| 29 |
29 |
December, 2009 |
Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
Discussions over transparency and process dominated the negotiations at COP 15, resulting in a political agreement called the “Copenhagen Accord”. COP 15 also led to the establishment of four new bodies: a mechanism on REDD-plus (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries), a High-Level Panel under the COP to study the implementation of financial provisions, the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, and a Technology Mechanism. Developed countries' promises to fund actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change in developing countries. |
The Copenhagen Accord represents a prompt start on adaptation, forestry, technology and capacity-building activities and support in developing countries. The Accord aimed to establish a comprehensive adaptation programme, which included both ‘the critical impacts of climate change and the potential impacts of response measures. This is reinforced in the Paragraph 3 of the Accord which stipulates that adaptation actions consist of both addressing the physical adverse effects of climate change and the potential economic impacts of response measures. |
•https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/11a01.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/application/pdf/cop15_cph_auv.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/copenhagen-climate-change-conference-december-2009/statements-and-resources/information-provided-by-parties-to-the-convention-relating-to-the-copenhagen-accord, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/copenhagen-accord, •https://www.c2es.org/document/a-copenhagen-climate-agreement/ |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop15/pix/16%20dec/DSC_5781%20plenary.jpg |
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| 25 |
25 |
December 3, 2007 |
Thirteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 13) |
Bali, Indonesia |
COP 13 marked advancement in negotiations to create a process and set of principles for negotiating a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. For that purpose, the most important decision taken at the COP was the agreement on the “Bali Action Plan”. The action plan aimed at having a long-term foal for global emission reduction and several mitigation and adaptation actions for developed and developing countries.
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COP 13 was a turning point for adaptation. Demands grew to recognize adaptation as a separate pillar that needed specific attention. One of the reasons for this was the publication of the Fourth Assessment Report by the IPCC. The report highlighted the need for more extensive adaptation (than ongoing efforts) was required to reduce future vulnerability because of the greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere due to past emissions. International cooperation on adaptation was stressed. Technology development and transfer, and enhanced financial support for adaptation continued to be emphasized. Adaptation discussions also drew linkages with risk management and risk reduction strategies. COP 13 was also responsible for expanding governance activities concerning adaptation. |
•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/cop-13/cop-13-documents, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/decisions-bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/cop-13/cop-13-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/cop-13/cop-13-agenda •https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/world/europe/06iht-06climate.6024363.html?searchResultPosition=30 |
IISD, 2007. https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop13/pix/12dec/9pres%20speak%20far.jpg |
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| 26 |
26 |
December 1, 2007 |
Bali Action Plan |
Bali, Indonesia |
Launched at the COP 13, the Bali Action Plan comprised of five main categories:
shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing. The overall goals of the project were two-fold: to increase national capacity to co-ordinate ministerial views, participation in the UNFCCC process, and negotiation positions within the timeframe of the Bali Action Plan; and to assess investment and financial flows to address climate change for up to three key sectors and economic activities. The Action Plan's enhanced action was contingent on the provision of financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation, adaptation, and technology cooperation. |
Bali Action Plan included enhanced action on adaptation as one of its core building blocks in the effort. The BAP looked to support the implementation of adaptation actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries. Areas for adaptation action included:
o improving access to adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources and financial and technical support, and the provision of new and additional resources, including official and concessional funding for developing country Parties;
o positive incentives for developing country Parties for the enhanced implementation of national mitigation strategies and adaptation action;
o means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions based on sustainable development policies; and
o financial and technical support for capacity building in the assessment of the costs of adaptation in developing countries particularly in, the most vulnerable ones, to aid in determining their financial needs.
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•https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_13/application/pdf/cp_bali_action.pdf •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2012/cop18/eng/08a01.pdf#page=3 •http://www.globalbioenergy.org/uploads/media/0809_UNDP_-_The_Bali_action_plan_key_issues_in_the_climate_negotiations.pdf |
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/COP13_Logo.jpg/220px-COP13_Logo.jpg |
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| 61 |
61 |
June, 2019 |
Regional Office for GCA open for China |
Beijing, China |
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the launch of the first regional office of the Global Center on Adaptation in China. With its fragile ecological environment, China is vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. In recent years, China has experienced more frequent and higher intensity extreme weather events. Floods, heat waves, droughts, and dust storms, which were once rare, now happen on a regular basis causing great harm to health and society The GCA China will work with governments in China, the Netherlands, and other countries in the region to accelerate action against the impacts of climate change being felt across Asia. |
GCA's Regional Office in China will support scaled-up and transformative adaptation initiatives across Asia, enhance capacity to cope with climate change, and share experiences to inform decision making. On enhancing capacity, Premier Li Keqiang remarked that 'Climate change is a global challenge which requires global co-operation. It is important for us to enhance capacity in both mitigation and adaptation. China will also continue to provide help to other developing countries, especially small island states, in enhancing capacity in coping with climate change under the framework of South-South cooperation.’ China is already leading adaptation action through projects and initiatives like 'Sponge Cities' program which calls for cities to soak up and reuse 70% of their rainwater. |
https://gca.org/china https://www.dutchwatersector.com/news/global-center-on-adaptation-opens-an-office-in-beijing-china https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/solutions/how-is-water-central-to-china-s-adaptation-strategy |
https://www.dutchwatersector.com/sites/default/files/styles/content_xl/public/2019-06/Opening_of_GCA_office_in_China-PRNEWSWIRE.jpg?itok=JA3dspOE |
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| 3 |
3 |
March 28, 1995 |
First Conference of the Parties (COP 1) |
Berlin, Germany |
COP 1 also dubbed as the Berlin Mandate called on governments to establish specific, legally binding targets and timetables for reducing developed country emissions of greenhouse gases. An ad-hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM) was established to review whether the commitment of developed countries to take measures aimed at returning their emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000 was adequate for meeting the Convention's objective. It established a funding process to negotiate strengthened commitments for developed countries, thus laying the groundwork for the Kyoto Protocol. At COP 1 member countries also agreed on the framework for ‘Activities Implemented Jointly’, first joint measures in international climate action. |
During the first COP, member countries identified the three stages of adaptation action. The first stage was to focus on short-term activities, such as conducting impact and vulnerability studies and identifying policy options. Second and third stages were for medium- and long-term activities. Stage two was focussed on preparation for adaptation, including capacity-building initiatives, and Stage three aimed to provide efforts on implementation of concrete adaptation projects. |
https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop1/04.pdf, https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop1/07.pdf, https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop1/07a01.pdf, https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop1/inf06.pdf |
https://hablandoenvidrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cop-berlin-1995.jpg |
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| 9 |
9 |
October 25, 1999 |
Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP 5) |
Bonn, Germany |
During COP 5, Parties continued their negotiation efforts with a focus on “the adoption of the guidelines for the preparation of national communications by [developed] countries, capacity building, transfer of technology and flexible mechanisms". Parties also reported that they were designing and putting in place domestic policies and measures to reduce emissions in all sectors, such as market mechanisms, tax reform, removal of subsidies, voluntary programmes, and domestic emissions trading. Stress had been laid on energy efficiency and saving, renewables and sinks, as well as the important role of civil society and the private sector. |
At Bonn, Parties agreed to accelerate their efforts to turn the broad concepts of the Kyoto Protocol into working realities. Crucially, the Parties agreed to more than double the time devoted to negotiations during the next year. This raised considerably the prospects that the Parties would meet their deadline of completing work on the critical aspects of the operational framework of the Protocol. The Protocol committed developed countries to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases and provides innovative, adaptation market-based tools for achieving those reductions. |
•https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop5/l02.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop5/l20.pdf •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop5/l21.pdf. •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop5/l05.pdf •https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/climate-change/another-crawl-for-humankind-20857 |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop5/pix/11Pkidsfront_s.jpg |
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| 53 |
53 |
November 6, 2017 |
Twenty-third Conference of Parties (COP 23) |
Bonn, Germany |
COP 23 had an important role to play in bringing the 2015 Paris Agreement into force and paving the way for more ambitious carbon reduction commitments from governments at the next conference. It made progress in determining how the Paris Agreement will function in practice. It was agreed that best practices would be shared through what was called the Talanoa Dialogue. A platform was launched to promote participation and dialogue between local communities and indigenous peoples. Gender policies and the relationship of women with climate change was also added to the agenda. |
COP 23 made strides in arriving on a definition on climate change adaptation (including related concepts: vulnerability to climate change, adaptive capacity, climate risk, resilience) and illustrate it with examples, It also explored why adaptation is important, and explained existing international frameworks and processes on adaptation/DRR (Nairobi Work Programme – NAPAs – NAPs – the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development). |
•https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/bonn_nov_2017/in-session/application/pdf/cop23_adopted_agenda_web.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement/2018-talanoa-dialogue-platformm •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2017/cop23/eng/l13.pdf •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/un-climate-change-conference-november-2017/sessions-of-negotiating-bodies/cop-23 |
https://www.planete-energies.com/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/cop23.jpg |
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| 8 |
8 |
November 2, 1998 |
Fourth Conference of Parties (COP 4) |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
At the Fourth COP, the Parties adopted a 2-year plan of action to advance efforts and to devise mechanisms for implementing the Kyoto Protocol by the year 2000. Furthermore, Argentina and Kazakhstan expressed their commitment to take on the greenhouse gas emissions reduction obligation, the first two non-Annex countries to do so. Parties also decided to review the financial mechanism of the Convention every four years.
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COP 4 encouraged Parties to implement practical cooperation programmes and projects to promote and facilitate the transfer of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate adaptation to climate change and its adverse effects, while supporting sustainable development.
