We recently had the incredible opportunity to attend a workshop titled “Green Technology and Innovations to Accelerate Access on Climate Finance for Malaysian Cities: Designing Climate Resilient Development Projects” organized by the EU-funded Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy (GCoM) Asia Project.
The two-day event, held from 14-15 June 2023, aimed to equip city officials from 21 Malaysian cities with the knowledge and tools necessary to address climate change through green technology and secure vital climate finance.
Our Experience at the Workshop
The workshop brought together an impressive array of participants, including mayors, municipal officials, town planners, technical officers, and climate finance experts.
With representatives from 14 countries, the diverse perspectives and expertise in the room created a vibrant learning environment.
Throughout the two days, we delved into various topics, ranging from green technology and innovations to funding mechanisms and project development.
Experts shared invaluable insights into climate finance options and provided guidance on developing bankable projects.
It was inspiring to witness the passion and commitment of all participants as we worked together to tackle the pressing issue of climate change.
Not only did we receive practical training on project proposal preparation, funding applications, and financial planning for climate change projects, but we also had the opportunity to build networks and partnerships with like-minded individuals.
The 2-day event was divided into several thematic sessions.
For each session, several speeches were delivered by different speakers.
We will attempt to summarize each keynote speech and provide the key takeaways, so that those of you who didn’t attend the workshop could benefit too.
Urban Mobility, Green and Resilient Infrastructure (Sustainable Public Transport and Logistics, Green Commuting, Walkable City)
Local Electric Transport Policy & Projects
Speaker
Joachim Bergerho, Team Leader, Sustainable Mobility in Metropolitan Regions in ASEAN, SMMR Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Key Takeaways
Electric mobility is crucial for the decarbonization of cities. The World Bank has a list of recommendations for cities regarding transport electrification, including:
- Identify the primary motivation for electric mobility.
- Position electric mobility in a national strategy for sustainable transportation.
- Evaluate and plan for electric mobility at the country level.
- Establish institutional coordination mechanisms.
- Target adoption of electric mobility in promising vehicle segments.
- Prioritize public funds for charging infrastructure subsidies.
- Facilitate battery swapping and recycling for electric vehicles.
- Adopt demand pooling mechanisms to reduce bus procurement costs.
- Integrate electric mobility into power sector planning.
- Implement measures to manage electricity demand for charging.
Using transport modelling solutions to accelerate access to finance
Speaker
Conrad Richardson, Senior International Technical Advisor, SMMR Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Key Takeaways
- Effective planning and utilization of transport modeling tools are crucial for the successful implementation of transport projects. These tools are often underutilized in the areas where they are most needed, leading to underperforming transport infrastructures that exceed the expected time and budget.
- Understanding the fundamentals of transport modeling and traffic simulation is essential. This includes recognizing the role of proactive transport modeling in anticipating and accommodating future growth, as well as understanding the workflow and data requirements associated with transport modeling.
- Good planning is of utmost importance. Many emerging cities face challenges when they plan and finance large-scale infrastructure projects without a reliable forecast of future demand. By incorporating transport modeling and simulation, cities can better absorb growth, balance supply and demand, and make informed decisions about infrastructure development.
Disaster Risk Reduction Management: Flood Management and Response Plan
Climate Risk Management and National Adaptation Planning: Experiences from NAP Implementation in Thailand
Speaker
Mr. Heinrich Gudenus, Project Director, Urban-Act: Integrated Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Phayathai, Bangkok
Key Takeaways
Mr. Heinrich discussed Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP):
- The NAP process is iterative, inclusive, and multi-sectoral, aiming to identify risks, priorities, and solutions.
- Climate science and risk information should serve as the foundation for decision-making in the NAP process.
- Integration at both sectoral and subnational levels is crucial for effective adaptation planning.
- Unclear mandates for implementing adaptation measures pose a challenge to the NAP process.
- Engaging subnational stakeholders is of utmost importance in the NAP process.
TOSCA Toolkit Sharing
Speaker
Dr. Rajan Chedambath, Director, Kochi City Government, Kerala, India and Mr. Dino Alessi, Coordinator, European Union International Projects, Municipality of Messina, Messina (Italy)
Key Takeaways
The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) pilot cities shared the TOSCA toolkit for open and sustainable city analysis and planning, specifically for water management and flood management.
