NETHERLANDS – The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), a fund allows for investments in projects aimed at climate adaptation and prevention in developing countries, has officially been launched.
“Today’s launch means that the DFCD is officially open for business,” said Linda Broekhuizen, Chief Investment Officer at FMO.
“The consortium is keen to connect with innovative entrepreneurs with climate-related businesses and with private investors keen to mobilize much-needed funding from the private sector to join us in our mission to create a more climate-resilient world.”
DFCD is a direct response to the increasing demand for climate adaptation projects that have to date suffered from a lack of funding compared with mitigation efforts.
Linda Broekhuizen adds: “In 2018, US$612 billion was invested in climate mitigation which is important and much needed. In contrast however, only 5%, US$30 billion, was invested in adaptation.
“Adaptation may have to be US$180 billion a year if the 2030 goal is to reach the US$1.7 trillion as required according to the most recent report of the Global Commission on Adaptation.”
To help bridge this funding gap the DFCD aims to mobilize upwards of US$552m from private sector investors.
Andrew Johnstone, Chief Executive Officer of Climate Fund Managers adds: “The opportunities are there. Take water for example: 80% of the world’s wastewater enters rivers and oceans untreated and by 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water stressed areas.
“Neither the private nor the public sector is doing enough, but together the investment potential is enormous, as is the impact to be delivered.”
This partnership of NGOs and financiers seeks to develop and finance sustainable private sector solutions to enhance resilience to the effects of climate change.
These projects will boost the health of freshwater, forest, agricultural and ocean ecosystems, and improve water management.
“The consortium takes a landscape approach through investing in projects which are planned in an inclusive manner, and build on a solid understanding of the landscape, ecosystems and communities. In this way these projects will contribute to healthier ecosystems,” said Kirsten Schuijt, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-NL.
“New and incredibly exciting in this consortium is that there is early-stage funding available to convert adaptation opportunities into bankable projects.”
WWF and SNV take on the key role of developing climate-relevant projects from an early-stage idea to a bankable business case. Climate Fund Managers and FMO provide investment capital, delivering projects to full operations.
This combination of early-stage involvement with full life-cycle funding will ensure lasting, long-term impact that contributes to the Paris Agreement and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In May of this year, the DFCD was awarded to the consortium of Dutch development bank FMO, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL) and Climate Fund Managers (CFM).
