What is Sida doing in the area of climate?

Changes in the climate of the Earth affect human living conditions. Those affected the most are the poor. Sida’s main task regarding climate efforts is therefore to strengthen the opportunities of the poor to adapt to the climate changes that have already occurred, and are continuing to occur.

Another important task is to promote measures that reduce the emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Sida also contributes disaster assistance to people who have been affected by extreme weather conditions.

Practically speaking, Sida's efforts regarding climate include the following:

1. Support to direct climate-related contributions
Even in the past, Sida has contributed to many organisations that work with the issue of climate in various ways. The focus has been primarily on regional and global cooperation, such as knowledge development and the training of negotiators in the Third World.

Cooperation has also existed on the country level in nations like Vietnam where efforts have been made to strengthen the ability of the environmental authority to deal with the climate issue, and in Kenya where climate adaptation is being worked within the purview of the water programme.

With the advent of the Government's special climate campaign in 2009-2011, the support to efforts for climate adaptation on the country level will increase markedly. Sida is now planning to invest a total of SEK 1.15 billion during a three-year period, which will include Mali, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Bolivia.

2. Increased integration of climate aspects in all development cooperation
As part of Sida's efforts to ensure that environmental aspects are taken into consideration and permeate that Agency's operations, an added focus is now being placed on ensuring that climate aspects are adequately discovered by, for example, improving existing tools, such as environmental impact assessments.

3. Participation in policy dialogue
Sida actively participates in policy dialogues on all levels, both with decision-makers in Sida partner countries and internationally. Sida is contributing its experience of development cooperation, for example, in Swedish efforts in preparation and negotiations during the United Nations Climate Convention.

4. Reduction of Sida's direct environmental impact
In order to reduce its environmental impact, Sida also tries its best to reduce its direct contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases. For example, Sida is reviewing its travel policy, as well as encouraging the increased use of video and teleconferencing.

5. Shared learning with various partners
The tremendous challenge we are facing requires a great deal of knowledge. Sharing experience and learning together with partner countries, international organisations and Swedish actors (government agencies, the business community and NGOs) is crucial. In http://www.sida.se/sida/jsp/sida.jsp?d=519&a=42255&language=en_US