In 2008 donorDonors help finance climate compatible development, explicit climate change measures to deal with adaptation and mitigation. For example US AID and the Asian Development Bank. countries have pledged over US$6 billion to the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) that were designed as an interim measure to strengthen the global knowledge base for low-carbon and climate-resilient growth solutions by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change The money will be used for demonstration projects that will implement climate change adaptationAdjustments in human and natural systems, in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, that moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. (IPPC) into existing economic development planning. Two funds constitute the CIF. One is the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) financing mitigation, which concentrates on reducing demand for emissionsEmissions of greenhouse gases, greenhouse gas precursors, and aerosols associated with human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock, fertilisation, etc. (IPCC)-intensive goods and services, increasing efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less. gains, increasing use and development of low-carbon technologies, and reducing non-fossil fuelConventional energy from fossil sources, such as natural gas and oil. This type of energy contributes to climate change and because of its finite nature it is not a permanent resource. emissions. CTF is to provide scaled up financing for the demonstration, deployment and transfer of low carbon technologies that have a significant potential for long-term greenhouse gas emissionsGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour. savings. The second is the Strategic ClimateClimate is typically defined as the average weather (or more rigorously a statistical description of the average in terms of the mean and variability) over a period of time, usually 30 years. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate ... Fund (SCF) , which focuses on financing targeted programs in developing countries to pilot new climate or sectoral approachesCore to livelihoods approaches are a set of principles that underpin best practice in any development intervention: *People-centred *Responsive and participatory *Multi-level *Conducted in partnership * Sustainable *Dynamic with scaling-up potential. Both trust fund committees have equal representation from developed and developing countries.

As Africa is generally considered to be continent hardest hit by climate changeClimate change is a lasting change in weather patterns over long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomena and and has occurred on Earth even before people inhabited it. Quite different is a current situation that is also referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or ... effects, three African countries have been selected as pilot countries for such funding.  Now these countries will receive a major boost, especially as each CIF dollar so far is leveraging an additional ten dollars in private and public investments. In Africa, the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group jointly implement the CIF, in cooperation with governments, United NationsThe United Nations Organization (UNO) is an international organization that focuses on facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. It was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace ... and other partners.

The countries selected are  Mozambique, Niger and Zambia. This will  help transform their economies through climate resilience.

”These three share dramatic risks in potential loss of landLoss of land is one of the biggest fears for inhabitants of low-lying islands and coastal areas, as sea level rises and they don't have the means to adapt to this situation. The higher temperature will rise due to climate change, the more people will be dislocated due to land loss, and will ..., life and livelihoodsSustainable livelihood includes job opportunities that are of a non-invasive type, and exclude extensive felling, heavy fishery, mono-cultures and other activities than permanently harm the environment; it also includes an lifestyle that takes care of any gives assets, such as fresh water or ... as a result of climate change. They will each receive up to 50-70 million US dollars in grants and/or very low interest loans to help integrate climate riskAll risks associated with the impacts of global warming, such as rising sea levels and unusual rain patterns and additional risks to infrastructure due to climate change.
Critical human impacts of climate change arise through impacts on human habitat (for example, desertification, ... and resilience into their core development planning.” a press release from the World Bank states. Each of these countries receives this money after demonstrating urgent need for resilience strategies and the commitment to rigorously integrate such strategies into their overall poverty reduction and development plans. In Africa, where access to energyThe ability to perform work, mainly kinetic, potential, thermal energy, but also in forms of gravitational, sound, elastic and electromagnetic energy. is critical for economic growthIdeally, economic growth is decoupled from energy consumption. This can be achieved through different measures, one of them being energy efficiency or a shift towards less energy intensive sectors, such as services. and, therefore, poverty alleviation, the challenge is to help countries obtain the energy they need, without aggravating climate change.

The CTF has decided to support projects in three other African countries: South Africa, Morocco and Egypt. South Africa has a goal of generating four percent of the country’s electricityA form of energy having magnetic, radiant and chemical effects. Electric current is created by a flow of electrons. needs from renewable energy by 2013, improving energy efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less. by 12 percent by 2015 and providing 1 million households with solar water heating over the next five years. It will receive $500 million from the CTF in order to accomplish this goal, and it is expected that the new investments will mobilize additional financing of about 1$ billion from bilateral and multilateral funders, as well as the private sector. Morocco will receive $150 million to help reaching their goal of a 600% increase in wind power and a 15% reduction in energy use in buildings, industry, and transportTransport includes all kinds of mobility, like cars, buses and airplanes. by 2020. Egypt will use the $300 million to develop wind powerWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. By 2010, a single wind turbine can produce several MW of electric power. and low carbon urban transport systems.

“The CIF support for Africa is coming at a critical time. Climate change has the potential to turn back the clock on hard won development gains across the continent,” says Katherine Sierra, Vice President of Sustainable DevelopmentThe concept of sustainable development was introduced in the World Conservation Strategy (IUCN 1980) and had its roots in the concept of a sustainable society and in the management of renewable resources. Adopted by the WCED in 1987 and by the Rio Conference in 1992 as a process of change in ... at the World Bank,

Altogether six countries will receive $1.1 billion through CIF. This could help to heal the divide between developed and developing countries that has run down the center of climate change discussions. After the African boycott of UNThe United Nations Organization (UNO) is an international organization that focuses on facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. It was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace ... climate talks in Barcelona at the beginning of this week, this is a fresh opportunity and a positive sign into the right direction.