Webinars
Event Archive
Session 2 of the 2024 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
Best Practices for Effective Climate Action: Insights from the GCF and Lessons for other Funds For the fourth consecutive year, we invite all civil society members following the GCF and other funds under the UNFCCC to attend two dynamic sessions on October 9th and December 4th.This year, we are excited to introduce a more interactive format, featuring presentations and live interviews between a moderator and CSO representatives. This second and final session reflected on the outcomes of COP29, focusing on key decisions related to climate finance. We also discussed lessons learned from GCF monitoring, with a spotlight on gender, indigenous peoples, information disclosure and redress, among other critical issues. PresenterBertha Argueta, Germanwatch: Climate finance under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement after COP29. What's next for the NCQG? IntervieweesNatalia Daza, GCF Gender Monitor for Latin America.Tunga Rai, member of the GCF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group (IPAG).Florencia Ortúzar, regional node for the GCF Watch.Bertha Argueta, alternate active observer for the GCF. Moderation: Daan Robben, Both ENDS. Recording
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Session 1 of the 2024 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
Operating the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement: Applying lessons learned from the GCF experience for strengthened CSO engagement For the fourth consecutive year, we invite all civil society members following the GCF and other funds under the UNFCCC to attend two dynamic sessions on October 9th and December 4th.This year, we are excited to introduce a more interactive format, featuring presentations and live interviews between a moderator and CSO representatives. In this first session, relevant CSO representatives discussed the architecture of financial mechanisms under the UNFCCC, with the GCF at the center, exploring their similarities and differences, and the opportunities for civil society engagement in each. PresentersErika Lennon, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): The GCF as the center of the architecture of the financial mechanisms under the UNFCCC and its relationship with the other funds.Ira Guerrero, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC): The GCF Watch and its resources. IntervieweesKairos Dela Cruz: ICSC.Faizal Parish: Global Environment Centre; Chair 2024-2030, GEF CSO Network.Julia Grimm: Germanwatch.Liane Schalatek: Heinrich Böll Foundation. Moderation: Camila Bartelega, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). Recording
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Session 3 of the 2023 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
Important topics around the GCF The final session of the 2023 GCF Watch Webinar Series was focused on key topics around the GCF identified by civil society organizations, such as engaging with the GCF at the country level and the GCF's Gender and Indigenous Peoples policies. The session also included a presentation from the GCF's Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM), covering how to access the mechanism and their experience so far. PanelistsTara Daniel, WEDO: How to connect with the GCF at the country level.Helen Magata, Tebtebba: Indigenous Peoples Policy at the GCF.Natalia Daza, WEDO: Gender at the GCF.Sonja Derkum, IRM: The GCF's Independent Redress Mechanism.Moderator: Daan Robben, Both Ends. Recording
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Session 2 of the 2023 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
The monitoring of the implementation of GCF-approved projects After an update on the latest decisions of the GCF Board, the session centered around the monitoring of the implementation of GCF approved projects, carried out by different civil society organizations throughout the world. Discussions took place around the presentation of case studies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. PanelistsClaire Miranda, Asian People’s Movement for Debt and Development (APMDD): An update on the last Board Meeting and what follows for the next one.Bertha Argueta, Germanwatch: Intro on the monitoring of the implementation of GCF approved projects.Case studies of the experience in monitoring implementation in:Africa: Toini Amutenya, Namibia Nature Foundation.Latin America: Maite Smett, Red Internacional de Forestería Análoga (RIFA), and Rosalía Soley, Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña (UNES). Moderator: Bertha Argueta, Germanwatch. Recording
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Session 1 of the 2023 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
The CSO network and the way it works In this first session, we will provide a brief introduction to the GCF, the Updated Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, and the second replenishment process, which is currently underway; we will talk about the GCF Watch Platform and the opportunities it provides; and we will have a conversation with two of our active observers before the GCF, to better understand the work they do, in alliance with the civil society observer network which follows on the GCF. PanelistsFlorencia Ortúzar, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA): Introduction to the webinar series and moderation.Jei Edora, Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD): Intro on the GCF, the new Updated Strategic Plan and the second replenishment process (GCF-2).Ira Guerrero, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC): The GCF Watch Platform.Erika Lennon, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Liane Schalatek, Heinrich Boell Foundation.A conversation with active observers of the GCF, on the way we work and why we do it.Camila Bartelega, AIDA: Interactive session to learn from our audience.Recording
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Towards just water governance in Colombia: A dialogue on the Transformative Water Pact
UN 2023 Water Conference virtual side event Ecosystems such as wetlands, paramos, rivers and other hydrosystems, as well as the people who inhabit them, are fundamental to mitigate the water crisis. However, the growing socio-environmental conflicts over competition for water uses are evidence of the strong pressure on water resources exerted by large-scale mining and other extractive industries in Colombia and Latin America. Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, peasant communities and urban dwellers continue to demand judicial protection of their human rights to water and environmental participation due to the impacts generated by human activity. This event presented The Transformative Water Pact (TWP), an innovative framework for water governance that has been developed by environmental justice experts from around the world. The TWP served as a starting point for dialogue between representatives of the government of Colombia, academia, regional and international NGOs in relation to Colombia’s current ambitions in multi-scalar water governance. Specific attention was given to the ways in which indigenous, ethnic and bio-cultural approaches can be used to create stronger synergies between communities and formal institutions within the context of water governance. We also discussed challenges that still remain in protecting strategic ecosystems in the region and the lessons learned from the environmental movement in Colombia, linking them to policy recommendations for transformative water governance at the regional level. speakers Murtah Shannon, Policy Advisor, Both ENDS. Yeny Rodríguez, Attorney, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). Fabián Caicedo, Director de Gestión Integral del Recurso Hídrico, Ministerio de Ambiente de Colombia. Violet Matiru, Executive Director, Millenenium Community Development Initiative (MCDI), Kenia. Bhanumathi Kalluri, Director, Dhaatri Trust, India. Recording More info Learn more about the Transformative Water Pact.
