access and at least listening proficiency in English; simultaneous translation between English and Russian will also be provided

Output

• Improved policy maker and stakeholder understanding of climate change mitigation challenges and opportunities in the COVID-19 era
• Greater sharing of experiences and support for the application of best practices for addressing climate challenges at the regional level
• Circulation of training materials, an event report, and policy briefs reflecting the outcomes of the policy dialogue
• Speaker presentations will be made available to participants

How to register

Register here.

Partner

Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute

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