ODI Global Risks and Resilience

#COP29 has set new finance targets, but are we doing enough for the world's most fragile, conflict and climate-vulnerable regions? As the discussions at COP29 wrapped up last week in Baku, the focus rightly turned to the new $300 billion climate finance goal. Yet, despite this target, critical questions remain: How will this funding reach those who need it most—especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions? And how can we address the transboundary risks that climate change presents? These issues came to the forefront at the Climate, Peace and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion, a key space for tackling some of the most complex challenges in climate action. Over the course of two weeks and 30+ events, we brought together heads of state, ministers, ambassadors, and grassroots leaders, all of whom explored ways to scale up climate action across borders, regions, and supply chains. Key takeaways included: - $300 billion is not enough: Even with this significant commitment, existing climate finance is still failing to reach the people who need it most. The conflict blind spot in climate finance must be addressed. Speakers from Afghanistan, Chad, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen shared their experiences, underscoring the need for targeted efforts to support fragile settings. - Climate change doesn’t respect borders: The COP29 decision text falls short of recognising the urgency of managing transboundary climate risks. Yet, in our Pavilion, we heard from innovators working on projects that build resilience across regions, supply chains, and international borders, demonstrating the power of cross-border cooperation. The discussions at the Pavilion—and throughout COP29—signal a growing recognition that the intersection of climate change, conflict, and fragility demands urgent and sustained attention. As the outcomes of the negotiations become clearer, further analysis will be crucial in understanding their implications for the most vulnerable communities. A big thank you to everyone who participated in these conversations and shared their insights. Your contributions are helping to ensure that these critical issues remain firmly on the global agenda. #COP29 #ClimateAction #ClimateFinance #FragilityAndConflict #Resilience ODI Global Dr Rebecca Nadin Prof. Dominic McVey MBE Mauricio Vazquez Sara Pantuliano Hans Peter Lankes Amir Khouzam Yue Cao Manisha Kabra Gulati Charlotte King Issy Mangan

  💬 “Women can be key leaders in this shift, yet gender inequality often holds them back.”   While #COP29 has come to a close, the challenges and themes we’ve been facilitating conversations on remain as urgent as ever.    Mairi Dupar’s (Head of Ecosystem-based Adaptation, ODI Global Risks and Resilience) work, which reflects on gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches to just transitions, gained recognition in the UNFCCC decision text!   But how do these principles translate into meaningful, real-world action? 💡   🔗 Discover the impact below: This animation video highlights how the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) programme empowers women to lead in climate-friendly livelihoods—from agriculture to sustainable tourism   ▶️ Watch it now and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/eUE9M94r   #GLOWProgramme #GenderEquality #JustTransitions #ClimateLeadership

Yesterday, we had the privilege of hosting Mr Abdulhadi Achakzai, founder and CEO of Environmental Protection Trainings and Development Organization (EPTDO), an organisation doing incredible work in Afghanistan, to discuss how we can break the cycle of vulnerability for the communities most affected by climate change in one of the world’s most climate-impacted countries.   Afghanistan’s communities, already grappling with profound challenges, are now facing the devastating impacts of climate change. Here are some staggering facts that highlight the urgent need for action: 🌱 90% of Afghanistan’s trees have been cut down 💧 Only 2 out of 10 people have access to clean water (UNICEF) ☔ A country that used to experience a wet year once in four, now faces it three years in four 🌍 Afghanistan ranks as one of the top ten countries most affected by climate change   With over 40 million people in Afghanistan, we cannot afford to leave these vulnerable communities behind. The international community must come together to unlock climate finance and support these communities in adapting to and overcoming the growing challenges they face.   We were grateful for Mr Achakzai’s insights, and as a follow-up to our event, we caught up with him to summarise the most pressing points on the path forward for Afghanistan’s communities. #COP29 ODI Global Abdulhadi Achakzai Dr Rebecca Nadin Mauricio Vazquez

Countries embroiled in conflicts, or with weak or absent governments, have long struggled to access climate finance, not least because much of it is provided as loans – and loan providers prefer low-risk investments. Heavily conflict-affected countries received an average of just $2.74 per capita each year in international adaptation funding in the decade to 2020 – 40% of what other low-income countries got, according to a World Bank report published in July. Weaker states often also lack the systems, human resources and know-how to effectively apply for funding. ODI Global's Yue Cao talks about it here. You can also read more on this piece 👉 https://lnkd.in/eRv2T3tH

🌍 Climate change respects no borders – nor should our responses.   We recently caught up with ODI Global researcher Sarah O. to explore the importance of managing transboundary climate risks. In this short video, produced for the SPARC Ideas research programme, Sarah explains how these risks affect regions, supply chains, and communities—and why collaboration is crucial to tackling them.   Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/efBajtpb   This morning, we delved deeper into these themes during our event, ‘Transboundary climate, adaptation and mitigation risks in Africa: perspectives and regional cooperation’. The discussion highlighted practical strategies for addressing shared challenges through regional cooperation and innovative solutions. You can catch up on this event via our livestream link below.    📌 Are you at #COP29? Join us in Week 2 at the Climate, Peace and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion for more thought-provoking events on resilience in an interconnected world. 📍 Location: Zone E 💻 Or, watch the livestream via the link in the comment below. ODI Global Sarah O. Dr Rebecca Nadin Mauricio Vazquez Yue Cao Katy Harris

