6 December 2014: The UNFCCC Secretariat organized a day dedicated to showcasing how Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) are moving developing countries along a low-emissions development trajectory. Dubbed ‘NAMA Day,’ the event was designed so participants could also hear from and meet with various public and private international organizations that are actively engaged in helping developing countries in the NAMA process.

The day was organized in a series of panel discussions and concluded with a poster exhibition and a “help desk” to enable one-on-one interactions for troubleshooting challenges that arise in the NAMA process. At the opening session, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, President of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the UNFCCC and Peru’s Minister of Environment, said NAMAs provide a mechanism for moving from talk to actions. Pointing out that these actions are being undertaken now and in the near future, Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, said NAMAs can help countries to realize greater pre-2020 ambition.

A panel discussion on NAMA financing offered perspectives of private investors and development banks on opportunities to finance climate actions and remove barriers to NAMA implementation. Representatives from KfW Development Bank, Climate Change Capital and Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) cited the characteristics of projects that will attract finance, such as clear political alignment and support. They suggested straying from project finance, as it does not attract bonds and equity financing, and displaying a “strong appetite and commitment” from the NAMA stakeholders.

A presentation of NAMAs and information on support featured, inter alia: Ecuador’s self-funded emission reduction programmes, which also attracted concessionary financing; Chile’s forestry NAMA, through which it is seeking South-South cooperation; Peru’s sustainable transport NAMA and its co-benefits; Thailand’s roadmap to decreased emissions from refrigeration and cooling; Rwanda’s NAMA preparation process; Costa Rica’s livestock NAMA and its plans to integrate climate-smart agriculture (CSA); and Lebanon’s waste and transport NAMAs, which are expected to reduce emissions by 30% and 70%, respectively, by 2040.

NAMA Day was organized in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the UN Environment Programme DTU Partnership (UNEP DTU), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environment of Peru. [IISD RS ENBOTS Coverage] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference] [UNFCCC Event Announcement]