Question map
Which one of the following launched the 'Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific'?
Explanation
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific to accelerate investments in nature-based solutions.[1] ADB launched this initiative at COP28 with the aim to attract at least $2 billion into nature-based solutions.[2] In 2023, ADB launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub along with partners, as well as the Natural Capital Fund in partnership with the Global Environment Facility.[3]
The other options are incorrect. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank focused on infrastructure in Asia, but it did not launch this particular initiative. The New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS nations, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which is part of the World Bank Group, are also major development finance institutions but were not involved in launching this specific Nature Solutions Finance Hub.
Sources- [2] https://www.adb.org/news/adb-and-partners-launch-nature-financing-initiative-asia-and-pacific
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Summit Outcome' question. The initiative was launched at COP28. The strategy is simple: When major summits (COP, G20) occur, list every new 'Hub', 'Fund', or 'Alliance' and map it to its parent organization. The phrase 'Asia and the Pacific' is a massive heuristic clue pointing towards ADB.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Passage is an official ADB news item explicitly stating the launch.
- It names the initiative exactly: 'Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific' and says ADB launched it at COP28.
- Explicitly identifies the organization as the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- Directly states ADB launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific.
- Mentions the 2023 launch and attributes it to ADB.
- Supports the claim that ADB was the organization behind the Hub (launched along with partners).
Describes the global climate finance architecture and names multilateral funds (Global Environment Facility, Climate Investment Funds) as channels for climate finance.
A student could check whether one of these multilateral climate finance bodies has an Asia-Pacific 'nature-based' finance hub or related program.
Notes UNFCCC/Standing Committee on Finance activity and overall tracking of global climate finance flows, showing UN frameworks engage in finance initiatives.
Use this to consider UNFCCC-related bodies or UN agencies as plausible launchers and search their Asia-Pacific initiatives.
IUCN is identified as a global convenor that supports research, manages field projects, and brings governments/UN agencies/NGOs together on conservation — fitting an organizer of 'nature solutions' finance work.
A student could look at IUCN's Asia-Pacific programs or press releases to see if it launched such a hub.
Describes the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a multilateral development bank focused on Asia-Pacific infrastructure and investment.
Since the hub targets Asia-Pacific finance, one could plausibly check AIIB (and similar MDBs) for initiatives on nature-based finance.
Defines APEC as a regional Asia-Pacific forum of 21 Pacific Rim countries — a regional body that could host or endorse Asia-Pacific finance initiatives.
Use APEC membership and agenda context to test whether the hub was launched under an APEC-supported program or at an APEC meeting.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter (Current Affairs). Directly from ADB's COP28 announcements (Dec 2023).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: International Climate Finance Architecture & Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these ADB siblings: 1) IF-CAP (Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific), 2) ETM (Energy Transition Mechanism), 3) ASEAN Green Catalytic Finance Facility. Contrast with AIIB's 'Crisis Recovery Facility' or World Bank's 'Evolution Roadmap'.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just read 'COP28 concluded'. You must extract the 'Deliverables'. Create a table: Initiative Name | Parent Body | Objective. If the name contains a region ('Asia and the Pacific'), match it to the regional bank (ADB).
The hub targets Asia and the Pacific, a region organised through forums such as APEC that shape regional economic and policy cooperation.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about regional organisations, their membership, objectives, and role in economic and environmental governance. Mastering this helps answer questions on regional policy initiatives, multilateral cooperation, and where regional hubs or programmes might be hosted or coordinated.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) > p. 550
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS > p. 511
Nature‑focused finance hubs operate within the broader global climate finance architecture made up of multilateral funds and bilateral channels.
Crucial for UPSC due to frequent questions on climate finance flows, major funds (e.g., GEF, CIF), and mechanisms for mobilising finance for mitigation/adaptation. Understanding this links international finance to national climate policy and equips students to analyse finance instruments and funding sources in MCQs and mains questions.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 24.23. GLOBAL CLIMATE FINANCE ARCHITECTURE > p. 343
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Finance > p. 333
IUCN acts as a neutral forum uniting governments, NGOs, UN agencies and private actors to craft conservation solutions and funding mechanisms.
Valuable for UPSC candidates because institutional roles in conservation and finance are often tested; knowing IUCN’s functions helps answer questions on international conservation governance, partnerships, and finance instruments for nature-based solutions.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Missionss > p. 403
Since ADB is in focus, the next logical question is on 'IF-CAP' (Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific), which is ADB's new program using guarantees from partners to leverage climate lending. Also, check the 'Asian Bond Markets Initiative' (ABMI).
Linguistic DNA Analysis: The phrase 'Asia and the Pacific' is the specific operational terminology used by ADB (and UN-ESCAP). AIIB usually focuses on 'Infrastructure' in its titles. NDB is BRICS-origin and doesn't use 'Asia-Pacific' as its primary label. IBRD is global. The specific geographic phrasing points directly to ADB.
Links to GS-3 (Environment - Climate Finance) and GS-2 (International Institutions). Use this to argue in Mains how MDBs are shifting from 'Hard Infrastructure' (Roads/Dams) to 'Soft/Green Infrastructure' (Nature Solutions/Biodiversity) to meet SDG goals.