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•https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop4/16.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop4/inf05.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop4/16a01.pdf#page=67, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop4/16a01.pdf#page=17 |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/ba/pics/1podiumfar.jpg |
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| 17 |
17 |
December 6, 2004 |
Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10) |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
COP 10 marked the decade since the UNFCCC came into force. The accomplishments and future challenges formed the central theme of discussions. Parties also took a stocktake of commitments submitted under the Kyoto Protocol. The negotiations also addressed other climate-related issues such as the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures, mitigation policies and their impacts, and technology. |
Parties agreed on the Buenos Aires programme of work on adaptation and response measures to support implementation of concrete adaptation activities. The programme was to develop methodologies to deal with adverse effects of climate change, reporting vulnerability assessment and adaptation measures in countries’ National Communication and collecting and disseminating information among Parties. COP 10 also saw the first workshop being conducted related to adaptation "Impacts and vulnerability and adaptation to climate change". The UNFCCC secretariat produced background papers for each of the workshops: Africa (UNFCCC 2006c), Asia (UNFCCC 2007b), Latin America (UNFCCC 2006b) and the SIDS expert meeting (UNFCCC 2007a) |
•https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop10/10a01.pdf#page=2 |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/pix/6dec/1daislong.jpg |
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| 18 |
18 |
December, 2004 |
Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
An outcome of the eleventh COP, the Buenos Aires Action Plan was a breakthrough for adaptation. Discussions around the programme emphasized the importance of input from sectoral experts, including on water resources, land, agriculture, health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and coastal zones, bringing the discussions closer to the local level. Importance of local perspective was recognised to integrate adaptation actions into other policies and plans. |
The objective of the work program was to assist parties, particularly developing countries, to enhance their understanding and assessment of impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation. It was purposed with making informed decisions on practical adaptation actions and measures to respond to climate change (and climate change variability). The Buenos Aires Action Plan, invited developing country Parties to make use of the strategic priorities on adaptation and capacity-building funded by the Global Environment Facility, in response to existing guidance from the Conference of the Parties, and of the funding recently pledged to the Special Climate Change Fund
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•https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/549615 •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop10/l16.pdf •https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/docs/2005/cop11/eng/l03.pdf |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/images/Day3/0812pan.jpg |
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| 11 |
11 |
June 23, 2001 |
IPCC's Third Assessment Report |
Cambridge, Great Britain |
The Third Assessment Report has four main purposes:
o Evaluate evidence that recent observed changes in climate have already affected a variety of physical and biological systems.
o Provide an overview of the vulnerabilities and adaptation possibilities in many major regions of the world.
o Contrast the different vulnerabilities of the developed and developing parts of the world and explore the implications for sustainable development and equity concerns.
o Highlight how adaptation to climate change might lessen adverse impacts or enhance beneficial impacts.
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The Third Assessment Report provided crucial evidence to substantiate the need for adaptation actions and provided impetus to substantive work on adaptation under the Convention. AR 3 focussed on the environmental, social, and economic consequences of climate change and potential adaptation responses. It discussed and provided scientific basis on topics spanning from sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability of natural and human systems to climate change, to the potential impacts and adaptation options at regional and global scales. The Report was pivotal in veering discussions from the 'need to adapt' to 'how to adapt'. |
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar3/wg3/ ; https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/wg2TARspm.pdf ; https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/wg2TARtechsum.pdf ; https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/wg2TARfrontmatter.pdf |
https://www.globalchange.gov/sites/globalchange/files/styles/resource_image/public/reports_images/ipcc-6.jpg?itok=aD5m6MXO |
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| 23 |
23 |
November 4, 2007 |
Fourth IPCC Assessment Report (AR4) |
Cambridge, United Kingdom |
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report privded the most extensive and most detailed summary of the climate change situation ever undertaken, created with the help of a large number of contributors, both scientists and governmental representatives. The headline findings of the report were: "warming of the climate system is unequivocal". It also provided an assessment of policy-relevant scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of human-induced climate change, potential impacts of climate change and options for mitigation and adaptation. It comprised of three Working Group Reports, plus a Synthesis Report bringing together information relevant to the policy needs of governments and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
The report stated that adaptation is necessary to address impacts resulting from the warming, which is already unavoidable due to past emissions. According to the Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (Working Group II), adaptation was described as a necessary strategy at all scales to complement climate change mitigation efforts. The report also discussed that adaptation to climate change would benefit from experience gained in reaction to extreme climate events, specifically by implementing proactive climate change adaptation plans. It discussed a wide array of available adaptation options, however more extensive adaptation is required to reduce vulnerability to future climate change. The report also acknowledged the barriers, limits to adaptation and related costs, necesssiating research to broaden our understanding of adaptation.
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•https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar4/wg2/, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/ar4-wg2-intro.pdf, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ar4-wg2-spm-1.pdf |
https://data.globalchange.gov/assets/9f/ab/105c764c9afc4eeacf2222143a22/.thumb-7be94fd9-f220-434f-aa41-372ce451155b.png |
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| 41 |
41 |
November 1, 2014 |
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) |
Cambridge, United Kingdom |
The AR5 stated the principles of effective adaptation, highlighting the importance of location and context-specific nature of adaptation, with no single approach for reducing risks appropriate across all settings. The Report also discussed adaptation planning and implementation calling for enhanced action enhanced through complementary actions across levels, from individuals to governments. Making governance contingent on societal values, objectives, and risk perceptions was found to be crucial for effective planning. The AR 5 identified decision support as the most effective method to incorporate sensitivity to context and the diversity of decision types, decision processes, and
constituencies, as well as, utilizing existing and emerging economic instruments to foster adaptation by providing incentives for anticipating and reducing impacts.
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The number of scientific publications available for assessing climate-change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability more than doubled between 2005 and 2010, with especially rapid increases in publications related to adaptation. Authorship of climate-change publications from developing countries also saw an increase, although it still represented only a small fraction of the total. The Working Group 2 (WGII) AR5 is presented in two parts (Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects, and Part B: Regional Aspects), reflecting the expanded literature basis and multidisciplinary approach, increased focus on societal impacts and responses, and continued regionally comprehensive coverage. |
•https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/, https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ar5_wgII_spm_en.pdf, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WGIIAR5-PartB_FINAL.pdf, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WGIIAR5-Chap14_FINAL.pdf |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/E8ENHeL_b5B4w8hbO1of0HEqBROTuUD197rBVONHYC5JIn25yqrnZ_t3MjeLnA1pRUP3RInHXDFlqv7Rz0oOOMf_3-A4tH-EumVJA7gU1V-M5xidY3NOydgPCnvAaA |
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| 31 |
31 |
November 29, 2010 |
Sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) |
Cancun, Mexico |
At COP 16, all parties recognized that climate change is an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet prompting the parties to adopt the Cancun Agreements and an agreement to consider the adequacy of the global long-term goal during a 2013-2015 review. The Cancun Agreements established several new institutions and processes, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the Adaptation Committee, and the Technology Mechanism, which included the Technology Executive Committee (TEC). |
Parties supported the need for enhanced action and international cooperation on adaptation and the urgent need to enable and support the implementation of adaptation actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries. The discussions also reaffirmed that enhanced action on adaptation should follow a country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory, and fully transparent approach, taking into consideration vulnerable groups, communities, and ecosystems, and should be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional, and indigenous knowledge, to integrate adaptation into relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions, where relevant. Another key achievement of COP 16 was the establishment of the Adaptation Committee (AC) to promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation coherently under the Convention.
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•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/cancun-climate-change-conference-november-2010/cop-16/cop-16-documents •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/cancun-climate-change-conference-november-2010/cop-16/cop-16-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/cancun-climate-change-conference-november-2010/decisions-cancun-climate-change-conference-november-2010 •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/cancun-climate-change-conference-november-2010/cop-16/cop-16-agenda |
https://www.mrfcj.org/media/images/articles/2010-12-06_COP-16_640x426.jpg |
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| 32 |
32 |
December, 2010 |
Establishment of the Adaptation Committee |
Cancun, Mexico |
Established at the COP 16 in Mexico, the Adaptation Committee works year-round to promote enhanced action on adaptation, raising the profile of adaptation and shining a spotlight on ways for Parties and other actors to increase their adaptation ambition. The Adaptation Committee (AC) promotes the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation through the following functions:
o Providing technical support and guidance to the Parties;
o Sharing relevant information, knowledge, experience, and good practices;
o Promoting synergy and strengthening engagement with national, regional, and international organizations, centres, and networks;
o Providing information and recommendations, drawing on adaptation good practices, for consideration by the COP when guiding means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions, including finance, technology, and capacity-building; and
o Considering information communicated by Parties on their monitoring and review of adaptation actions, the support provided and received. |
The Adaptation Committee is the only body under the Convention whose work regularly addresses all facets of the adaptation process in a holistic and overarching manner. Since its first meeting in 2012, the Adaptation Committee has consistently delivered reports and other products, organized workshops, provided support and guidance to Parties, shared wealth and helped ensure that adaptation is coherently addressed under the Convention Each year, the Adaptation Committee hosts an Adaptation Forum, which is an outreach and information sharing event that seeks to foster discussions on concrete adaptation options and experiences and raise the profile of adaptation globally. To date, five Adaptation Forums have been held in Warsaw, Panama City, Rotterdam, Cape Town, and Songdo. These Forums have covered topics ranging from broad discussions on adapting to a changing climate (2013) to more focused exchanges on institutional arrangements to build partnerships and strengthen regional networks and engaging the private sector in adaptation planning. |
•https://unfccc.int/Adaptation-Committee •https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/sb2020_02_adv.pdf •https://unfccc.int/topics/resilience/resources/documents-of-the-adaptation-committeefile:///C:/Users/fam%20bedo/Downloads/AC_25%20Years%20of%20Adaptation%20Under%20the%20UNFCCC_2019.pdf |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop16/pix/more/DSC_2713%20clap.jpg |
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| 34 |
34 |
December, 2010 |
Establishment of Green Climate Fund |
Cancun, Mexico |
Negotiations at COP 16 led to the establishment of the Green Climate Fund. The objective of this newly constituted body was to up the provision of long-term financing for developing countries. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated fund helping developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change. It also has a crucial role in serving the Paris Agreement by channelling climate finance to developing countries who have joined other nations in committing to climate action. |
The GCF pays particular attention to the needs of societies that are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, in particular Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the African States. The Fund aims to catalyze a flow of climate finance to invest in low-emission and climate-adaptation development, driving a paradigm shift in the global response to climate change. |
•https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/11a01.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/application/pdf/cop15_cph_auv.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/copenhagen-climate-change-conference-december-2009/statements-and-resources/information-provided-by-parties-to-the-convention-relating-to-the-copenhagen-accord |
https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/all/themes/gcf/img/meta.jpg |
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| 56 |
56 |
June, 2018 |
Fifth Adaptation Futures |
Cape Town, South Africa |
Adaptation Futures 2018, the fifth in the Adaptation Futures international conference series on global adaptation, was held in Cape Town from 18 to 21 June. The conference aimed to facilitate dialogues for solutions between key actors from diverse perspectives and regions and attracted over 1300 scientists, practitioners, business leaders and policymakers from around the world. It was the first time the conference was held on the African continent. first time the conference was held on the African continent. |
The key messages from the conference included that, adaptation is context specific and therefore is a need for more encourage practitioners and researcher interaction, need for increasing and improved monitoring and evaluation of adaptation, inclusive governance is the basis of adaptation, and including vulnerable communities in all aspects of adaptation responses, from project planning to designing deliberative spaces where actors can continuously meet to discuss local adaptation efforts. |
https://adaptationfutures2018.capetown/ ; https://adaptationfutures2018.capetown/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/AF18-Insights-from-Africa.pdf ; https://adaptationfutures2018.capetown/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AF18-Conference-Proceedings.pdf |
University of Nambia, 2018. https://www.unam.edu.na/sites/default/files/news/poster-programme-15.jpg |
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| 40 |
40 |
November 26, 2014 |
First UNEP Adaptation Gap Report |
Copenhagen,
Denmark |
This first UNEP Adaptation Gap Report provided a framework for defining adaptation gaps and a preliminary assessment of the gap between adaptation needs and reality. It proposed an approach for identifying and assessing the current state and action in crucial adaptation areas, and comparing these with the potential now, and in the future, for additional adaptation to reduce risks. The report was a response to calls for UNEP to produce a report on adaptation gaps to complement the annual Emissions Gap report. |
The assessment focussed on gaps in developing countries in three critical areas: finance, technology, and knowledge. Other gaps critical gaps in capacity, governance and complex interactions between these gaps were also discussed in the Report. It pointed to further action and research in the field. The UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2014 supported the discussions under the UNFCCC, including the discussion on defining a global goal for adaptation, aspects of loss and damage, and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.
