The Corona Response Package focuses on a green restart of the economy in combination with the prevention of pandemics. Climate policy issues and the conservation of biodiversity remain as guiding principles in the spirit of the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the 2030 Agenda. The 68 million euro package will involve 29 projects in 25 countries and support 16 different IKI implementing partners. It is regionally balanced, thematically diverse, and aims to meet the needs of the partner countries.

With the Corona Response Package, the IKI helps to provide short-term responses to the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. The fast-track procedure has been modified and shortened compared to the standard processes of IKI project funding. The package of measures can build on approximately 300 IKI projects that are currently underway to provide targeted support.

"Climate protection and biodiversity must make a significant contribution to economic recovery worldwide."

Due to quarantine measures and lack of funds from tourism, poaching and deforestation have dramatically increased worldwide. As a result, communities such as indigenous groups are acutely at risk.

Therefore, one focus of the measures is to provide financial support for the conservation of nature reserves and biodiversity hotspots and to mitigate the immediate consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic.

IKI projects supplemented by emergency measures:

Support to indigenous peoples’ and community conserved areas and territories (ICCAs)

Forest protection and the management of natural resources in Manu Biosphere Reserve

Promotion of nature-based solutions for resilient, low-carbon and biodiverse territorial development (project start: August 2020)

Although IKI partner countries face major economic and social challenges, there is also an opportunity to achieve an economic recovery that is sustainable, and in harmony with climate change mitigation strategies and biodiversity conservation. Many governments have announced their intention to pursue this goal in recent months. The Corona Response Package’s second priority aims to exploit this opportunity and provide support for a green economic recovery.

The IKI package intends to use multiple instruments to provide a sustainable stimulus to national economies:

Economic advisors will be financed in twelve partner countries, to provide support to planning and/or finance ministries for the design of climate-friendly economic stimulus programmes. BMU cooperation partners for these activities are the NDC Partnership (in eight countries) and the OECD (in four countries). The NDC Partnership encompasses several IKI projects as well as short-term enquiries from developing countries to support sustainable economic stimulus programmes.

At the same time, the BMU has also expanded its financing for the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (UN PAGE). The aim here is to offer the twenty partner countries direct support for the development of sustainable economic recovery measures as well as transition pathways to a decarbonised society. In addition, PAGE is closely coordinating its global activities for capacity building with other initiatives, including the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs) and the NDC Partnership.

Additional support is also being offered for ongoing IKI projects characterised by their special effects on employment as well as those that are able to create the fundamental requirements for the integration of climate change and biodiversity aspects into economic development programmes. To this end, the BMU is increasing funding for 16 IKI projects and making contextual changes to another 9 projects. These projects are prioritising topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, urban development and the mobilisation of sustainable investment.

Upscaling of private FLR investments in Latin America

Fishing for Climate Resilience

ExploRE - Strategic exploration of economic mitigation potentials through renewables

Climate-resilient urban planning – support for city authorities in the Philippines

Measuring Paris Agreement alignment and financial risk in financial markets

Financing Energy for Low-carbon Investment - Cities Advisory Facility

Mobilizing capital for ecosystem-based adaptation

Impact Investments for the sustainable use of biodiversity in Peru

Improving incentive frameworks and capacity for green, climate-related investments in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

Integrated coastal zone management and marine biodiversity

Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection

Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

India Sustainable Mobility Initiative

Climate protection in the Mexican urban policy

Capacity building in sub-Saharan African megacities, aimed at achieving a transformation to sustainable reduction measures against climate change

Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia

Financing and capacity building for micro and small Climate-smart Enterprises: Filling the gap of the missing middle

The third part of the package focuses on the prevention of pandemics. The increasing occurrence of viral pandemics is closely linked to the growing loss of biodiversity and forests worldwide. When humans and animals move closer together, the risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses) increases.

Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity hotspots and forests helps to reduce the risk of zoonoses, and thus reduces the likelihood of pandemics.

IKI projects, which are supplemented by measures for pandemic prevention:

Protected area solutions for biodiversity and climate change mitigations

Supporting the design and first implementation steps of the new global framework for biological diversity

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)

Green recovery measures will strengthen the cooperation with partner countries and complement the implementation and development of ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) based on the Paris Agreement. Besides, the measures will support the achievement of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and address the dramatic loss of natural resources worldwide.