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AusAID
AusAID's Deputy Director General, Ewen McDonald, has been appointed co-chair of the Green Climate Fund Board for the first year of its operations.
The Green Climate Fund will help developing countries take action on climate change, through facilitated investments from public and private sources, for projects that reduce emissions and promote climate-resilient development.
The Green Climate Fund will help poor countries to grow their economies in a sustainable way. It will also help poor people adapt to the major development challenges posed by climate change.
Australia recognises that climate change is a fundamental challenge for developing countries and can limit or even reverse their growth.
Under Australia's co-chairmanship, the board will put in place policies and procedures to enable the fund to improve the lives of people in developing countries.
The Green Climate Fund has strong support from donor and recipient countries. Its scale will mean it can deliver climate finance with greater efficiency.
During its first year of operations, the board will consider issues such as the permanent location of the fund, effective participation of observers including civil society and private sector, the formation of its secretariat, and how to leverage private sector action on climate change.
Mr McDonald's appointment is in addition to his role as head of AusAID's Humanitarian and International Group.
Mr McDonald's co-chair is Mr Zaheer Fakir, Acting Deputy Director-General, International Cooperation and Relations, Department of Environmental Affairs, Republic of South Africa.
Media contact: AusAID Media 0417 680 590