ADB commits record climate finance of almost $10 billion in 2023

Photo: ADB

ADB committed $9.8 billion in climate finance from its own resources last year—$5.5 billion for mitigation and $4.3 billion for adaptation—a more than 46% increase on its 2022 climate financing commitments.

The bank’s climate adaptation finance commitments in 2023 mean that ADB has provided more than $10.4 billion in cumulative adaptation financing from 2019 to 2023—surpassing its target of $9 billion in 2019–2024 a year early. Adaptation financing is critical in Asia and the Pacific which is experiencing more extreme heat, droughts, and heavy rains, but where investments in adaptation remain a fraction of what is required.

“Climate change threatens the future of all development. 2023 was the hottest year on record and saw a swath of extreme, deadly climate impacts in our region,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. “This crisis threatens energy and food security and creates fiscal challenges. As the climate bank for Asia and the Pacific, ADB is deeply committed to helping our developing members de-fossilize their economies, progress along their climate transition pathways, and achieve their net-zero goals. We must act together, with urgency and at scale.”

Asia and the Pacific originates more than half of global carbon dioxide emissions while also being acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The region needs to invest an estimated $3.1 trillion per year in energy and transport assets alone to meet net zero by 2050—around 50% more than current levels./.