Project Coordinator Khadheeja Naseem gives a presentation on preliminary findings of climate fund mapping
Transparency Maldives has concluded the 2nd meeting of the Climate Governance Network on Thursday, the 24th of May 2012.
The two main issues tabled for the meeting include:
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Presentation of the preliminary mapping of the climate finance in the Maldives and receiving feedback
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Presentations of the recommendations for the upcoming Rio +20 conference in a national context
Representatives from the current and former government, NGOs, private sector, media, experts and interested individuals attended the meeting.
CLIMATE FINANCE MAPPING
Preliminary findings show that over U$150 million is being spent as climate finance as externally funded grants or loans.
At the meeting, CGIP staff shared their suggestions on strengthening governance structure to ensure that these funds were wisely spent for the projects that they were allocated for.
They noted, among other things, the lack of comprehensive climate policy framework, lack of comprehensive database on climate finance, unconsolidated institutions, and lack of clear accountability mechanisms as challenges to good governance in climate finance.
Participants shared their comments and feedback on the preliminary mapping exercise, including:
- Importance of including the newly formed utilities companies in the map
- Differentiating between environment and energy sectors
- Assessing climate governance with reference to the sudden change in power on 7 February
RIO +20 RECOMMENDATIONS
At the meeting, CGIP team also shared the recommendations that Transparency International submitted for the Zero Draft of the Rio +20 outcome paper and highlighted some of the main concerns regarding Rio +20 in the national context.
In addition to the need for clear anti-corruption and more accountable climate financing mechanisms in the outcome paper, members emphasized the importance of public consultations and raising public awareness on the issue.
Rio +20 being a major conference where governments meet to agree on important decisions on behalf of their people, CGIP team noted that public participation/consultation on the issue is alarmingly low in the Maldives.
Communications Officer for CGIP, Mariyath Mohamed, said: “Both the mass media and the government have a proactive responsibility to disseminate information on Rio +20 to the public. Participatory decision-making is a crucial value enshrined in the Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration itself.”
A representative from the media at the meeting commented that they were not aware at all that the government had formed a committee to formulate its positions on Rio+20.
CGIP team noted that the government’s National Steering Committee for Rio +20 had agreed to share the Maldives’ Position Paper but that it had not so far been received.
A government representative at the meeting informed the Committee was planning to hold a press conference on Rio +20 shortly. Participants observed that there might not be sufficient time to get public comments and input to the paper.
Other highlights of the discussion that followed include:
- Concerns over the lack of clarity of the current government’s development programme, including climate change policies. Specifically, some participants raised concerns whether the policies drafted by the government elected in 2008 were currently being followed, or new policies were replacing them
- Whether the responsibility of information dissemination rested more with the government, or media, and how best to proceed with spreading information related to Rio +20
Members discuss thoughts on Rio +20 Advocacy
The meeting was a success in terms of mutual learning and sharing of experiences, and raising awareness among media representatives on climate governance and Rio +20.
The main daily Haveeru and the online news source Minivan News covered the event. All major local TV news channels also covered the meeting. DhiTV’s interview can be accessed here in Divehi.
Climate Governance Network was established in January 2012. The CGN will hold similar meetings in the future.
Membership of the Climate Governance Network is open to all interested persons. Please contact Transparency Maldives during working hours from Sunday to Thursday for more information, or to register with the network.