UNFCCC Climate Change Conference (COP 26)

2 Nov, 10:30 - 11:45
MDB Pavilion

COP26 sends a strong message that to solve the climate crisis, focus must be on safeguarding ecosystems and protecting natural habitats. Wetlands, of all ecosystems, are arguably under most significant threat. To address this, ADB recently launched the Regional Flyway Initiative, which leads to the development of investment-ready projects in about 50+ priority sites in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. In the process, this will protect internationally threatened waterbird species and wetland biodiversity while maximizing co-benefits for people.

ADB in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, and the Green Climate Fund, is organizing a high-level event with partners and governments to discuss critical actions needed to finance a green recovery in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) developing member countries after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The event will also announce four new cofinancing partners and their support for an ASEAN Green Recovery Platform, through the ADB-managed ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF), that will develop and finance green infrastructure projects that align with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, aspiring to use $665 million of development funds to catalyze $7 billion for green infrastructure across ASEAN.

3 Nov, 8:00-9:30
SDG7 Pavilion

ADB, in collaboration with the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines, is launching a partnership to design and establish an Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) to accelerate the transition from coal to clean energy in Southeast Asia in a just and affordable manner.

3 Nov, 9:30 - 10:15
MDB Pavilion

To participate in next generation carbon markets as envisaged under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, developing countries need to build capacity and prepare for fulfilling requirements for the operationalization of Article 6. This session will discuss key challenges and opportunities to operationalize Article 6 including developing the requisite policy and legal framework and institutional infrastructure. By deliberating on the practical challenges and the need for support that is tailored to unique national circumstances of countries, ADB will share its experience in taking advance action to support DMCs in building readiness to operationalize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

5 Nov, 11:00 - 12:00
WWF Pavilion

The Pacific people are among the most threatened by climate change, yet also the most resilient. Their traditional knowledge and practices, Pacific Ocean and nature-based solutions, support climate adaptation and mitigation. In this event, the Prime Minister of Fiji, representatives of Pacific governments, communities and youth, the Coalition of Atoll Nations on Climate Change, WWF and ADB, will explore the following:

• Why are coastal and ocean ecosystems so critical to climate adaptation and mitigation?
• How can governments, finance institutes, and global partners accelerate climate action by empowering Pacific coastal communities?

5 Nov, 13:00 - 15:00
Korean Pavilion

The session will launch ADB’s publication “Carbon Pricing for Green Recovery and Growth,” which introduces carbon pricing instruments and provides insights on how they can be designed to stimulate and not constrain economic activity in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Carbon pricing is a key element of the broader climate policy architecture that countries can use to internalize the cost of greenhouse gas emissions and enable a shift to a low carbon economy while mobilizing fiscal resources. The session aims to help countries enhance their understanding on how carbon pricing can be selected and designed to foster green recovery and growth and for longer-term net-zero targets.

5 Nov, 15:00 - 16:20
Indonesia Pavilion

Indonesia is finalizing a national-level regulation that sets out a carbon pricing framework, covering institutional, operational, and financial aspects, that will lay the foundation for Indonesia’s engagement with international carbon markets. In this regard, ADB is supporting Indonesia in building readiness to operationalize Article 6 as an integral part of its national climate policy framework to achieve its NDC targets. This session will showcase current policies and actions in realizing Indonesia’s national commitments through domestic carbon pricing policies and international carbon trade under Article 6. The session will also seek to obtain views and support from partners to further strengthen Indonesia’s policies and actions to ensure national low carbon development benefits from international carbon markets.

8 Nov, 8:15-9:00
MDB Pavilion

ADB is establishing its new carbon fund – the Climate Action Catalyst Fund (CACF), which will mobilize carbon finance to purchase carbon credits as envisaged under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. CACF will incentivize mitigation actions, including the deployment of low carbon technologies, and help ADB’s DMCs achieve their NDC targets and raise ambition over time. This launch event will give audiences an overview of ADB’s CACF and the rationale for establishing it. Aside from presenting the design aspects of the Fund, the session will feature a panel discussion with the co-funding organizations that have provided indicative contributions and will entice potential investors to join the Fund.

8 Nov, 9:15 - 10:15
MDB Pavilion

The event will introduce the Community Resilience Partnership Program, which aims to support countries in Asia and the Pacific Region to scale up investments in climate adaptation at the community level by addressing the nexus between climate change, poverty and gender, thereby supporting devolution of climate adaptation finance and contributing to locally-led adaptation principles.

8 Nov, 10:30-12:00
MDB Pavilion (ADB and AIIB)

The session will foster a better understanding of adaptation financing needs in the context of diverse climate-resilient and low-carbon development priorities in the Asia-Pacific region, and discuss challenges and opportunities for scaling up adaptation finance in the region through a dialogue with member countries as well as the private sector and international organizations.