Week 1 of the Climate, Peace and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion at #COP29 has been a resounding success! Over six days, we have hosted over 20 events, welcomed some incredible speakers, and focused on the urgent need to scale up climate finance and action in places most affected by fragility and conflict. A key highlight was the announcement of a Network for climate-vulnerable countries affected by conflict or high levels of humanitarian needs—a landmark, country-led initiative supported by ODI Global. This Network represents a significant step forward in addressing the long-overlooked conflict blind spot in climate action and ensuring support reaches the communities that need it most. Now, as we begin Week 2, we’re turning our attention to transboundary climate risks—understanding and managing the cross-border challenges that climate change poses, and identifying the actions needed at COP29 and beyond to address them. ODI Global Risks and Resilience Sara Pantuliano Hans Peter Lankes Andrew Herscowitz Mauricio Vazquez Prof. Dominic McVey MBE Amir Khouzam Yue Cao Manisha Kabra Gulati Charlotte King Issy Mangan

Following the landmark moment at #COP29, where the Network of Climate-vulnerable Countries Affected by Conflict or High Levels of Humanitarian Needs was launched, Amir Khouzam spoke with Dr Sinead Walsh, Climate Director at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Walsh emphasised Ireland's strong commitment to supporting this critical initiative, highlighting the need for action and finance to reach the countries most in need. Watch the full video here 👇 #COP29 #ClimateAction #ClimateJustice #ClimateFinance ODI Global Dr Rebecca Nadin Mauricio Vazquez

🌍 Today is Peace, Relief and Recovery Day at #COP29 – and it marks a pivotal moment for climate action.   This afternoon our director Dr Rebecca Nadin moderated a landmark session to launch the Network of Climate-vulnerable Countries Affected by Conflict or High Levels of Humanitarian Needs. The new country-led Network, shaped by ODI Global, marks a critical step forward in a long journey to scale up climate finance in conflict-affected countries.   Speaking at the formation of the Network, Ministers and high-level representatives from Burundi, Chad, Iraq, Ireland, Norway, Sierra Leone, Somalia, the UK and Yemen discussed how: ⚠  More than ½ of the world’s 25 most climate-vulnerable countries are affected by fragility or conflict… 💲 … Yet they receive just one quarter of the climate finance they need. 📣 The new Network will provide a country-owned initiative to call with one voice for finance and support to flow to conflict- and crisis-affected countries.   💬 As Dr. Nadin said: “For years, we’ve been mustering and building momentum and consensus. That phase is over. We have the momentum; the willpower is there; we need to see action in places and for real people.”   This Network has been years in the making and we're delighted that the conflict blind spot in climate action is getting the attention it deserves.     🔗Read the Reuters coverage of the new Network here: https://lnkd.in/euS8fShh Dr Rebecca Nadin Sara Pantuliano Hans Peter Lankes Mauricio Vazquez Amir Khouzam Fergus Auld OBE Rachel Kyte Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

🌍At #COP29, one theme has been clear: climate policies and frameworks are only as good as their ability to be implemented and funded. This was a key point at the launch of Somalia’s NDC 3.0 and was echoed at an event I attended yesterday on Kazakhstan's energy transition. Strategies are important, but they must be practical, investable, and coherent. That means creating a whole-of-government approach, aligning with national development plans, setting priorities, and ensuring strong investment pathways. At the event on Kazakhstan, we saw an emphasis on the need for practical, investable frameworks. While the idea of country platforms and transition frameworks is vital, the challenge lies in ensuring these are not just theoretical but actionable on the ground. A whole-of-government approach is essential, and prioritisation is key—no country can do everything at once. The focus must be on what’s feasible, costed, and supported by robust investment plans to drive sustainable, long-term change. Looking back, it’s inspiring to see how far Somalia has come. When ODI Global began working with Somalia in 2022, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change was newly established. Fast forward to COP28, where we celebrated the launch of Somalia’s NDC Implementation Plan, and earlier this year, over $100 million was committed by the Green Climate Fund to support Somalia’s climate resilience. Now, Somalia is preparing its third NDC, to be submitted in June 2025. It's a clear example of how actionable plans and strategic investments can drive real change. Let’s continue to bridge the gap between ambition and action for a sustainable future. 🌱 🎥 Afterthoughts from the event: I’ve shared a short video with reflections on the key takeaways and opportunities highlighted during my discussion with Dr. Abdullahi Khalif, NDC in-country facilitator for Somalia. ODI Global - ODI Global Risks and Resilience Sara Pantuliano Andrew Herscowitz Mauricio Vazquez Hans Peter Lankes Manisha Kabra Gulati

✨ It was a pleasure to speak with Ali Serim, the Special Envoy of Vanuatu to #COP29, at our Climate, Peace, and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion here in Baku. During our conversation, Mr. Serim shared his perspective on the key priorities for this year’s COP29, emphasising the need to properly define climate finance for a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future. 📽️⬇️ ODI Global