Dramatically increase climate adaptation efforts, starting with a commitment to act on finance at COP29: Adaptation Gap Report 2024

Sub: Env

Sec: Climate Change

Context:

The UNEP released its Adaptation Gap Report 2024 titled “Come hell and high water” on November 7, 2024, just before the start of the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) on November 11, 2024. The report urges nations to significantly increase efforts in climate adaptation, focusing particularly on securing finance.

Impact of Climate Change on Developing Countries:

Weather-related disasters in 2024:
- Nepal Floods (September): Claimed 224 lives.
- Summer Floods in Africa: Affected Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, causing hundreds of deaths and displacing millions.
These events have been linked to global warming by the World Weather Attribution collaboration.
Disparity in Emissions:
- The warming is attributed to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly from developed countries (e.g., the United States).
- The countries suffering from floods historically have the lowest GHG emissions.

Financial Challenges and Adaptation Needs:

Loss and Damage: The disasters have led to increased debt burdens in affected countries, amplifying their need for adaptation measures.
Adaptation Finance Trends:
- 2022 Increase: Adaptation finance to developing countries rose from $22 billion in 2021 to $28 billion in 2022.
- Despite progress, the actual adaptation financing needs are estimated at $387 billion per year until 2030.

Finance Gaps and Glasgow Climate Pact Goals:

The Glasgow Climate Pact aimed to double adaptation finance from $19 billion (2019 levels) to $38 billion by 2025.
However, even meeting this target would only reduce the adaptation finance gap of $187-359 billion by about 5%.
The need for non-debt increasing finance (e.g., grants, concessional loans) is emphasized, as most current financing involves high-interest loans that increase the debt burden on developing countries.

Challenges in National Adaptation Planning and Implementation:

Planning Progress:
- 171 countries have developed at least one national adaptation planning instrument (policy/strategy).
- 26 countries lack such instruments, with 10 showing no inclination to develop one. Many of these are conflict-affected states needing tailored support.
Implementation Issues:
- Evaluations show that about 50% of projects funded by UNFCCC financing entities are either unsatisfactory or unsustainable without continued funding.
- The UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience (UAE-FGCR) targets several key areas, including:
  - Impact, vulnerability, and risk assessment.
  - Thematic areas: Agriculture, ecosystems, water, infrastructure, health, poverty, and cultural heritage.

Major reports released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP):

1. Global Environment Outlook	UNEP’s flagship report provides comprehensive global environmental assessment and outlook
2. Emissions Gap Report	Assesses the gap between planned climate action and what is needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals
3. Global Chemicals Outlook	Examines trends in the production, use and disposal of chemicals and associated impacts
4. Global Resource Outlook	Analyzes trends in natural resource use and the environmental impacts of resource extraction and processing
5. Adaptation Gap Report	Examines progress on planning, financing and implementing adaptation to climate change
6. Frontiers Report	Identifies and draws attention to global emerging environmental issues
7. Environmental Rule of Law Report	Assesses progress in developing and implementing environmental rule of law
8. Making Peace with Nature	A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies
9. Inclusive Wealth Report	Measures a country’s wealth beyond just GDP, including natural, human and produced capital
10. Green Economy Report	Explores how economies can grow sustainably and inclusively, while respecting environmental limits