Under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF), a process was established to enable least developed country Parties (LDCs) to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs).  This process will build upon their experience in preparing and implementing national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs), as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs.  Other developing country Parties are also invited to employ the modalities formulated to support the national adaptation plans in the elaboration of their planning efforts.

Recent progress at SBI 37/COP18, November/December 2012

At its thirty-seventh session, the SBI had before it the draft decision contained in the addendum to the report (FCCC/SBI/2012/15/Add.2), page 18, as a basis for discussion, when it continued its consideration of guidance on policies and programmes to enable support for the NAP process for the LDC Parties.  It also considered the relevant documents listed below:

• Synthesis report (FCCC/SBI/2012/8) on the support for the NAP process for the LDCs;
• The report on the twenty-second meeting of the LEG (FCCC/SBI/2012/27);
• Submissions contained in the relevant miscellaneous documents (FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.1, FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.2 and
  Add.1 and FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.3);
• The report of the Adaptation Committee (FCCC/SB/2012/3);
• The report of the Global Environment Facility (FCCC/CP/2012/6).

The conclusions that were adopted by the SBI at this session can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2012/L.41. The annex to this document also contains a bracketed version of the draft decision.

Subsequently, the draft decision was completed and adopted under the COP as decision 12/CP.18. It can be found in the COP report. 

Chronology:

Previous milestones in the discussions on NAPs under the SBI and COP

Based on the NAP decision at COP 17, the SBI considered guidance on policies and programmes to enable support for the NAP process for LDCs taking into account the guidance in decision 27/CP.7 and a synthesis report based on submissions to be made in February 2012 by Parties, UN organizations, and other relevant organizations/agencies; and also taking into account other relevant decisions on financial support under the Convention; for consideration by the COP at its eighteenth session.

The invitations for submissions of information and views considered at SBI 36 were as follows:

• An invitation  to United Nations organizations, specialized agencies and other relevant organizations, as well as bilateral and multilateral agencies, to support the NAP process in the LDCs and, where possible, to consider establishing support programmes for the NAP process within their mandates, as appropriate, which could facilitate financial and technical support to LDCs; and to submit to the secretariat, by 13 February 2012, information on how they have responded to this invitation (para. 23); 
  • Please see document FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.1 for the views received;
• An invitation to Parties and relevant organizations as well as bilateral and multilateral agencies, to submit to the secretariat, by 13 February 2012, information on support to the NAP process in the LDCs (para. 24);
  • Please see document FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.2 and FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.2/Add.1 for the views received;
• An invitation  to the GEF, as an operating entity of the financial mechanism for the operation of the LDCF, to submit information to the SBI, through the secretariat, by 13 February 2012, on how they could enable activities undertaken as part of the NAP process in the LDCs (para. 25);
  • Please see document FCCC/SBI/2012/MISC.3.

The draft conclusions proposed by the Chair were adopted by the SBI at this session, and can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2012/15.

At the thirty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Parties considered modalities and guidelines for the NAP process, and the Conference of the Parties (COP) adopted a decision on NAPs. The following are highlights of this decision: 

• Guidelines for NAPs for LDCs

Initial guidelines for the formulation of NAPs by LDC Parties were adopted by the COP. They elaborate elements of the NAPs, including steps that may be undertaken to lay the groundwork and address gaps, and elements for the preparatory and implementation phases, as well as for reporting, monitoring and review. The COP mandated the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) to elaborate technical guidelines for NAPs based on these initial guidelines. The COP will take stock of, and if necessary revise, the NAP guidelines at the end of 2012, at COP 19.

• Modalities for NAPs for LDCs

The NAP decision from COP 17 also elaborates modalities for the NAP process.  They include, inter alia, technical guidelines, workshops and expert meetings; training activities; regional exchanges; syntheses of experiences, best practices and lessons learned; technical papers; and technical advice.  The LEG was mandated to provide technical guidance and support, with contributions from the Adaptation Committee (AC) and other relevant bodies under the Convention; and national and regional centers and networks were also invited to support the NAP process.  Developed country Parties were requested to provide the LDCs with finance, technology and capacity-building in accordance with decision 1/CP.16, including paragraph 18, and other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties.

• Financial arrangements for the formulation and implementation of NAPs

The COP urged developed country Parties to mobilize financial support for the NAP process for LDCs through bilateral and multilateral channels, including through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), in accordance with decision 1/CP.16.  It requested the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the LDCF, to consider how to enable activities for the preparation of the NAP process for the LDCs, while maintaining progress for the LDC work programme, which includes the NAPAs. The COP also invited United Nations organizations, specialized agencies and other relevant organizations, as well as bilateral and multilateral agencies, to support the NAP process in the LDCs and, where possible, to consider establishing support programmes for the NAP process.  Fore further details please see paragraphs 21-27 of the NAP decision from COP 17).

• NAPs and non-LDC developing countries

In the NAP decision from COP 17, the COP reiterated the invitation to other developing country Parties to employ the modalities for NAPs; and invited interested developing country Parties that are not LDCs to use the NAP guidelines that were adopted, in accordance with their national circumstances, when formulating their NAPs.

It also requested the AC to consider, in its workplan, the relevant modalities for supporting interested developing country Parties that are not LDCs, to plan, prioritize and implement their national adaptation planning measures, and to report to the COP at its eighteenth session.  Furthermore, the COP invited the operating entities of the financial mechanism of the Convention, bilateral and multilateral organizations and other institutions as appropriate, to provide financial and technical support to developing country Parties to plan, prioritize and implement their national adaptation planning measures, consistent with decision 1/CP.16 and relevant provisions of the Convention.

• Reporting, monitoring and evaluation

In the NAP decision, the COP invited Parties, and encouraged the LDCs, to the extent possible, to provide information on the NAP process through national communications, as well as other channels.  The COP also requested the LEG, the AC and other relevant bodies under the Convention to include information in their reports, and invited relevant organizations to also provide information on their activities to support the NAP process. It also requested the secretariat to collect, compile and synthesize information, including through utilizing and enhancing existing databases; and requested the SBI to monitor and evaluate progress made on the NAP process at its forty-second session (mid-2015).

At the thirty-fourth session of the SBI, Parties started the discussion on NAPs, under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF), based on a request from the COP at its sixteenth session. The SBI set up a process to consider NAPs at COP 17 through the following:

• An invitation to Parties and relevant organizations (IGOs and civil society) to submit their views on NAPs to the secretariat by 15 August 2011 (please see document FCCC/SBI/2011/MISC.7 for the views received, and document FCCC/SBI/2011/13 for a synthesis report based on these submissions);
• An expert meeting on NAPs (please see page http://unfccc.int/6147.php).  The report of the meeting is given in document FCCC/SBI/2011/12);
• Engagement with the LEG, including through consideration of the output of its work on medium- and long-term adaptation in LDC Parties (please see document FCCC/TP/2011/7).