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•https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2014 •https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/9331/-Adaptation_gap_report_a_prel.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y |
https://assets.unenvironment.org/s3fs-public/2017-11/AGR2014.PNG |
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| 55 |
55 |
December 6, 2017 |
Third UNEP Adaptation Gap Report |
Copenhagen,
Denmark |
The third Adaptation Gap Report was prepared in collaboration with the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation, and focussed on one key question related to the global goal on adaptation - What are the ways forward to assess progress towards the global goal on adaptation? |
The report explored key opportunities and challenges associated with assessing progress on adaptation at the global level. It synthesized information relevant for the ongoing work under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to prepare for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. In contrast to previous Adaptation Gap Reports, the 2017 report focuses on issues relating to frameworks, comprising concepts, methodologies, and data, rather than on assessing a particular dimension of the adaptation gap. |
•https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2017 •https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/22173/adaptation_gap_2017_ES.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y •https://enb.iisd.org/videos/climate/cop20/06dec-launch-of-the-unep-adaptation-gap-report/ |
https://unepdtu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cover-adaptation-gap-report-2017-740x1046.jpg |
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| 58 |
58 |
December, 2018 |
Fourth UNEP Adaptation Gap Report |
Copenhagen,
Denmark |
The Adaptation Gap Reports focussed on providing policy-relevant information to support such efforts. The adoption of the Paris Agreement established a global goal on adaptation of “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal”. Since 2014, UNEP Adaptation Gap Reports focused on exploring adaptation gaps, characterized as the difference between the actual level of adaptation and the level required to achieve a societal goal. |
The focus of the fourth report was dual: first part examined the gaps that existed in areas that were central to stocktaking and assessing progress on adaptation, such as key development aspects of adaptive capacity, and the costs of and finance needed for adaptation. The second part of the report focuses on the adaptation gap in the health sector. Based on the available scientific evidence on climate impacts and health outcomes, the second part provides an overview of the global adaptation gap in health, followed by a specific focus on three key areas of climate-related health risks: heat and extreme events, climate-sensitive infectious diseases, and food and nutritional security. |
•https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report •https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/27117/AGR_2018_Summary.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |
UNEP, 2018. https://assets.unenvironment.org/ganadapt/s3fs-public/2019-06/agr_cover.png |
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37 |
November 28, 2012 |
Eighteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 18) |
Doha, Qatar |
COP 18 led to a package of decisions referred to as the Doha Climate Gateway. These decisions included amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to establish its second commitment period (2013-2020), and agreement to terminate the AWG-KP’s and AWG-LCA’s work and negotiations under the Buenos Aires Plan. Moreover, the concept of 'loss and damage' was introduced as developed countries pledged to help developing countries and small island nations pay for the losses and damages from climate change that they are already experiencing. Under persistent pressure from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and island states, the Parties agreed to establish by COP 19, institutional arrangements, such as an international mechanism that would help vulnerable, developing countries deal with the irrecoverable losses and damages from climate change. |
COP 18 made decisions on two crucial adaptation matters: National Adaptation Plans and the Adaptation Committee, launching a new set of adaptation planning efforts by approving a set of technical guidelines to help Parties develop National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Additionally, developing countries were granted an increase of the “Share of Proceeds,” a means to use a percentage of the revenue generated by carbon market mechanisms to help developing countries meet the cost of climate change adaptation. The Parties also approved the three-year work plan of the Adaptation Committee, which represented a significant new effort to promote coherence among the many adaptation negotiation streams under the Convention. |
•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/doha-climate-change-conference-november-2012/cop-18/cop-18-agenda •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/doha-climate-change-conference-november-2012/cop-18/cop-18-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/doha-climate-change-conference-november-2012/cop-18/cop-18-documents •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/doha-climate-change-conference-november-2012/cop-18/cop-18-decisions , •https://www.wri.org/blog/2012/12/reflections-cop-18-doha-negotiators-made-only-incremental-progress |
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/docs/0062/images/dsc_2551_gavek.jpg |
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35 |
November 28, 2011 |
Seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP 17) |
Durban, South Africa |
At the COP 17, the Parties agreed to the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action which provided a framework to establish a new international emissions reduction protocol. The details of the new protocol were to be finalized by 2015, coming into force in 2020. Other achievement included the European Union agreeing to extend their Kyoto Protocol targets, which were slated to expire at the end of 2012, into a second commitment period from 2013-2017. The negotiations also highlighted the issue of agriculture cuts across mitigation, adaptation, and food security, and calls for the establishment of a work programme on agriculture at the Durban Conference. |
COP 17 also endorsed the establishment of the Cancun Adaptation Framework aimed at enhancing action on adaptation coherently. It also underlined the need to make the Adaptation Committee operational at the Durban Conference focusing on the functions outlined in the Cancun Agreements, thereby ensuring coherence and consistency with existing institutional arrangements. The negotiations also stressed the need for strengthening adaptation, capacity building and fast starting adequate long-term financing (with a focus on vulnerable and least developed countries). The Parties also agreed on the framework of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The objective of the NAP process is to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, coherently, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes, and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. |
•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/durban-climate-change-conference-november-2011/cop-17/cop-17-agenda, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/durban-climate-change-conference-november-2011/cop-17/cop-17-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/durban-climate-change-conference-november-2011/cop-17/cop-17-documents •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/durban-climate-change-conference-november-2011/durban-climate-change-conference-november/december-2011 |
https://www.sanwild.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/COP17CMP7-LOGO-Copy.jpg |
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36 |
November, 2011 |
The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action |
Durban, South Africa |
At the COP in Durban the governments recognized the need to draw up the blueprint for a fresh universal, legal agreement to deal with climate change beyond 2020, where all will play their part to the best of their ability and all will be able to reap the benefits of success together. Thus, parties agreed to launch the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) with a mandate “to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties” no later than 2015, to enter into force in 2020. Furthermore, the ADP was mandated to explore actions to close the pre-2020 ambition gap in relation to the below 2°C target. With the establishment of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), the work on capacity-building has been further strengthened and, the lessons learned, and outcomes of the subsequent Forum (8th Durban Forum) directly fed into the work of the Paris Committee on Capacity building (PCCB).
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The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action decided to plan its work in the first half of 2012, including, inter alia, on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, transparency of action, and support and capacity-building, drawing upon submissions from Parties and relevant technical, social, and economic information and expertise. |
•https://unfccc.int/topics/capacity-building/workstreams/durban-forum-on-capacity-building •https://unfccc.int/8th-durban-forum •https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/durban_nov_2011/decisions/application/pdf/cop17_durbanplatform.pdf |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mkAkA3HlnV8U5RWIKr5T50MydOXsXV3eL2fmUtUiPSmY1ocSFTbjUKiiIAtez_oCeufgrxDhWwyjeQet0jHvUMzbIWL5_3xREHUetdJOSxUhJyz_mCydTbrhdDX-W9AElMdKqzZS77L_egM |
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39 |
May, 2014 |
Second Adaptation Futures Conference |
Fortaleza, Brazil |
The Third International Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2014 provided a nexus between the research community and the users of climate change adaptation information at regional and global scale. It was co-hosted and convened by the Earth System Science Center of the National Institute for Space Studies (CCST-INPE) and the Global Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and adaptation (PROVIA). |
The conference focused on climate impacts and adaptation options, bringing together scientists and decision makers, and practitioners from developed and developing countries to share research approaches, methods, and results. |
http://adaptationfutures2014.ccst.inpe.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Report_Adaptation-Futures-2014.pdf ; http://adaptationfutures2014.ccst.inpe.br/ |
https://cchange.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/adaptation.png |
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1 |
August 31, 1990 |
IPCC First Assessment Report |
Geneva, Switzerland |
IPCC’s first assessment report on Climate Change, stated with confidence that carbon dioxide (CO2) is responsible for over half of the greenhouse gas effect in the past, and that continued “Business as Usual” emissions would commit us to increased concentrations for centuries having damaging implications for natural and human systems. It implored countries around the world to decarbonize, reduce the impacts of global climate change. Weighing in heavily on mitigation, the Report recommended measures such as improved energy efficiency, use of cleaner energy sources and technologies, improved forest management, phasing out of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases, improved waste management, altered use of fertilizers, and other land-use changes.
