The Board of the Green Climate Fund.
As member of the Green Climate Fund, Switzerland works to ensure that the needs of those most affected by climate change are given consideration. © UNFCCC

Global warming disrupts economic development and threatens to destroy the progress that has been made in reducing poverty. That is why Switzerland incorporates climate protection and the global impact of climate change in its international development policy, and provides expertise, technical solutions and financial resources for climate protection as part of its development projects and via international funding mechanisms.

The SDC's focus

People in developing countries are particularly affected by climate change because their livelihoods depend directly on natural resources. Such countries often lack the financial and technical capacities that are required for climate change adaptation. Climate change impairs both economic and social development globally and compromises what has already been achieved.

Synergies with poverty reduction

Switzerland is active in climate change mitigation and adaptation internationally and aims for its funding for developing countries to be deployed effectively. It takes into account the challenges its partner countries face and anchors its own measures in a long-term strategy to reduce poverty worldwide. To this end, the SDC creates synergies between climate protection and improving food security or governance, for example, to ensure that Switzerland's official development assistance is used in an optimal way.

International financing mechanisms

Switzerland is represented in the steering committees of the most important climate and environment funds, where the SDC advocates in particular for giving adequate attention to the needs of the poorest countries. To do this, the SDC relies on its long-standing experience in its partner countries. It makes sure that policies, procedures and the funding earmarked for climate protection are used to help the weakest people, communities and regions over the long term.

As part of this goal, the SDC was actively involved in creating the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF is aimed at financing eco-friendly measures in developing countries in order to increase sustainable development. Today it is a central component of the international financing for climate protection. Through its representation in the GCF's steering committee, the SDC works actively to ensure greater multilateral cooperation and to promote innovative approaches.

The SDC, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) make contributions to international financing mechanisms for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In the 2015–17 period, Switzerland made its first contribution of USD 100 million to the GCF.

Context

Switzerland works to ensure that the existing approaches to combating climate change are deployed where they can have the largest impact. It aims to ensure that the needs of the people most affected by climate change are taken into account in particular, and that the adaptation measures that are needed receive sufficient funding. The SDC undertakes this work as part of its mandate under the Federal Act on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. The international cooperation dispatches set out the priorities for each period. For Switzerland's international cooperation strategy 2021-2024, climate change – a growing challenge for development policy – is a key focus.

Increasing awareness at the international level

Because measures to adapt to climate change and a transition to sustainable development are needed, industrial countries – including Switzerland – are making commitments at the international level. Sustainable Development Goal 13 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underlines the importance of combating climate change and its effects. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the international community has committed itself to mobilising public and private funds for this. Switzerland has a high degree of credibility in this area because of its careful and sustainable approach to its environment (e.g. recycling, building standards, private sector collaborations) and its highly industrialised economy at the same time. This allows Switzerland to position itself proactively in international discussions and find an audience for its concerns.

Current projects

Object 37 – 48 of 97

Support to Climate Change Management (GestionCC )-Phase 2

01.12.2018 - 30.09.2021

All countries are faced with the challenge of translating the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the national level. Switzerland and Peru have both innovated in setting up the governance structures needed to tackle climate change. This project aims to improve Peru’s ability to successfully implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement[1] and to share its experience in Latin America and globally in order to raise ambition in climate change adaptation and mitigation.


African Forests, People and Climate Change

15.11.2018 - 31.12.2022

The African forestry sector holds considerable potential for mitigating and facilitating adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change that severely threaten the development of Sub-Saharan Africa. Support to the African Forest Forum ensures that policies and action base on the improved understanding about the relationship between climate change, forests and trees and that these elements will be reflected in their revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the climate convention.


UNDP – Disaster Risk Management in Cox’s Bazar District

01.11.2018 - 31.10.2020

The location, climate and topography of Cox’s Bazar District makes it vulnerable to tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, flash flooding, and landslides. The influx of the Rohingya refugees have raised the population of an already poor, disaster prone-district to 3.5 million people, requiring significant upgrading of disaster risk management capacities. The project supports a comprehensive approach to developing local capacities and enables risk informed-decision making.


