The Green Climate Fund is tasked with supporting climate mitigation and energy transitions in emerging and low-income countries.
Photo: © BOY ANTHONY/Shutterstock.com

Green Climate Fund fails to strengthen private sector engagement

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and aims to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries. Mobilising financial resources from the private sector is an important priority for the donor countries backing the GCF. However, so far, the GCF has underperformed in this respect, according to a new study.

The Green Climate Fund was established in 2010 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It currently administers some 200 projects with a total value of USD 40 billion, of which the private sector accounts for only a small share. According to a new study by Thomas Kalinowski (Ewha Womans University, Seoul / South Korea, and the Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam / Germany) this has a number of reasons. "This shortfall in private sector engagement is largely driven by the perception that investments are unlikely to be profitable,” Kalinowski explains. “There is a lack of attractive business models, especially when it comes to climate adaptation, and investments in particularly vulnerable countries in the Global South are considered excessively risky."

One exception to this is the renewable energy sector, where private sector engagement with the GCF is concentrated. According to Kalinowski, this suggests that private climate financing from the Global North is unlikely to play a decisive role in enabling the paradigm shift towards sustainable development in the Global South. In light of this, public funding for development cooperation should not be reduced.

Private sector projects are financed from public funds
 

In September 2022, the Green Climate Fund had 47 approved private sector projects (out of a total of 207 projects). Five of these 47 projects had lapsed and were no longer under implementation, suggesting a much higher rate of failure compared to the public sector, where only two of 160 projects failed. This leaves 42 private sector projects, with a volume of USD 16.9 billion, out of a total of USD 40.2 billion in GCF funds. This means that 21 per cent of all projects and 42 per cent of all project funds are allocated to private sector projects.

This is not the full picture, however, as Kalinowski's analysis shows. In fact, funds provided by the Green Climate Fund itself account for 22 per cent of the total volume of USD 16.9 billion invested in private sector projects. The remainder comes from other, largely public institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other regional or national development banks. "In other words, a large proportion of the Green Climate Fund's project financing for the private sector does not come from the private sector, but from public sources," explains the political scientist.

Short-term profit interests vs. long-term transformation
 

More important than the quantity of private projects, however, is their quality. Kalinowski highlights the urgent need to ensure that private sector projects are compatible with the principles of the GCF and of good development cooperation in general. "It is critical that climate projects in the Global South are embedded in national development and climate strategies. Efforts to strengthen the involvement of private sector actors and civil society in the Global South, and to improve the broader business environment in recipient countries, are more important than maximising private capital flows."

If these aspects are not properly considered, the GCF and private climate finance risk adding to the already high external debt burden of countries in the Global South, further destabilising financial markets and exacerbating economic dependency. Kalinowski concludes that although renewable energy generation is preferable to the continued exploitation of natural resources, this alone will not provide a pathway to sustainable development in the Global South.  

(RIFS/pas)

Reference:

Kalinowski, T. (2023): The Green Climate Fund and private sector climate finance in the Global South. – Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2023.2276857

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  • user
    Climate change foundation zambia January 22, 2024 At 3:42 pm
    We need assistance as we’re financially constrained as we implemented tree plantations and other mitigation of climate effects in Zambia. We are currently using income generating actives to resources for implementation. We will be grateful if we shall be among the few to be considered for assistance
  • user
    Asfaw Tihune January 18, 2024 At 3:10 am
    As a coordinater of Network for Ecofarming in Africa_Ethiopia and Chapter Head of Organic Production and Certification, a lot could have been achieved if due attention has given to this Organization.
    This network was establidhed by memberships of more than ten countries. I recommend responsible persons to exploit this network in implementing Rural21
  • user
    Sabir Farhat January 16, 2024 At 2:03 pm
    Please include me in your mailing list of all fund announcements, publications, newsletter and reports .
    • user
      Rural 21 Team January 17, 2024 At 8:24 am
      Dear Sabir Farhat, please register here to receive our Newsletter: https://www.rural21.com/english/newsletter.html
      Your Rural 21 Team