Options for Raising International Adaptation Funding

Nicholas Institute Discussion Memo Prepared for the National Religious Partnership for the Environment

Author(s): Joshua Schneck

Published: April 2010

download: memo (.pdf) >

In light of the continuing uncertainty regarding if and when a U.S. compliance market for carbon will be established, this memo summarizes promising approaches for generating U.S. funding for international climate action that are outside of any U.S. climate bill.  Proposals along the lines of those presented here were identified by Project Catalyst and Climate Advisers as being both politically feasible and financially effective.  In addition, a newly released International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposalfor the creation of a ‘Green Fund’ capable of meeting the $100 billion target set in the Copenhagen Accord is discussed.  Because the IMF scheme is essentially a way to use public funds to leverage greater private sector investment, and not a way of securing additional public funding, it is treated separately.