- The TOSCA toolkit enables optimization of data processing and facilitates coordinated actions through a single platform.
- It is important to develop and utilize the TOSCA toolkit for effective planning and analysis of flood management in cities.
- The implementation of TOSCA should include support for knowledge transfer to other cities, such as Messina, and the application of TOSCA for specific use cases related to flood management.
Tespack
Speakers
Mr. Mario Aguilera, CEO & Founder jointly with Ms. Caritta Seppä, COO and Co-Founder, Tespack, Finland
Key Takeaways
- Creating digital learning classrooms after a disaster can help ensure continuity of education and provide access to learning opportunities for affected communities.
- Clean energy solutions, such as mobile energy systems, can be utilized to provide off-grid power sources by integrating hardware and software components.
- The combination of hardware and software in clean energy solutions enables the efficient and sustainable provision of energy in areas affected by floods or lacking access to the power grid.
Sustainable Buildings
Speaker
Mr. Dustin Jeerson Onghangseng, Founder and CEO of uHOO
Key Takeaways
Mr. Onghangseng emphasized the broad applicability and benefits of uHoo’s technology, ranging from individual buildings to city-wide initiatives, and its contribution to health, decarbonization, and government-backed guidelines.
- uHoo’s technology enables monitoring and management of environmental factors such as air quality, light, and noise inside buildings or facilities, contributing to improved health and well-being, decarbonization efforts, and enhanced ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance.
- The case studies showcase the effectiveness of uHoo’s technology in various settings, including a building in the Philippines that achieved the title of the healthiest building in Southeast Asia, decarbonization efforts in a Singaporean building, and a city-wide project in Europe, conducted in partnership with a European government.
Tools and platforms for facilitating climate finance at the city level
Preparing Bankable and Sustainable Infrastructure Projects
Speakers
Mr. Ivan Fuentetaja, Urban Development Specialist, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC), Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and Ms. Kathleen Jovellanos, Capacity Development Specialist of Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA),
Manila, Philippines
Key Takeaways
- CDIA (Cities Development Initiative for Asia) is a project preparation facility that collaborates closely with cities in the Asia Pacific region to develop sustainable infrastructure projects aligned with the priorities of funders.
- The objective is to assist cities in effectively integrating bankability, climate resilience, and institutional development into their project preparation process.
- The learning outcomes for cities participating in CDIA include gaining an enhanced understanding of the key components that a project preparation study should include to ensure project sustainability and attractiveness to downstream financiers.
- Cities interested in receiving CDIA support are encouraged to develop a draft application for potential project preparation study assistance, indicating their interest and need for CDIA’s support in their infrastructure development initiatives.
C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF)
Speaker
Mr. Ir. Noor Iziddin Abdullah Bin Haji Ghazali, Senior Energy Advisor, C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Key Takeaways
- The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has been providing funds to support cities in Malaysia and the region in implementing energy projects.
- The focus of the session is to present real-life examples that highlight how the FCDO has directed funds towards supporting cities, particularly in terms of the technical and financial aspects of energy projects.
Demystifying the Carbon Finance Markets and Identifying Opportunities for Cities to Access International Markets
Speaker
Mr. Marc S. Forni, Lead Specialist, Urban Resilience, World Bank, Hanoi, Vietnam
Key Takeaways
- The session aimed to demystify carbon finance markets and highlight opportunities for cities to access international markets, particularly through carbon pricing instruments and carbon trading.
- Discussions focused on various topics, including carbon taxation, transparency in carbon markets, and the establishment of carbon credits as a potential new revenue stream.
- The session provided valuable insights into tools and resources available for cities to access climate finance, enabling them to develop bankable projects that contribute to sustainable development.
- By understanding and leveraging carbon finance markets, cities have the potential to unlock financial opportunities and generate revenue while simultaneously advancing their climate change mitigation efforts.
City Climate Finance Gap Fund and FMDV Global Fund for Cities Development
Speaker
Mr. Marc S. Forni, Lead Specialist, Urban Resilience, World Bank, Hanoi, Vietnam
Key Takeaways
- The low carbon city platform for Ho Chi Minh City serves as a valuable example of best practices and lessons learned in achieving low-carbon urban development. It showcases the World Bank’s support in accessing carbon markets and implementing decarbonization measures.
