81284044-Strengthen public climate change adaptation and mitigation planning and improve climate finance approaches in Honduras

As a result of climate change, Honduras is experiencing an increase in extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and hurricanes as well as prolonged periods of drought and heatwaves. The country is currently unable to mitigate the resulting economic damage sufficiently or develop comprehensive action strategies for climate protection and adaptation to climate change. The marginalised rural population, including indigenous groups and women, are particularly hard hit by the consequences. Unevenly distributed incomes and a lack of alternative sources of income in rural areas exacerbate problems like malnutrition, the lack of potable water, migration and violent conflicts over resources. High rates of deforestation caused by forest fires and illegal logging along with a lack of climate-friendly agricultural practices further increase the pressure on environmental resources and result in greenhouse gas emissions. The Honduran Government has committed to an ambitious implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Honduras has also set itself challenging targets within the framework of nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. The country has been steadily expanding the strategic and legal foundation for climate protection and adaptation to climate change since 2010. In spite of this, the prevailing political framework and the competencies required to comprehensively understand and describe climate change and to put it into the context of sustainable social and economic development are still not adequate, although this is a prerequisite for deriving and using appropriate technical, planning and financial instruments. Objective State, private sector and civil society actors can better apply approaches to climate protection and adaptation to climate change for implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Approach The project promotes social participation in the national dialogue on the 2030 Agenda and climate change and supports institutions that are taking an overarching approach. This is intended to create momentum and introduce changes in order to recognise climate change as relevant for national development and to reappraise natural resources. All measures are aligned with the principle set out in the 2030 Agenda of leaving no one behind. To this end, the project trains government representatives in climate protection and adaptation to climate change and promotes dialogue between the state, the private sector and civil society on climate change and sustainable development. It also advises on the further development of an observatory attached to a scientific institution. This is intended to provide information on how climate change and the measures devised to combat it are impacting on the protection of natural resources, social development processes, peace and security. The government is advised on assessing the investment needed in the fields of climate protection and adaptation to climate change. At the same time, the project is helping establish a new advisory unit within the Ministry of Finance, in order to mainstream the topics in public sector budgets and projects. It also promotes dialogue on successful models and approaches to good governance and climate finance in municipalities and companies. A national, internet-based platform for knowledge management and coordination of measures for the 2030 Agenda is being established with the project's support. The project also promotes international dialogue on successful examples of practical climate protection in the region.