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The First Assessment Report gave impetus to the political process leading to the negotiations for an effective United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the global body for negotiating climate agreements. The Report discussed adaptation as measure to minimize impacts and ensure preparedness in the face of climate change. It also established that cooperation and assistance for adaptation measures is essential.
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Houghton J.T., Jenkins G.J. and Ephraums J.J. “Climate Change, The IPCC Scientific Assessment”. 1990. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ; Tegart W.J. McG., Sheldon G.W. and Griffiths D.C. “Climate Change, The IPCC Impacts Assessment”. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publishing Service.
World Meteorological Organization and UNEP. “Climate Change, The IPCC Response Strategies”. Geneva. WMO. ; https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/ipcc_far_wg_III_full_report.pdf
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Natural Capital Partners, 1990. https://www.naturalcapitalpartners.com/img/blog/IPCC_first_report.JPG |
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5 |
July 8, 1996 |
Second Conference of the Parties (COP2) |
Geneva, Switzerland |
IPCC's Second Assessment Report greatly informed the discussions at the second COP. The Convention called upon the Parties to negotiate a legal instrument to strengthen their commitments. Parties agreed on compiling and synthesizing scientific, technical, and socio-economic information on the global situation on climate change, provided by, the IPCC. Additionally, based on the latest developments in science, assess the implications thereof for the implementation of the Convention; and formulate requests to competent international scientific and technical bodies. In the light of the findings of the AR2 which confirmed that the global climate was undergoing changes because of human activities and that it was increasingly urgent to take consistent precautionary action, the first national communications of Annex I Parties revealed that some of them were unable to meet the emission reduction targets of the Convention to return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. |
The Parties approved the IPCC Second Assessment Report and the Summaries for Policymakers of Working Groups I, II and III, for consideration by the COP and its subsidiary bodies. This assessment provides scientific, technical, and economic information that could be used, for evaluating adaptation options in progressing toward the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC. |
•https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop2/08.pdf •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop2/misc02.pdf •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/cop2/15.pdf •https://unfccc.int/cop5/resource/docs/1996/sbsta/07a01r01.pdf, |
IISD, 1996. https://enb.iisd.org/chemical/pops/cop2/images/may1/thumbs/1panelspeakers_tn.jpg |
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27 |
December 1, 2007 |
Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former US Vice President Al Gore Jr |
Geneva, Switzerland |
Both the IPCC and U.S. Vice-President Al Gore were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee called special attention to their efforts to obtain and disseminate greater knowledge concerning the first four reports on climate changes and the steps that need to be taken to counteract those changes. |
The first four main reports submitted by the Climate Panel between 1990 and 2007 were based on a coordinated program of research by several thousand experts in over a hundred countries. The reports stated that climate change is accelerating, that the changes are to a significant extent anthropogenic in nature, and that the need to adopt countermeasures is urgent if we are to prevent a global climate crisis from arising in the near future and threatening the basis of human life. In the recent years, many other Nobel Laureates have contributed with their work and their statements as part of summits and events to raise global awareness of the need to radically rethink how to protect people, the planet, and our prosperity.
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•https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar4/wg2/, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/ar4-wg2-intro.pdf, •https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ar4-wg2-spm-1.pdf |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/-6hHboPMbdG1W9eATZ0xunxxc4fRhhEBPR93g2nQIwiOJE3ZYX9036nXYaF2_DFDQl1YmmktuMBKArmRbznusBcqDDWlan_F9zjvSYWVEdNCACE49rdhJh6NZLidefVx9QU7_4ydOWyJgp1VjnpM4GOd6vl9Y3FudSM0kg |
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January, 2005 |
Finland's National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change |
Helsinki, Finland |
To date, 25 EU Member States have adopted a national adaptation strategy (NAS), and 15 have developed a national adaptation plan (NAP). However, Finland was the first European country to formulate a National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). The strategy described the impacts of climate change in the following sectors: agriculture and food production, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry, game management, water resources, biodiversity, industry, energy, traffic, land use and communities, building, health, tourism and recreation, and insurance. The strategy described the then sensitivity to climate change and outlined actions and measures to improve the capacity and to adapt to future climate change. |
National Adaptation Strategies (NASs) usually address overarching issues that allow states to position adaptation on their policy agenda. These strategies recognise the importance of expected climate change impacts and the need to adapt, and they facilitate the process of coordinating the adaptation response, increasing awareness of adaptation and stakeholder involvement, assessing risks and vulnerabilities, and identifying knowledge gaps. Finland´s NAS stated that a separate programme for adaptation to climate change would be included in the revised National Climate Strategy. It also stated that the following aspects should be considered when planning adaptation:
o Research should focus on acquiring the necessary knowledge basis on the impacts of climate change (both direct and indirect) affecting Finland. Uncertainty factors should also be taken into consideration.
o Identifying and assessing the adaptation requirements in different sectors.
o The extent to which there is a need to prepare for and adapt to adverse impacts in other parts of the world should also be considered. |
•https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/publications/national-adaptation-strategy-finland •https://ilmastotyokalut.fi/files/2014/10/MMMjulkaisu2005_1a-1.pdf •https://www.eea.europa.eu/airs/2018/environment-and-health/climate-change-adaptation-strategies |
data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxMTEhUTExIVFRUXFxsXGBgXGBcZFRgXGhgfHhgXGBoaHSkgGh4lHhgYITEhJSktLi4uGiAzODMtNyguLisBCgoKDg0OGhAQGy0lHyYuLS0tLS0xLS0vLS0tLy0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0uLS0rLS0rLTUtLS0tLS0tLTUtLSstLf/AABEIAQwAvAMBIgACEQEDEQH/ |
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57 |
December 2, 2018 |
Twenty fourth Conference of Parties (COP 24) |
Katowice, Poland |
The Katowice Climate Change Conference focused on completing work on the Paris Agreement Work Programme. The Parties adopted the Katowice Climate Package, which includes decisions on nearly all the issues mandated as part of the Work Programme.
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At COP24, countries adopted the necessary guidelines for developing their adaptation communications. Countries decided on the specific purposes of these communications, including to serve as an input to the global stocktake. They also significantly strengthened their commitment under the enhanced transparency framework of action. This was demonstrated by the fact that for the first time, countries would be able to include in their transparency report not only progress made to adapt to climate change, but also how they tackled loss and damage. |
•https://unfccc.int/documents/185180 https://unfccc.int/documents/184486 •https://unfccc.int/documents/186981 •https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/explaining-paris-rulebook_0.pdf •https://www.wri.org/our-work/project/cop24-setting-paris-agreement-motion https://sdg.iisd.org/news/katowice-climate-change-conference-delivers-outcome-to-facilitate-implementation-of-paris-agreement/ |
Synergia Foundation, 2018. https://www.synergiafoundation.org/sites/default/files/_104833582_afp3.jpg |
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6 |
December 1, 1997 |
Third Conference of the Parties (COP 3) |
Kyoto, Japan |
COP 3 marked the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, committing member states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Following a ratification process the Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. Currently, there are 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. It led to the establishment of flexible market mechanisms for emissions trading. It also offered countries additional mechanisms to meet their emission reduction targets through - International Emissions Trading, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint implementation (JI). |
Responding to the need for having best methods to assess vulnerability and related adaptation options, the Parties, at COP3 made a request to the Secretariat, particularly, on developing decision tools to evaluate alternative adaptation strategies. Provisions for adaptation were also made in the Articles of the Kyoto Protocol. Article 10 mandated Parties to formulate, implement, publish, and regularly update programs containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation. While Article 12.8 laid provisions to ensure that a share of proceeds from certified project activities were used to assist vulnerable developing countries to meet the costs of climate change adaptation. Moreover, the Adaptation Fund is established, to finance the full cost of country- driven concrete adaptation projects and programmes that reduce the harmful effect of climate change. |
https://unfccc.int/cop4/resource/cop3.html ; https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop3/05.pdf; https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/climate/paris-climate-agreement-kyoto-protocol.html ; https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/11/world/meeting-reaches-accord-to-reduce-greenhouse-gases.html ; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/feb/16/sciencenews.environment |
UN, 1997. https://legal.un.org/avl/images/ha/kpccc/intro_note.jpg |
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42 |
December 1, 2014 |
Twentieth Conference of the Parties (COP 20) |
Lima, Peru |
COP 20 adopted the “Lima Call for Climate Action,” which set in motion the negotiations towards the 2015 Paris Agreement by elaborating the elements of a draft negotiating text and the process for submitting and synthesizing Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), while also addressing pre-2020 ambition. Parties also adopted 19 decisions that help operationalize the Warsaw International Mechanism, (WIM), established the Lima work programme on gender and adopted the Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness-raising. Support also grew for establishing regular cycles to review and strengthen countries’ actions to curb emissions, adapt to climate change and support low-carbon growth.