- The City Climate Finance Gap Fund and the Project Preparation Facilities (PPF) provide essential technical assistance to Malaysian cities, helping them overcome financial barriers and develop climate projects. These mechanisms connect cities with experts and partners, facilitating the realization of their climate ambitions.
- The Gap Fund plays a crucial role in bridging the initial project implementation gap by mobilizing resources and connecting cities with international organizations and financial institutions, such as the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), World Bank (WB), European Investment Bank (EIB), C40, and ICLEI.
- The discussion highlighted the importance of aggregating small-scale interventions to enhance their bankability and attract financing. This approach enables cities to combine multiple projects into a larger, more attractive investment proposition.
- Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems are essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in climate projects.
Speaker
Ms. Margot de Groot Van Embden, Programme Manager, FMDV – Global Fund for Cities Development (ASEAN Desk):
Key Takeaways
- The session built upon good practices and examples from cities worldwide, with a particular focus on the ASEAN region, to introduce the activities of FMDV (Global Fund for Cities Development) in financing just, resilient, and sustainable urban development and transitions.
- The session facilitated an interactive discussion using live polls and Q&A to engage participants in identifying the challenges faced by Malaysian cities and exploring credible pathways and viable financing mechanisms specific to the Malaysian context.
Preparing Bankable and Sustainable Infrastructure Projects
Speaker
Ms. Kathleen Jovellanos, Capacity Development Specialist and Ms. Analyn Rubenecia, Communications and Outreach Specialist of Cities
Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), Manila, Philippines
Key Takeaways
- Cities can benefit from the coaching sessions by gaining valuable insights and knowledge about developing bankable infrastructure projects. The session provided an opportunity for cities to enhance their understanding of the project preparation process and receive guidance on submitting applications to CDIA.
- CDIA’s support is aimed at assisting cities in developing sustainable and financially viable infrastructure projects. The coaching sessions ensure that cities are well-prepared and informed before engaging with CDIA for potential project preparation study support.
Challenges to accessing climate finance and opportunities to overcome
Key Takeaways
- The session focused on practical experiences of Southeast Asian cities in accessing and mobilizing climate finance. Case studies were presented to showcase successful recipients of climate finance and highlight projects implemented through innovative funding mechanisms.
- The Palembang City Government in Indonesia was highlighted as a successful recipient of technical assistance through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund. Their project focused on green and resilient construction, as well as energy-efficient affordable housing. A Climate Action Plan was a crucial factor in accessing technical assistance from the Gap Fund.
- The Penang Island City Council shared their experience as a recipient of the Climate Adaptation Fund, emphasizing their focus on climate-resilient urban tree species and the implementation of the Penang Nature-based Climate Adaptation Programme.
- The Iskandar Regional Development Authority discussed their success as a grant recipient of technical assistance under the UK-Pact, focusing on project implementation for the development of low-carbon cities.
- Kuala Lumpur City Hall presented their initiatives, including the implementation of a district cooling system and efforts to reduce energy consumption through renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in public buildings.
Cities across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, face numerous challenges when it comes to accessing the financial resources needed for climate initiatives.
This workshop addressed these challenges head-on, providing a platform to enhance our technical understanding and explore avenues to secure additional resources for implementing climate-resilient projects.
Thanks to the support of the GCoM Asia Project, Malaysian cities are receiving valuable technical assistance for comprehensive climate action planning and implementation.
This workshop was an integral part of their efforts to accelerate access to climate finance, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among city officials.
The impact of this workshop extends beyond its immediate outcomes.
Recognizing its significance, GCoM has plans to replicate this success in Vietnam in July and Indonesia in August.
By engaging representatives from selected cities in each country, these workshops will further amplify the knowledge exchange and collaboration necessary for driving effective climate action at both the local and national levels.
Attending the Green Technology and Climate Finance workshop was an enlightening and empowering experience.
By leveraging green technology, innovations, and financing mechanisms, we can collectively work towards a sustainable future, where cities are resilient to the impacts of climate change.
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