Doha snapshots: Bissett & Steer: adaptation affects Everything / At least Tajikistan is adaptation planning / Astounding fact of the day / Korean Minister pokes negotiators

At a UNEPFI-CMIA forum in another of Doha's swish hotels, discussing mobilizing private sector finance of mitigation and adaptation projects. Rosemary Bissett of National Australia Bank, posits:

"Adaptation is usally discussed in terms of infrastructure projects; but we're thinking the wrong way. As investors and lenders we need to be looking at adaptation across everything we’re doing. If we’re putting money into power stations, buildings or businesses, we need to make sure adaptation is taken into account now - so things can be built for the new environment we’re heading into. It’s not just about adaptation projects - it affects everything."

Absolutely right! (That bank is lucky to have her).

Andrew Steer, CEO of the World Resources Institute, in another session today: "Every sector of the economy has to be adjusted in some way or another."

It's not only investors and banks that need to be thinking across their portfolios about the impact of the 2 degrees Celsius warming that's already in the system; it's also Governments.

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Just so happens I'm sitting in a presentation on "investing in resilience" (adaptation planning) by Tajikistan Government, ADB and EBRD folk. They started looking at water (their glaciers are disappearing so water is becoming scarcer), but they're now also looking at adaptation for buildings and others areas in Government. They have a l-o-n-g way to go to get changes made, but at least, with the help of prioneering ADB climate change specialist Cinzia Losenno, they have a solid planning process underway. (Disclosure - Climate Bonds co-founder Nick Silver has been a consultant to that project; he looks great in the project video as well)

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Astounding stat of the day: “90% of buildings that will exist in India in 2025 are not yet built”, says Kersten-Karl Barth at Siemens. Yes, you read that right: 2025. Getting energy efficiency sorted in India now would have a huge flown-on impact.

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Good reminder to recalcitrant Kyoto Protocol negotiators from a Korean Government Minister - a poke really: "We are free to choose now, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices in the future."