30 September 2011
UNFCCC Newsletter Highlights Launch of New Module on Fast-Start Finance
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The September edition of the UNFCCC newsletter highlights progress made in the design of the Green Climate Fund, as well as the launch of a new module on Fast-start Finance by the Finance Portal for Climate Change.

UNFCCC28 September 2011: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released the September 2011 edition of the UNFCCC newsletter, which features video messages from UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christina Figueres and from Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and President-Designate of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC.

In her message, Figueres indicates her belief that the negotiations “can make comprehensive advances in Panama,” thus laying the groundwork for a successful COP 17. In her video message, Nkoana-Mashabane calls on parties to work together in order to ensure a successful conference.

The newsletter also reports that the first version of the Finance Portal for Climate Change has launched a new module on Fast-start Finance, which presents information as submitted by developed countries on the resources provided in relation to their respective fast-start finance commitments, including ways in which developing countries can access these resources.

Other news reported in the newsletter includes: progress on the design of the Green Climate Fund; upcoming discussions of the outstanding issues to make the Technology Mechanism fully operational in 2012; progress in the technical assessments of Forest Management Reference Levels submitted by Annex I Parties; and the launch by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) of a guidebook aimed at helping developing country decision makers to better take advantage of the billions pledged to address climate change, which is titled “Blending Climate Finance through National Climate Funds.” [Publication: UNFCCC Newsletter Issue nº27]

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