NAMIBIA will bid for hosting the African regional office of the green climate fund (GCF). The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is an organisation that gives funds to developing countries to cope with climate change.
However, before any country is allocated funds, it has to pass an audit so that it gets an accreditation for it to receive the funds.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta confirmed to The Namibian yesterday that Cabinet has approved this in principle. He said the bid, if it succeeds, will boost the country’s economy because when conferences are held, the tourism industry will benefit.
Shifeta also said it is not the first time Namibia has bid to host offices of the global organisation after losing to South Korea in an earlier bid.
In Africa it is only Namibia and Rwanda that are accredited by the fund, Pohamba said.
Pohamba also said as it was agreed in Paris that from 2020, advanced economies and other donors will provide about US$100 billion to the fund.
He said judging by the support Namibia is getting from other African countries, he is confident the country will win the bid.
Regional partners are lobbying for us to get the opportunity, he said, emphasising that he will also use the platform at the conference for African environment ministers in Cairo in the coming weeks to solicit for support.
According to Pohamba, Namibia’s good climate and stable security environment has gained support from other countries.
I am on my way to New York next week, and will make a stop in Cairo for the environment conference. So, I will also use that platform to lobby for support, he said.
Pohamba added that Namibia has identified six projects the country will embark on regarding climate change.
