MUSCAT – The Authority explained that its efforts focus on securing funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) across multiple tracks, including accreditation, readiness, project development, partnerships, and international cooperation, to support national environmental and adaptation programs.

As part of these efforts, the Environment Authority plays a pivotal role in developing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in cooperation with international partners such as the Green Climate Fund. The plan identifies priority adaptation needs, outlines a national strategy for climate financing, and promotes green investment pathways.

In line with this approach, the Authority signed a cooperation program with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) aimed at facilitating access to green and climate finance, supporting national institutions in securing direct access to GCF funding, and advancing nature-based solutions.

The Authority also prioritises land reclamation and mangrove restoration projects, which play a dual role in carbon sequestration and adaptation to climate impacts. These projects are among the most attractive to international climate financing. Moreover, the Authority continues to update its climate regulations, including the Climate Affairs Management Regulation, to enhance monitoring of mitigation and adaptation performance across companies and institutions, thereby fostering a transition to green practices.

Eng. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Balushi, Acting Director General of Climate Change at the Environment Authority, told the Oman News Agency that the Accreditation and Readiness Program help national institutions build capacity by qualifying them for direct access to the GCF. He noted that a banking institution in Oman has been selected for accreditation, enabling it to coordinate funding requests, benefit from readiness grants, and strengthen institutional and technical capacities to design and implement climate projects.

Al Balushi highlighted that the Authority relies on international partnerships with accredited organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the GGGI to submit joint project proposals and attract private investment in climate initiatives. The GCF encourages using public resources to mitigate investment risks and increase private-sector participation in sustainable projects.
He emphasized that climate finance plays a vital role in Oman’s transition toward a low-carbon, resilient economy. It supports key objectives such as:

• Achieving carbon neutrality, by financing large-scale investments in renewable energy and clean transport;
• Expanding the green economy, by fostering innovation, infrastructure resilience, and new sustainable industries in line with Oman Vision 2040;
• Enhancing adaptation, through funding projects that protect coastal areas, water resources, and agriculture; and
• Attracting private and international investment, by strengthening confidence in Oman’s sustainable financing framework.