What is the global goal of adaptation?

Prior to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, recognizing the need for global efforts to adapt to climate change was a major challenge, mainly due to the local and context-specific nature of adaptation measures. However, during the Paris negotiations, a fundamental decision was made to recognize adaptation as a common challenge. It has been recognized that adaptation is an integral part of the long-term global response to climate change.

As a result, the Global Adaptation Goal was introduced, which aims to increase adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change. This goal contributes to sustainable development and at the same time ensures an adequate adaptation response in the context of efforts to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5ºC compared to pre-industrial levels. The Global Adaptation Goal aims to facilitate timely, scalable and context-sensitive adaptation measures. It recognizes that countries face varying degrees of climate change impacts and vulnerabilities, and emphasizes solutions that take into account local nuances and the unique needs of vulnerable populations.

Turning this global goal into a concrete goal proved difficult until 2021, when the parties initiated the two-year Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh work program at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26). At COP27, the parties agreed to develop a framework for a global adaptation goal, which was subsequently adopted as part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consensus at COP28 in Dubai. The cornerstone of the global adaptation goal is to identify key goals critical to climate change adaptation, such as:

– Water management

– Food safety

– Health

– Infrastructure development

– Protection of ecosystems

– Alleviation of poverty

– Preservation of cultural heritage

This approach ensures that all relevant aspects are comprehensively taken into account when formulating and implementing climate change adaptation strategies. The key sectors of the global adaptation goal are closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate adaptation efforts with the broader Sustainable Development Goals. This alignment underscores the importance of integrating adaptation measures into broader development agendas to achieve holistic and sustainable outcomes.

The Global Adaptation Goal Framework integrates four fundamental dimensions that are essential for effective communication on climate change adaptation:

– Risk assessment

– Strategic planning

– Implementation of adaptation measures

– Robust monitoring, reporting and verification mechanisms

These dimensions are helpful in tracking progress, evaluating the effectiveness of climate change adaptation initiatives, and promoting accountability in climate action. The UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience also initiated a two-year UAE-Belém work program aimed at developing indicators to measure progress towards the goals set under the Global Adaptation Goal, culminating at COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

Although significant steps have been taken to increase global resilience to the impacts of climate change, there are still clear gaps in ambition and implementation that need to be addressed. This is especially true in the context of the ambitious 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement. In addition, the financing gap for climate change adaptation remains a pressing issue, with current levels of financing falling far short of the needs of developing countries. The 2023 UN Environment Program Adaptation Gap Report shows that the climate change adaptation financing gap is widening and currently stands at US$194-366 billion per year. Financing needs are 10-18 times greater than current international public flows of adaptation finance.

The future of adaptation?

The result of the global inventory was clear: all countries must urgently intensify adaptation measures. Developed countries are particularly obliged to mobilize resources to support the adaptation efforts of developing countries. As we approach COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024, where major decisions will be taken on a new collective quantified target for climate change finance, making adaptation a higher priority is paramount. With the escalating impacts of climate change affecting communities around the world, it is imperative to secure adequate resources and focus on adaptation efforts.

In addition, it is essential to double the climate change adaptation financing target. Inadequate financing of adaptation measures will exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable communities and hinder progress towards global climate goals. By working with various stakeholders and promoting creative solutions, the Global Center for Adaptation (GCA) supports progress towards building resilience. The African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), a joint project of the African Development Bank and the GCA, is mobilizing $25 billion to accelerate adaptation action across Africa by 2025. These actions will cover several key sectors of the global adaptation goal and help generate more than $8 billion in investments, increasing resilience to climate change for nearly 60 million people in 35 countries and creating more than 700,000 jobs.

GCA plays a key role in supporting local climate change adaptation measures. It brings together local organizations for exchange of experiences and learning between developing countries and seeks funding for local planning efforts from international financial institutions and development partners.

The global adaptation goal and its framework are fundamental to the fight against climate change. By emphasizing climate change adaptation efforts, it enables countries to better protect their populations and ecosystems from the effects of a changing climate, ensuring a more sustainable future for all. (Co2AI)