Source: UNFCCC

The first week of COP 22 wrapped up today. Throughout the week I tracked a number of adaptation items under the UNFCCC. This post summarizes the developments of a few of these items. In all, Parties were engaged and prepared to move forward towards implementation. Regarding several agenda items, developing countries stressed the inclusion of support (capacity-building, finance, and technology transfer). Despite differences, overall countries appeared to be determined to move swiftly and developed draft decisions with relatively few disagreements.

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

The SBI approved a draft decision of agenda item 9 on National Adaptation Plans. There are a few items worth mentioning. First, the decision noted that up to $3 million USD is available to each Party via the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for support in planning or formulating their NAPs. Additionally, several of the developing countries emphasized the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group and the GCF. Accordingly, a provision was added requesting the two groups report on their engagement with the GCF by SBI 47. Finally, several developing countries were concerned about access to adaptation funding, particularly from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). In the draft decision Parties noted with concern that 12 funding proposals seeking to implement NAPs were cleared by the Global Environment Facility but had not received funding under the LDCF.

Report of the Adaptation Committee

Participants mime implementation actions during an interactive session at the 10th Focal Point Forum on Health and Adaptation. Source: www.iisd.ca

There were joint informal consultations discussing SBI agenda item 10 and SBSTA agenda item 4 on the report of the adaptation committee. Overall, the Parties managed to easily reach a draft decision on the Adaptation Committee. Per a request by the COP, Parties included a decision to review the progress, effectiveness, and performance of the Adaptation Committee at COP 27. Moreover, the decision noted a shortfall in resources available to the Adaptation, and it called for Parties to make available resources for the implementation of the adaptation three year work plan.

Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change (NWP)

SBSTA agenda item 3 covered the NWP.  First, the draft decision made a call to expand partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including local governments, the private sector, scientific organizations, academia, organizations representing indigenous and traditional communities, spiritual and religious groups, gender constituencies, and youth organizations, among others. This demonstrates the strong commitment the NWP has to expand its knowledge base. This provision reflected Australia and Canada’s call for more engagement with indigenous cultures. Next, the decision includes three paragraphs on the 10th Focal Point Forum on Health and Adaptation that was held in conjunction with SBSTA this week. The draft decision requests the Secretariat to prepare a synthesis paper with submissions by the Parties issued before and during the Forum to be considered at SBSTA 46.

During the Negotiations, the G77 +China and the Arab Group proposed including text on economic diversification. A co-Chair and the United States opposed including this language in the final text, arguing that it was already included in a previous decision. After a number of rounds of informal and informal informal consultations, the final draft decision did not include text on economic diversification.