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The Lima Conference saw more focussed attention to adaptation. Developing countries pushed for adaptation to get equal priority with mitigation in the Paris agreement, raising its profile to new heights. The interest in adaptation in Lima related to the urgent need to respond to severe climate change impacts countries were already facing, from record-breaking floods and scorching heat waves to a steady increase in sea level rise. There was consensus among the Parties to improve the process of how national adaptation planning was reported and implement a work plan to focus on the issue of loss and damage. The key outcomes of COP 20 for adaptation included:
o unpacking a global adaptation goal in the Paris agreement;
o structuring a continuous improvement cycle for adaptation that builds on national adaptation planning and contributions;
o secure the foundations to address the loss and damages that occur when adaptation; and
o mitigation fails to prevent climate change impacts ; and ensuring that developing countries have enough resources to build resilience to climate impacts. |
•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/lima-climate-change-conference-december-2014/cop-20/cop-20-agenda •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/lima-climate-change-conference-december-2014/cop-20/cop-20-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/lima-climate-change-conference-december-2014/cop-20/cop-20-documents https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/lima-climate-change-conference-december-2014/cop-20/cop-20-decisions •https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/us/politics/kerry-plans-to-attend-climate-talks.html?searchResultPosition=27 , •https://www.wri.org/blog/2014/12/cop20-lays-groundwork-paris-climate-pact-7-key-developments |
https://e.an.amtv.pe/actualidad-cop-20-delegaciones-se-reunen-alcanzar-borrador-final-n163159-612x406-137962.jpg |
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43 |
December, 2014 |
The Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) |
Lima, Peru |
The Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) addressed the knowledge barriers that impeding the implementation and scaling up of adaptation action. LAKI interventions sought to catalyze improved access to data, information, and knowledge for end-users, for example, by making information available in the appropriate form for policymakers and practitioners. LAKI was a joint action pledge under the Nairobi work programme (NWP) between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) through its Global Adaptation Network (GAN). |
Bridging the knowledge gap poses a serious challenge to large scale implementation of adaptation actions. The LAK Initiative facilitated science-policy-practice dialogues with a participatory process of knowledge gap identification, categorization and prioritization for specific subregions or thematic domains. It stimulated collaborative action to close knowledge gaps and help stakeholders adapt more effectively to the adverse effects of climate change. |
•https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NWPStaging/Documents/LAKI_e-pub_2018.pdf , •https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NWPStaging/Pages/laki.aspx •https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/nwpstaging/News/Pages/LAKI-methodology.aspx •https://www.unenvironment.org/gan/what-we-do/lima-adaptation-knowledge-initiative |
https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2014/12/20752/image1170x530cropped.jpg |
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64 |
December 3, 2019 |
Conference of the Parties COP 25 |
Madrid, Spain |
At COP 25 in Madrid, the Parties adopted a six-year work plan to address the impact of climate action on workers and communities, which includes a series of activities aimed at facilitating the design of a just transition for workers and communities and economic diversification and transformation policies. It included activities that took account of gender issues and the needs of local communities, disadvantaged groups and people in vulnerable situations. Countries also adopted an enhanced five-year Gender Action Plan that recognized different impacts of climate change on women and men due to historical and current gender inequalities and multidimensional factors. |
Adaptation to climate change was the priority issue for many of the developing country Parties. Some countries highlighted aspects related to adaptation in their opening statements of COP25. For example, the importance of the adaptation fund, having a balance between adaptation and mitigation, and the relevance of Article 6, to provide resources for adaptation through a Share of Proceeds. COP25 proposed adaptation activities to mainstream gender considerations across all UNFCCC processes, promote gender leadership and advance gender-sensitive climate actions. It also agreed on a Local Communities and Indigenous People Platform, aimed at protecting the rights of indigenous people, harness their traditional knowledge and the benefits of gender responsive climate actions.
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•https://www.plan-adapt.org/2020/01/22/outcomes-of-cop25/#:~:text=The%2025th%20Conference%20of%20the,levels%20of%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contributions •https://cop25.mma.gob.cl/en/home/ •https://cop25.mma.gob.cl/en/objectives/ •https://ecbi.org/sites/default/files/COP25%20Key%20Outcomes_0.pdf •https://enb.iisd.org/vol12/enb12775e.html |
Minamata-KiaraWorth. https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop25/enb/images/11dec/ENB_COP25_11Dec19_KiaraWorth-21.jpg |
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50 |
November 7, 2016 |
Twenty-second Conference of the Parties (COP 22) |
Marrakech, Morocco |
Negotiations in Marrakech focused on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. COP 22 approved the five-year work plan of the Warsaw International Mechanism to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change (WIM). It also urged developed country parties to continue their efforts to channel a substantial share of public climate funds to adaptation activities and to strive to achieve a better balance between finance for mitigation and adaptation, recognizing the importance of adaptation finance. |
COP 22 recorded an increase in adaptation finance and stressed on need to continue to significantly scale up adaptation finance and guaranteeing greater access to finance by developing countries while emphasizing the continued challenges that developing countries face and encouraging parties and relevant institutions to enhance access to finance from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral, and multilateral. President Mezouar highlighted ‘historic progress’ on capacity building, adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology, gender issues and education at COP 22 and stressed that strengthening action well before 2020 ‘is not a choice, it is a duty’. |
•https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/application/pdf/reflections_on_the_way_forward_final.pdf •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/marrakech-climate-change-conference-november-2016/cop-22/cop-22-post-session-documents •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/marrakech-climate-change-conference-november-2016/cop-22/cop-22-decisions •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/marrakech-climate-change-conference-november-2016/cop-22/cop-22-agenda-0 •https://www.wri.org/our-work/project/cop-22 •https://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/enb12689e.pdf |
https://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/pano-cop22.jpg |
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12 |
October 29, 2001 |
Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 7) |
Marrakesh, Morocco |
COP 7 oversaw the finalization of the operational details for the mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol: The Clean Development Mechanism and the Joint Implementation Mechanism. The Guidelines for the preparation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPA), the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and Adaptation Fund (AF). Negotiators also concluded work on the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, finalizing most of the operational details and setting the stage for nations to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The completed package of decisions is known as the Marrakech Accords. |
COP 7 is considered the first landmark in adaptation. It led to the adoption of the Marrakech Accords, which comprised of important decisions on adaptation. At this COP, countries established a work programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to address their specific and immediate needs. This entailed developing National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) for the LDCs. Specific funds—the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and the LDC Fund (LDCF)—were established. The Parties resolved to contribute funding for pilot or demonstration projects to show how adaptation planning and assessment can be translated into projects. These include the areas of water resources management, land management, agriculture, health, infrastructure development, fragile ecosystems, and integrated coastal zone management. |
https://unfccc.int/cop7/;https://unfccc.int/files/adaptation/methodologies_for/vulnerability_and_adaptation/application/pdf/guidelines_for_the_preparation_of_napas.pdf ; https://unfccc.int/files/adaptation/methodologies_for/vulnerability_and_adaptation/application/pdf/guidelines_for_the_preparation_of_napas.pdf
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https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop7/pix/10pronk2sp.jpg |
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| 13 |
13 |
November, 2001 |
The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) |
Marrakesh, Morocco |
An achievement of COP 7 in Marrakesh, the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) was established in 2001. It imandated to provide technical guidance and support to the LDCs on the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs), the preparation and implementation of the national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) and the implementation of the LDC work programme. |
The LEG meets twice a year to develop and review progress on the implementation of its work programme. The LEG implements its work programme through a variety of modalities including technical guidance to the countries, technical guidelines, technical papers, training activities, workshops, expert meetings, NAP Expos, case studies, capturing and sharing of experiences, best practices and lessons learned, NAP Central, monitoring of progress, effectiveness and gaps, collaboration with other bodies, programmes and organizations, and promotion of coherence and synergy. |
•https://unfccc.int/LEG#:~:text=The%20Least%20Developed%20Countries%20Expert,adaptation%20programmes%20of%20action%20(NAPAs), •https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NAPC/Support/Pages/LEG.aspx, •https://unfccc.int/LEG, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/ldc_publication_bbll_2011.pdf •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/bodies/constituted-bodies/least-developed-countries-expert-group-leg/leg-mandate#eq-1 |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop7/pix/51plen2.jpg |
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| 14 |
14 |
November, 2001 |
Implementation of the National Adaptation Programmes of Action(NAPAs) |
Marrakesh, Morocco |
National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) provide a process for the LDCs to identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs regarding adaptation to climate change - needs for which further delay could increase vulnerability or lead to increased costs at a later stage. The rationale for NAPAs rests on the limited ability of the LDCs to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Parties also acknowledged the specific needs and limited capacity of LDCs to counter and adapt to climate change impacts and therefore adopted a dedicated package of decisions to support them.
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In the NAPA process, prominence was given to community-level input as an important source of information, recognizing that grassroots communities are the main stakeholders. NAPAs use existing information and no new research is needed. They are action-oriented, country-driven, are flexible and based on national circumstances. The LDCs identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate adaptation needs. |
•https://unfccc.int/topics/resilience/workstreams/national-adaptation-programmes-of-action/introduction#:~:text=NAPAs%20provide%20a%20process%20for,costs%20at%20a%20later%20stage •https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/national-adaptation-programmes-of-action-napa/publications-napas •https://unfccc.int/topics/resilience/workstreams/national-adaptation-programmes-of-action/napa-background |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop7/pix/12farpanel.jpg |
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16 |
December 1, 2003 |
Nineth Conference of Parties (COP 9) |
Milan, Italy |
At COP9, Parties agreed to adopt numerous decisions and conclusions on various issues, including definitions and modalities for including deforestation and reforestation activities under the Clean Development Mechanism; good practice guidance on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF); the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). Moreover, it also addressed the need to incorporate scientific advice on adaptation and mitigation from the IPCC Third Assessment Report, into the negotiations. |
COP 9 took an initial step in developing a new agenda that paid equal attention to mitigation and adaptation. The parties agreed to use the Adaptation Fund, primarily to support the developing countries better adapt to climate change. The fund would also be used for capacity-building through technology transfer.