8 Nov, 13:00-14:30
Virtual (ADB and CIF PPCR)

There is increasing recognition of the need to scale up investment in infrastructure aimed at building climate resilience of high-risk communities, economy, sector and the environment. This requires a resilience-centric approach to infrastructure planning, design, and financing. The event will discuss the enabling factors needed to scale up investments in infrastructure for climate resilience.

9-11 Nov, 7:00 – 9:00

ADB's Water Sector Group will co-convene the virtual Asia Water Hub at the COP26 Water and Climate Pavilion on 9-11 November, with IWMI and UN-Sri Lanka. A multimedia pavilion located in the Blue Zone, the pavilion is open to national delegations, observers, and media accreditation holders of COP26 in Glasgow. The virtual Asia Water Hub will feature three sessions – a high level roundtable, a discussion on needs and solutions, and a synthesis session to conclude the day’s event.

Water Resilience and Disaster Risk
10 Nov, 7:00 – 9:00

Water is the primary medium through which we will feel the effects of climate change. Focusing on resilient water management has become extremely urgent and central to climate adaptation. A high-level roundtable will open the session discussing the actions needed for addressing national, regional, and global water resilience goals. Key conclusions and future actions will be highlighted on how to better embed resilience and disaster risk management at the local level and connect it with global, resilience and national targets, based on practical examples from the field. The session will also provide an opportunity to present ADB’s new initiative - ARe YoU Water Resilient (RUWR), which is a dedicated technical assistance platform to support DMC countries to become water secure and resilience.

ADB will lead the 10 November event at the virtual Asia Water Hub.

9 Nov, 15:00 - 16:00
Side Event Room 3- Derwentwater

ADB, in partnership with the National Institute for Environmental Studies and the Carbon Trust, is convening this dialogue to discuss innovations in financing and fiscal incentives that have the potential to support a green, resilient, and inclusive COVID-19 recovery in Asia and the Pacific. It will feature multilateral institutions, governments, and policy experts to explore the role of fiscal policy, collaboration and creating an enabling environment for the private sector to support building back better.

9 Nov 1000–1130 GMT+12/6:00–7:30 Manila Time (8 Nov 22:00-23:30 GMT)

Opportunities and Challenges for a Just Transition in the Pacific This session will convene a panel of experts and country representatives to share insights and exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in considering a Just Transition in the context of the Pacific countries, what support may be needed to facilitate such transition, and how multilateral institutions may provide support.

  Join the event

10 Nov, 9:30-10:30
NDC Partnership Pavilion

A panel of experts and country representatives will share insights and exchange perspectives on the challenges and strategies adopted by countries to transform their NDC targets and actions into climate investments. This ADB side event will highlight how countries tackle the urgent issues on financing, policy and institutional support and capacity building. It will also present the work being done and identify lessons and support measures needed to develop and accelerate the implementation of NDCs.

10 Nov, 13:45 - 14:45
MDB Pavilion

The event will demonstrate the joint ambition of ADB and the UK’s FCDO in scaling up and strengthening urban resilience through the announced Urban Resilience Trust Fund (URTF). With GBP70m (equivalent to USD100m) contribution between 2021- 2028 from the UK government under the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) Programme, URTF aims to build the capacity of cities, communities, and the private sector to effectively develop and implement resilience-building projects for cities through public or private investments. The session will showcase the achievements and lessons learned from the ongoing Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) 2014-2022.

11 Nov, 09:30 - 11:00
Tower Base North. Global Disability Innovation Hub

This side event will set an agenda for the inclusive design of climate resilient cities.

Climate change and widening inequality driven by COVID-19 has highlighted the need to design cities that support and adapt to people’s diverse needs and are resilient in changing climates. More needs to be done to ensure persons with disabilities are not left behind in conversations on climate change. Why? 1 in 7 people on the planet are disabled and must be included as we prepare for rising tides and a warmer earth.

The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and ADB are bringing together a panel with unique expertise to discuss this challenge. Conversations will profile issues persons with disabilities currently face in low-resource urban areas and good practice on inclusion and sustainability. It will consider how inclusive design and innovation can advance climate resilience in cities and the rights of persons with disabilities. Manoj Sharma, ADB’s Chief of Urban Sector Group, will join the panel.

11 Nov, 9:35 - 10:35
MDB Pavilion

This side event will feature a panel of experts who will discuss opportunities on how Islamic finance can support green recovery and scale-up investments in climate action in Asia and the Pacific. The panel discussion will explore how the Islamic finance industry can support countries in facing the growing climate investment gaps to help them achieve their climate ambitions, and what reforms or initiatives are needed to support transition to net zero economies.