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Session 3 of the 2022 GCF Watch International Webinar Series (part one)
Important topics around the GCF (part one) This session focused on key issues identified by CSOs during the series initial webinar. It addressed important aspects of the GCF and CSOs' engagement, including the outcomes of the latest Board meeting, the replenishment process and access to GCF finance, as well as engagement with National Designated Authorities (NDA). panelistsErika Lennon, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): Key findings from B33 and what lies ahead.Mirja Stoldt, Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF): Interacting with the NDA.Andrea Rodríguez, Fundación Avina: Access to GCF finance through the accreditation processModerator: Liane Schalatek, Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS). Recording Presentations1. Mirja Stoldt, Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF): 2. Andrea Rodríguez, Fundación Avina:
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Webinar "From the seabed to the high seas: How international negotiations can save the ocean's future"
This event aimed to present the general characteristics of ongoing international negotiations that seek to improve the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources. Through a panel discussion, the event highlighted the obstacles, developments and expectations of negotiations related to ocean mining, fisheries subsidies, and protection of the high seas. PanelistsErnesto Fernández Monge, The Pew Charitable Trusts: Fishing subsidies.Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC): Deep-sea mining.Mariamalia Rodríguez, High Seas Alliance: High seas treaty.Facilitator: María José Gonzalez-Bernat, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). Recording Presentations1. Ernesto Fernández Monge, The Pew Charitable Trusts: 2. Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC): 3. Mariamalia Rodríguez, High Seas Alliance:
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Session 1 of the 2022 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
The GCF Watch and our work in 2022 The role civil society plays in monitoring the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is crucial to make the best use of much-needed climate resources, while also avoiding the worse impacts brought up by false solutions.The GCF Watch is a civil society initiative, led from the Global South, created to improve access to information on GCF matters and enable better public follow-up and supervision of the GCF.In this second version of the GCF Watch International Webinar Series, experts from across the globe will come together in three webinars to discuss the GCF, the work being done, and ways in which you can contribute to this important effort. Each session will include expert presentations followed by an open space for conversation among attendees and panelists.In this first session, we talked about the GCF Watch Platform and the opportunities it provides, we looked into the last two board meetings that have happened during 2022, and we discussed some of the key topics that are keeping CSO busy around the GCF. PanelistsFlorencia Ortúzar, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA): Introduction to the webinar series.Kairos de la Cruz, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC): The GCF Watch Platform.Erika Lennon, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): Takeaways from the last board meetings and key topics for CSOs. Recording
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Session 1 of the 2021 GCF Watch International Webinar Series
The GCF Watch platform and an overview of 2021 Effective civil society monitoring of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is crucial to avoid damages and make the best use of much-needed climate resources.GCF-Watch is a civil society initiative, led from the Global South, created to improve access to information on GCF matters and enable better public follow-up and supervision of the GCF.In this international series of three webinars, experts from across the globe discussed engaging through the GCF Watch platform. Updated information on the GCF, its board meetings and the main issues of 2021 were discussed, as well as ways in which people and communities can engage with the Fund in their countries and regions. Each session included expert presentations followed by an open space for conversation among attendees and panelists. PanelistsFlorencia Ortúzar, Attorney, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA): Introduction to the webinar series.Angelo Kairos de la Cruz, Deputy Executive Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC): The GCF Watch Platform.Erika Lennon, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): Takeaways from BM 28 and main topics for 2021.Moderator: Bertha Argueta, Germanwatch. Recording Presentations1. Angelo Kairos de la Cruz, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC):Presentation in French 2. Erika Lennon, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL):Presentation in French
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