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•https://unfccc.int/cop9/ •https://unfccc.int/news/ninth-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-cop-9 https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop9/inf01.pdf •http://www.pic.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP9/Overview/tabid/7528/language/en-US/Default.aspx |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/COP9/pix/dec9/83sbiroom2.jpg |
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20 |
November 28, 2005 |
Eleventh Conference of Parties (COP 11) |
Montreal, Canada |
COP 11 was largest intergovernmental conference at the time, marking the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and the Montreal Action Plan, which sought to extend the life of the Kyoto Protocol beyond its 2012 expiration date and negotiate deeper cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions. |
COP 11 also oversaw the establishment of the Nairobi work programme (NWP),
under the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), to facilitate and catalyze the development and dissemination of information and knowledge that would inform and support adaptation policies and practices. Through its diverse range of modalities, the NWP provided unique opportunities for linking relevant institutions, processes, resources and expertise outside the Convention to respond to adaptation knowledge needs arising from the implementation of the various workstreams under the Convention and identified by Parties.
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•https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/montreal-climate-change-conference-december-2005/statements-and-resources/COP-11-Highlights •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/montreal-climate-change-conference-december-2005/cop-11 •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/montreal-climate-change-conference-december-2005/decisions-montreal-climate-change-conference-december-2005, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/montreal-climate-change-conference-december-2005/cop-11/cop-11-reports |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop11/pix/30nov/3copdais.jpg |
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November 6, 2006 |
Twelfth Conference of Parties (COP 12) |
Nairobi, Kenya |
The COP in Nairobi primarily focused on four key issues: Moving forward with adaptation; improving equity and accessibility of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); reviewing the mandate of the Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT); and maintaining momentum in discussions on the post-2012 climate regime. There were also discussions around the economic aspects of climate change actions and impacts. Other key advancements achieved at this COP included (a) initiating the review of commitments, (b) making the first amendment to the Kyoto Protocol through inclusion of Belarus as an Annex B country, (c) agreeing on principles of managing the adaptation fund, and (d) creating the Nairobi Framework on CDM capacity building. |
COP 12 decided on the principles and modalities of operation of the adaptation fund, which was comprised mainly from a 2% share of proceeds from the CDM projects. The funds were to be made available to support national, regional, and community-level efforts, and the membership of the Fund's governing body would be managed by Protocol parties and follow a one-country-one-vote rule with the majority of non-Annex I parties. COP12 approved the Subsidiary body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA's) five-year work programme on adaptation and renamed it the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation to climate change. |
•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/nairobi-climate-change-conference-november-2006/cop-12 , •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/nairobi-climate-change-conference-november-2006/cop-12/cop-12-documents, •://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/nairobi-climate-change-conference-november-2006/nairobi-climate-change-conference-november-2006 •http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6161998.stm |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop12/pix/_DSC0261.jpg |
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December, 2006 |
Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Conceptualized at COP 11 and implemented in the following COP, the Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation through its diverse range of modalities provided unique opportunities for linking relevant institutions, processes, resources, and expertise o to respond to adaptation knowledge needs arising from the implementation of the various workstreams under the Convention and identified by Parties. The Programme also sought to catalyze the development and dissemination of information and knowledge to inform and support adaptation policies and practices.
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The Nairobi work programme (NWP) facilitated all Parties, in particular developing countries, to improve their understanding and assessment of impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation. Furthermore, it looked to assist all Parties to make informed decisions on practical adaptation actions and measures to respond to climate change on a sound scientific, technical, and socio-economic basis, considering current and future climate change and variability. The outcomes of the programme of work were:
o Enhanced capacity at local, sectoral, national, regional, and international levels to further identify and understand impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation responses, and to select and implement practical, useful, and high priority adaptation actions;
o Improved information and advice to the Conference of the Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies on the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation;
o Enhanced development, dissemination and use of knowledge from practical adaptation activities;
o Enhanced cooperation among Parties, relevant organizations, business, civil society and decision-makers, aimed at enhancing their ability to manage climate change risks; and
o Enhanced integration of actions to adapt to climate change with sustainable development.
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•https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/the-nairobi-work-programme-the-unfccc-knowledge-to-action-hub-for-climate-adaptation-and-resilience, •https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NWP_overview_FINAL_updated.pdf •https://www.joinforwater.ngo/sites/default/files/library_assets/MIL_E43_nairobi_work.pdf |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/wnwp/images/daisunfccc.jpg |
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66 |
January 14, 2021 |
Fifth UNEP Adaptation Gap Report |
Nairobi, Kenya |
The 2020 Adaptation Gap Report found that adaptation action around the world is lagging behind. It found that even though nations have advanced in planning and implementation, huge gaps remain, particularly in finance for developing countries and bringing adaptation projects to the stage where they bring real reductions in climate risks. The Report also emphasized the importance and potential of nature based solutions to scale up adaptation action, exploring synergies with mitigation. The Report also made a strong case for developing monitoring and evaluation processes to track and assess progress in adaptation. |
The 2020 Adaptation Gap Report was produced during the year of the COVID 19 health crisis. It crucially highlighted the importance of elevating adaptation in the global agenda and within the measures deployed by countries to ensure resilient recovery from the pandemic. |
https://www.unep.org/events/publication-launch/launch-2020-adaptation-gap-report |
https://assets.unenvironment.org/s3fs-public/2021-01/AGR2020-Cover.jpg?null |
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October 23, 2002 |
Eight Conference of Parties (COP 8) |
New Delhi, India |
Hosted in New Delhi, COP 8 adopted the Delhi Ministerial Declaration that, amongst others, called for efforts by developed countries to transfer technology and help in minimizing risks arising from the impacts of climate change in developing countries. Parties also approved the New Delhi work programme on Article 6 of the Convention, a 5-year work programme to encourage action on climate change through education, training, and public awareness. Key element of the work program also included promoting public participation and international cooperation. COP8 also reaffirmed the economic and social development as the overriding priority of the developing countries. |
Negotiations at COP 8 highlighted that adaptation should be prioritized, particularly, for vulnerable developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing states. It promoted implementation of effective and result-based measures for the development of approaches at all levels on vulnerability and adaptation, as well as capacity-building for the integration of adaptation concerns into sustainable development strategies. |
•https://www.cseindia.org/cop8-3047 https://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/events/2002/cop8/cc_unep_press_release_20021008.pdf •https://unfccc.int/cop8/latest/sg_cop8.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/cop8/se/cckiosk2410_v4.html •https://www.cseindia.org/climate-change-and-cop--8-through-the-eyes-of-children-3145 |
https://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop8/30oct/7GROUPPHOTO.jpg |
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2 |
March 21, 1994 |
Establishment of UNFCCC |
New York, USA |
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force on 21 March 1994. Established at the time when scientific evidence on climate change was still growing the objective of the UNFCCC was to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere within a timeframe sufficient to “allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner”. Since its inception, it has shaped and supported global action. In more than 25 years, not only has it supported the bolstering of scientific evidence for climate change but also passed frameworks directing Industrialized countries (Annex I) to report regularly on their climate change policies and measures and submit an annual inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions, including data for their base year (1990) and all the years since. For developing countries (Non-Annex I Parties) reporting was in more general terms on their actions both to address climate change and to adapt to its impacts.
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The Convention also acknowledged the vulnerabilities of all countries to the effects of climate change and called for special efforts, especially in developing countries which lacked the resources to do so on their own. Adaptation was also provisioned in the critical articles of The Convention. The most important provision was mandating developed countries to assist developing countries in meeting the “costs of adaptation”. It also stated that financing adaptation is a legal obligation of developed countries under Article 4.4 of the Convention. The article states: “The developed country Parties…shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.” In the early years of the Convention, adaptation received less attention than mitigation, as Parties wanted more certainty on impacts of and vulnerability to climate change. When IPCC's Third Assessment Report was released, adaptation gained traction, and Parties agreed on a process to address adverse effects and to establish funding arrangements for adaptation.
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•https://www.southcentre.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RP89_History-and-Politics-of-Climate-Change-Adaptation-at-the-UNFCCC_EN.pdf, •http://publications.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/bp317-e.htm , •https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_CONF.151_26_Vol.I_Declaration.pdf |
http://unfccc.int/files/inc/graphics/image/jpeg/tl_unfccc_logo_1992_435.jpg |
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24 |
December, 2007 |
United Nations High Level Event on Climate Change |
New York, United States |
Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon chaired and the event and urged world leaders to state the importance of work in a new international climate change deal. The UN Secretary-General further highlighted that the deal must be comprehensive in its approach to solving climate change, including “adaptation, emission reductions, climate-friendly technologies and the necessary financial architecture. Separate plenary sessions were held on the themes of adaptation, mitigation, technology, and financing and statements were made by the representatives of each country.
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At the Adaptation plenary, the parties outlined the importance of assisting developing countries in their adaptation programmes. The also agreed that climate change is an issue that had already exceeded the realm of environmental issues and was now relevant to the very existence of human life, encompassing energy, development, and sanitation. The influence of climate change is already apparent in all socio-economic sectors and therefore the urgency to adapt must not be left for future generations.
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•https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/environment/warm/cop/overview0709.html •http://sdg.iisd.org/events/united-nations-high-level-ministerial-meeting-on-climate-change/ •https://www.un.org/press/en/2007/sgsm11181.doc.htm |
https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/cortex-unitednations-prod-proxies/UN0/TR1/76/5d/de/17/7e/UN7705150.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA36AIICFLGTBUF76H%2F20210114%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210114T103337Z&X-Amz-E |
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September, 2015 |
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development |
New York, United States |
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 individual SDGs related to people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships. Each goal has several targets and a set of measurable indicators. SDG 13 is focused on climate change, defining a goal to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, and including targets of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity. |
The global goal on adaptation provides an umbrella for integrated actions when it calls for “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development” (Article 7, Paris Agreement). Within the SDGs, goal 13 on climate action aims to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”, and among several goals, the most relevant for adaptation are:
o Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries;
o Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and
o Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation and early warning.