Cosecha de Agua (Water Harvesting)

01.11.2018 - 31.12.2022

This project strengthens the food security of 2,500 families and responds to the challenges of climate change and the economic crisis in Nicaragua’s dry corridor. The second phase of the project is intended to systematize and replicate on a larger scale water harvesting and other practices for more efficient use of water resources. In the interest of enhanced implementation efficiency and effectiveness, the participation of the government is reduced and a contribution to a specialized international organization is proposed.


Plant Variety Protection Legislation and Farmers’ Rights in Developing Countries

01.10.2018 - 31.10.2023

Plant variety protection legislation in accordance with the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is gaining importance in developing countries. This kind of legislation often neglects the existing informal seed systems and Farmers’ Rights. SDC supports APBREBES, a network of civil society organizations, to raise awareness and contribute to capacity building on alternative legislation that better reflect smallholders’ needs and practices.


Air Pollution Impact on Health

air polluted suburban area in UB

01.10.2018 - 31.12.2022

This project aims at reducing the risks of air pollution to maternal and child health in urban Mongolia targeting the most polluted areas of Ulaanbaatar and one province centre. This sector governance project establishes evidence linking air pollution and its health impact, pilots and improves risk reduction measures for children and pregnant women, and both will inform policy making. Swiss know-how will be applied, i.e. through involvement of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.


Pakistan NDRMF Consultant Disaster Risk Financing

01.09.2018 - 31.12.2019

While Pakistan faces significant disaster risk and an increasing rate of occurrence of hazardous eventsi there is very limited understanding of instruments for Disaster Risk Financing (DRF), like insurance soveretgn risk transfer and preparedness for budget reallocations The DRF Consultant will assist the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) in disaster risk modelltng work including the formulation of a national DRF strategy for Pakistan and DRF instruments which can support Government's efforts to better manage the risks and their significant financial implications.


China: Rehabilitation and management strategy for over-pumped aquifers under a changing climate

01.09.2018 - 31.12.2021

In the past 30 years the aquifers in the North China plain have been over-exploited. Based on cutting-edge Sino-Swiss expertise in real-time groundwater monitoring and modelling, the project will implement groundwater and agricultural management policies to stabilize groundwater levels as a buffer to climate change induced droughts. The project will work with farmers and local authorities to facilitate policy uptake. Findings are relevant for many water-stressed countries and will be shared globally.


Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Joint UN Project

01.09.2018 - 31.12.2022

High exposure to natural hazards coupled with insufficient technical, organizational, and financial capacities of BiH’s institutions and governments directly impede the country’s socio-economic development and increase population vulnerability. This Project, jointly implemented by five UN Agencies, will reduce the social and economic vulnerabilities of citizens and institutions affected by disasters and climate change by introducing and operationalizing an integrated model of disaster risk governance and livelihood enhancement starting with selected local municipalities.


Réduction de risques de catastrophes naturelles dans le Sud et le Sud-est d’Haïti

01.09.2018 - 31.08.2022

En Haïti, les catastrophes répétées détruisent les actifs des populations, les infrastructures économiques et provoquent des pertes en vies humaines. Elles freinent la croissance et le développement. Le projet vise à réduire les risques naturels via le transfert de compétences aux acteurs locaux, la sensibilisation des populations et la création de conditions favorables à la planification/réalisation des mesures de réduction de risques qui protègent les personnes vulnérables de certaines communes du Sud et du Sud-est, 2 des départements les plus à risques.


Solar irrigation for Agriculture Resilience (SoLAR)

01.08.2018 - 31.12.2023

Farmers increasingly rely on irrigation to counter rising temperature and rainfall variability, leading to growth in energy demand and depletion of groundwater resources. The project aims to promote solar irrigation as a water-energy solution for climate-resilient and socially inclusive agrarian livelihoods in South Asia. Swiss innovation in groundwater monitoring through electricity use, efficient solar pumps and smart micro grids will be applied in the partner countries.


ACTED Earthquake response in Chong-Alai region

01.07.2018 - 31.03.2019

To complement and complete the efforts supported by Switzerland in the immediate aftermath of earthquakes in remote Chong-Alai region in May 2017, the project's Phase 2 will provide shelter construction assistance to the remaining vulnerable earthquake-affected households that were unable to re-build their houses. The assistance will be in the form of distribution of construction materials to the remaining affected households and provision of technical assistance on affordable and replicable earthquake-safe construction techniques.

Object 37 – 48 of 97