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•https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld •https://sdgs.un.org/topics/climate-change •https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/unosd/documents/4921Climate%20%20Change%20%20Adaptation%20%20and%20%20the%20%20Sustainable%20%20Development%20%20Goals%20-%20Challenges%20%20and%20%20Opportunities-%20Soojeong%20Myeong.pdf |
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/sustainable-development/images/img_sdgs.jpg |
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63 |
September 23, 2019 |
2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit |
New York, United States |
The 2019 UN Climate Summit convened on the theme, "Climate Action Summit 2019: A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win." The goal of the summit was to further climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the mean global temperature from rising by more than 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. The Summit featured participation of governments, business leaders, subnational actors, indigenous peoples, youth, and other civil society stakeholders, who, together, were critical in raising ambition for climate mitigation and adaptation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all leaders for the Climate Action Summit with concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020, in line with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent over the next decade, and to net zero emissions by 2050. |
One of the key outcomes that preluded the Climate Action Summit was the Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience issued by the co-leads of the Resilience and Adaptation Coalition, Egypt and the UK, with coalition partners, Bangladesh, Malawi, the Netherlands and Saint Lucia, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). It advocated for a vision that puts adaptation at the centre of decision making. This Call to Action was supported by 112 agencies and countries, mostly developing countries, 16 UN agencies and international financial institutions and 68 organizations. The Call to Action stated that “equal and increased urgency” must be given to adaptation to impacts and to building resilience for the future. It warns that while the true costs of adaptation in developing countries could amount to USD 300 billion per year by 2030, there are “substantial benefits to be gained from acting now.” The Call urges for enhanced adaptation and resilience action in three areas, supporting the most vulnerable groups and scaling up disaster readiness; putting climate risk at the centre of decision making; and increasing the availability of adaptation and resilience finance.
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•https://www.un.org/en/climatechange https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/2019-climate-action-summit ; https://sdg.iisd.org/events/global-adaption-action-summit/ ; https://sdg.iisd.org/news/call-for-action-seeks-to-raise-ambition-on-adaptation-and-resilience/ |
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/image/wcms_721137.jpg |
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December, 2015 |
Paris Agreement |
Paris, France |
The negotiations at COP 21 led to the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement. The Agreement is a legally binding treaty on climate change. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. The Agreement's implementation also necessitated greater economic and social transformation. The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). To date (as of 2020), 121 parties have their first NDC, 69 parties have either updated the targets of their First NDC or have submitted a second one, while 6 other parties have submitted documents highlighting the importance of climate action and the intention to draft an NDC. The Paris Agreement also invited countries to formulate and submit by 2020 long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS). LT-LEDS provide the long-term horizon to the NDCs. The Paris Agreement also a framework for financial, technical, and capacity building support to countries. |
The Paris Agreement is historical because it elevated multilateral climate change processes, becoming a binding agreement that brought all nations together to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. It also strengthened the global climate change response by defining a global goal on adaptation (Article 7) which aims to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience, reduce vulnerability with a view to contributing to sustainable development, and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the goal of holding average global warming well below 2 degrees C and pursuing efforts to hold it below 1.5 degrees C. To achieve these goals the Agreement required all Parties to engage in adaptation planning and implementation through e.g. national adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments, monitoring and evaluation, and economic diversification. The national adaptation plan (NAP) process was established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF). It enabled Parties to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs) as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs. |
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement ; https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/what-do-adaptation-to-climate-change-and-climate-resilience-mean ; https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/new-elements-and-dimensions-of-adaptation-under-the-paris-agreement-article-7 ; https://www.ft.com/content/d6e23e40-2d6b-4e8c-b92b-6bf1b215798d ; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/08/the-paris-agreement-five-years-on-is-it-strong-enough-to-avert-climate-catastrophe |
https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/assets/2016/04/24198/image770x420cropped.jpg |
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November 4, 2016 |
Establishment of Adaptation Communications |
Paris, France |
Adaptation Communication was established by Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. Article 7.10 of the Paris Agreement states that “Each Party should, as appropriate, submit and update periodically an adaptation communication, which may include its priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions, without creating any additional burden for developing country Parties”. To enhance information on climate adaptation, the Paris Agreement, created the Adaptation Communications program, where it asked countries to submit adaptation communications, discuss adaptation priorities, support and implementation needs, and plans and actions. The Paris Agreement also allows countries to submit adaptation communications as part of other documents, such as NDCs, transparency reports or national adaptation plans.
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Adaptation Communication is purposed with the mandate to increase the visibility and profile of adaptation and its balance with mitigation; strengthen adaptation action and support for developing countries; provide input to the global stocktake; and enhance learning and understanding of adaptation needs and actions. Each party is required to submit and update periodically an adaptation communication, which includes information on its priorities, implementation and support needs, plans, and actions.
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•https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/adaptation-communications •https://www.wri.org/paris-rulebook/adaptation-communications •https://www.sprep.org/sites/default/files/documents/circulars/Brief_Adaptation_Communications.pdf |
https://gwec.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/unfccc-768x512.png |
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December 1, 2008 |
Fourteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 14) |
Poznań, Poland |
COP14 created a momentum towards reaching and agreement in Copenhagen 2009, it also, marked the turning point from analysis and discussion to negotiation stage. In Poznan there was significant progress on a number of ongoing issues (e.g. capacity-building, REDD, technology transfer and adaptation) needed to enhance further the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. |
At COP14, Parties agreed that the Adaptation Fund should begin to operate as soon as possible as well as decided to give its Board legal status. Thus, the legal framework of the Fund was established so as its key documents.
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•https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/poznan-climate-change-conference-december-2008/cop-14/cop-14-agenda •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/poznan-climate-change-conference-december-2008/cop-14/cop-14-reports , •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/poznan-climate-change-conference-december-2008/cop-14/cop-14-documents, •https://unfccc.int/poznan-climate-change-conference-december-2008 •https://enb.iisd.org/vol12/enb12395e.html |
https://www.iied.org/files/styles/main-image/public/COP14.jpg?itok=YDBvb01_ |
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June, 2010 |
First Adaptation Futures Conference |
Queensland, Australia |
The 2010 international Climate Change Adaptation Conference was one of the first international meetings focusing solely on climate impacts and adaptation. The objective of the Conference was to prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The Conference oversaw a gathering of 1000 scientists and decision makers from developed and developing countries. It provided a unique opportunity and encouraged e dialogue between research, policy and on-ground practitioners on how robust adaptation decision making can proceed in the face of uncertainty. |
The Conference identified issues with adaptation categorised in 4 main themes: action; uncertainty; integration and engagement/communication. The Conference also provided delegates with an opportunity to network on a national and international scale as well as facilitated knowledge sharing among the scientists and decision makers. |
https://www.nccarf.edu.au/sites/default/files/attached_files_publications/Climate-Adaptation-Futures.pdf ; https://www.nccarf.edu.au/publications/climate-adaptation-futures-2010-international-climate-change-adaptation-conference ; https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/climate-change/what-we-do/climate-adaptation/world-adaptation-science-programme-0 |
https://www.nccarf.edu.au/publications/climate-adaptation-futures-2010-international-climate-change-adaptation-conference |
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June, 1992 |
Earth Summit |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also called as the Earth Summit, was a global conference that brought together political leaders, diplomats, scientists, representatives of the media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 179 countries for a massive effort to focus on the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment. The Earth Summit had several achievements, including the adoption of the Agenda 21, an ambitious program of action calling for new strategies to invest in the future to achieve overall sustainable development. Other achievements included the Rio Declaration, adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Convention on Biological Diversity. |
One of the most crucial achievements of the Earth Summit was the agreement on the Climate Change Convention that in due course led to Kyoto Protocol and eventually the Paris Agreement, which introduced the global goal on adaptation. Furthermore, the Rio Conference also put forth the Agenda 21, that aimed to achieve global sustainable development by 2000. The Agenda focussed on the socio-economic dimensions including, combating poverty in developing countries, conservation and management of resources for development, strengthening the roles of groups like NGOs, local authorities, women and youth, and promote science, technology transfer and education. |
https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/rio1992 ; https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/conveng.pdf ; https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf |
https://www.publichealthnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/UN-Conference-of-the-Human-Environment-and-Development-Rio-de-Janeiro-1992-678x381.jpg |
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May, 2016 |
Fourth Adaptation Futures |
Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
Adaptation Futures is the biennial conference of the Global Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA). In 2016 the European Commission and the Government of the Netherlands co-hosted the fourth edition. Adaptation Futures 2016 is where scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and businesses from all around the world go to connect, learn and inspire. It highlighted adaptation practices and solutions for people, governments, and businesses. The programme addressed all sectors and all parts of the world. |
The conference focused on climate impacts and adaptation options, bringing together scientists and decision makers, and practitioners from developed and developing countries to share research approaches, methods, and results. |
https://www.deltares.nl/en/events/adaptation-futures-2016/ ; https://www.preventionweb.net/events/view/41886?id=41886 |
https://www.dutchwatersector.com/sites/default/files/dws-af2016-exhibition-2014-poster-350px.jpg |
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October, 2018 |
Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) |
Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization hosted by the Netherlands and chaired by Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. It has a bold and ambitious vision to ensure the world steps up to the challenge of adapting to our changing climate.
It works as a solutions broker by taking the best adaptation solutions from around the world and accelerating their deployment by bringing together multiple parties and helping them implement impactful programmes efficiently and effectively.
Its work focuses on those who are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. They are the least prepared to withstand the triple health, social and economic impacts of our climate emergency. |
GCA uses its convening power to bring together the most influential opinion formers to create a community and stimulate further growth of the adaptation coalition and movement. It identifies research gaps and works with pre-eminent organizations to produce and publish landmark reports to shape the adaptation agenda, fill knowledge and data gaps, and measure progress in adaptation, through its State and Trends in Adaptation Program, which comprises of an annual report, working papers and other publications, and the online Knowledge Exchange. |
•https://gca.org/about, •https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/year-of-action, •https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/report |
University of Groningen. 2018. https://www.rug.nl/news/2018/10/1018-ban-ki-moon-2.jpg |
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March , 2015 |
Sendai Framework for Diasater Risk Reduction |
Sendai, Japan |
The Sendai Framework marked a paradigm shift from managing disasters to managing current and future risks, bringing in resilience-building as the core target to be reached by 2030. Four priorities of action were identified: understanding disaster risk; strengthening disaster risk governance; investing in resilience; and enhancing and leveraging disaster preparedness. The target-based Sendai framework allows countries to set targets specific to their needs and circumstances. |
Through practical experiences, parties and non-Party stakeholders have identified that there are many opportunities and options to support further policy integration between adaptation and the Sendai Framework Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, including:
o Building resilience comprehensively across societies, to improve the coherence of action for implementing the three frameworks and save money and time, enhancing the efficiency and enabling adaptation action.
o Capacity-building, by creating levels of coordination and coherence among the common themes, creating this will help to clarify roles and responsibilities and to encourage partnerships among a wide range of actors.
o Improving the availability of data, to inform policymaking and capacity-building. |
•https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/techpaper_adaptation.pdf •https://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030 •https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/43300 |
https://www.gndr.org/media/k2/items/cache/9d420ea9134f51f1b7d6e409defa19a0_XL.jpg |
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November 13, 2000 |
Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP 6) |
The Hague, Netherlands / Bonn, Germany |
Eight months after the climate negotiations in The Hague, the task for delegates at ‘COP6, part 2’ remained to reach political and technical agreements on the fine print of the rules of the Kyoto Protocol. The resumed sixth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 6) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Bonn and ended with a political agreement on many of the core elements needed to finalize the rules of the Kyoto Protocol. A consensus was reached on what was called the Bonn Agreements. All nations except the United States agreed on the mechanisms for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The U.S. participated in observatory status only.
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At COP 6, the Parties decided to establish four negotiating groups on critical issues (under the Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the COP, and Article 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol):
o Finance
o Technology transfer
o Adaptation
o Capacity-building
Regarding adaptation, Parties agreed that a developing countries fund should be established. Such fund needs to be operated by an entity with financial mechanism, under the guidance of the COP, to support working programmes for the developing countries. This programme also included a National Adaptation Programmes of Action. |
•https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop6/01a02.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/cop6/pdf/pressreloutcome1.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/cop6secpart/05.pdf, •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/the-hague-climate-conference-november-2000/cop-6/cop-6-documents |
https://unfccc.int/cop6/graphics/pronk_s2.jpg |
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October, 2018 |
Launch of the Global Comission on Adaptation |
The Hague, The Netherlands |
The Global Commission on Adaptation was led by Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund. Guided by its 34 Commissioners, with leaders from political, business, multilateral, and scientific worlds; it was also convened by 23 countries. The Commission was launched with the mandate to encourage the development of measures to manage the effects of climate change through technology, planning and investment. The Netherlands initiated the Global Commission on Adaptation to share its knowledge on how it has managed to adopt innovative water management solutions as sea levels rise. |
The Global Commission on Adaptation was set up to move communities, cities and countries to proactively prepare for the disruptive effects of climate change with urgency, fierce determination and foresight, to take advantage of the best, most cost-effective solutions, reduce risk and come out stronger. The Commission received support from over 34 world leaders from different convening countries, recognizing the importance and potential of adaptation. One of the key achievements of the Commission was the launch of the report 'Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience'. It brought forth the concept of ‘Triple Dividend’, with an investment of US$1.8 trillion globally in five areas from 2020 to 2030 could generate US$7.1 trillion in total net benefits. The five areas considered were early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture, mangrove protection, and investments in making water resources more resilient. This represents only a portion of the total investments needed and total benefits available. |
•https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/our-leadership •https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/report •https://www.wri.org/our-work/project/global-commission-adaptation |
Kennisportaal Ruimtelijke Adaptatie. 2018. https://ruimtelijkeadaptatie.nl/publish/pages/119556/global_center_on_adaptation.png |
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September 13, 2019 |
Launch of the Global Comission on Adaptation's flagship report 'Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience' |
The Netherlands |
The Global Commission on Adaptation published its flagship report ' Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience' elevating the importance of adaptation and strengthening resilience globally.
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The Adapt Now report was landmark in highlighting the potential benefits of adaptation. The Report concluded that investing $1.8 trillion globally in five areas from 2020 to 2030 could generate
$7.1 trillion in total net benefits, thereby generating a 'Triple Dividend’. The Report also put forward the concept of the three Revolutions in: Understanding, Planning and Finance to be integrated at various levels to the key systems affected by climate change. The Report also laid the foundation of GCA's Year of Action, wherein a set of Action Tracks on food security, infrastructure, finance, urban resilience, and nature-based solutions were launched, with tangible and actionable targets; helping accelerate adaptation around the world; improving human well-being and result in more sustainable economic development and security; and presenting its findings at the Climate Adaption Summit (in 2021). |
https://gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/report ; https://sdg.iisd.org/news/global-commission-calls-for-urgent-action-on-climate-adaptation-cites-economic-returns-on-investment/ ; https://www.dhakatribune.com/climate-change/2020/09/28/call-for-a-robust-mechanism-to-ensure-the-effective-implementation-of-locally-led-action ; https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/global-leaders-call-urgent-action-climate-adaptation-commission |
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/styles/attachment-large/public/resources-pdf-previews/1360918-GlobalCommission_Report_FINAL.png?itok=isGopDjC |
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January 20, 2021 |
Launch of the First State and Trends in Adaptation Report and Knowledge Exchange |
The Netherlands |
This first State and Trends in Adaptation report provides the basis for upcoming editions in the annual series. The series will report – on a continuous basis – adaptation needs, solutions and progress, systematically building on an expanding body of data, sectors, and geographic regions. Annually, the reports highlight topical subjects and guide work of the global adaptation community, policy makers and experts by increasing knowledge of adaptation needs and solutions and by setting priorities for adaptation planning, implementation and mobilizing investments. The Report is also tightly connected with the associated online platform, the State & Trends in Adaptation Knowledge Exchange. |
With the State and Trends in Adaptation Report Series and the Knowledge Exchange, the GCA will kickstart four key areas of collaborative research including; i) Learning from practice by analysing adaptation solutions through a multi-criteria ‘good practice’ framework ; ii) Tracking progress on adaptation by non-state action; iii) Tracking progress on adaptation through national indicators across the three dimensions of Understanding, Planning and Finance; and iv) Disaggregating risks and vulnerabilities at sub-national scales. Read about the findings of the first State and Trends in Adaptation Report here. Read about the vision and objectives of the Knowledge Exchange and future development here.
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https://www.hanze.nl/assets/corporate/PublishingImages/Public/News_Items/Ban%20Ki%20moon%20na%20Eredoctoraat%20bij%20Global%20Center%20on%20Adaptation%2007x.jpg |
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January 25, 2021 |
Climate Adaptation Summit |
The Netherlands |
Climate Adaptation Summit will be a first summit to be hosted entirely on the issue of accelerating adaptation and ushering the world into a Decade of Action. The Summit will be an opportunity to p trigger the systemic change required for a climate resilient planet. The Summit aims to set off a transformational decade of accelerated adaptation, underpinned by concrete new efforts and partnerships that deliver action and inspire change while helping the world to bounce back following the unprecedented disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic. |
At the Summit, participating leaders will launch the Climate Adaptation Action Platform 2030 (CAAP2030) comprised of clear, new commitments to action that will jump-start the transitions required for a climate-resilient world for people, the economy, and the planet. The Platform will serve as a living online resource to track adaptation and as a driver of implementation, knowledge sharing and interconnectivity over the next decade. As a part of the Summit, the GCA will also host a Ministerial Dialogue to achieve sustained global leadership cooperation to accelerate adaptation at speed and at scale. It will also serve as the foremost annual high-level forum on climate change adaptation, providing a platform for showcasing implementation successes and for bold announcements on new initiatives and partnerships to accelerate adaptation action. |
https://www.cas2021.com/ |
https://www.government.nl/binaries/large/content/gallery/rijksoverheid/banner-afbeeldingen/onderwerpen/k/klimaatverandering/cas-logo.rgb.png |
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November 11, 2013 |
Nineteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 19) |
Warsaw, Poland |
COP 19 saw the establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage. The purpose of the mechanism was to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The Loss and Damage Mechanism fulfilled the role under the Convention of promoting the implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. As such, the Mechanism had three main functions: enhancing knowledge and understanding of comprehensive risk management approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change ; strengthening dialogue, coordination, coherence and synergies among relevant stakeholders and ; enhancing action and support, including finance, technology and capacity-building, to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, to enable countries to undertake actions |
Finance was a key topic of negotiation at COP 19 and priority was given to adaptation finance. Negotiators emphasized the need to ensure adequate funding is directed towards helping the most vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. This was a welcome step, as adaptation activities till date had received considerably less finance than mitigation. Concrete support for adaptation came in the form of pledges from developed countries totalling more than $100 million for the Adaptation Fund, fulfilling its fundraising goal. |
•http://www.cop19.gov.pl/the-president-of-cop19-cmp9, •https://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/cop-19 •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/warsaw-climate-change-conference-november-2013/cop-19/cop-19-agenda •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/warsaw-climate-change-conference-november-2013/cop-19/cop-19-reports •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/warsaw-climate-change-conference-november-2013/cop-19/cop-19-documents •https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/warsaw-climate-change-conference-november-2013/cop-19/cop-19-decisions |
https://lawrencehislop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/E5C2808.jpg |
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