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Adaptation
 

Cancun Adaptation Framework operationalized in Durban

Image   The Cancun Adaptation Framework was operationalized in Durban, with key steps taken to establish the Adaptation Committee, develop national adaptation plans (NAPs) and further the implementation of the work programme on loss and damage.

The Adaptation Committee was established as a body of 16 experts tasked with promoting the implementation of adaptation in a coherent manner under the Convention, through the following functions:

  • Providing technical support and guidance to the Parties;
  • Sharing of relevant information, knowledge, experience and good practices;
  • Promoting synergy and strengthening engagement with national, regional and international organizations, centres and networks;
  • Providing information and recommendations, drawing on adaptation good practices, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties (COP) when providing guidance on means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions, including finance, technology and capacity-building;
  • Considering information communicated by Parties on their monitoring and review of adaptation actions, support provided and received.
The Adaptation Committee will convene its inaugural meeting in April/May this year, pending expert nominations.

Several activities were mandated to lay the groundwork for the design and implementation of NAPs. The COP adopted initial guidelines for the formulation of NAPs by Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and requested the LDC Expert Group (LEG) to develop technical guidelines. The COP also requested the LEG to identify support needs for the process of formulation and implementation of NAPs, and to prioritize support for NAPs in its work.

The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) was requested by the COP to consider guidance on policies and programmes to enable support for the NAP process for LDCs at its next session. Parties and relevant organizations were invited by the COP to submit information on various aspects of the NAP process by 13 February 2012 for consideration at SBI 36.

Parties agreed on activities to be undertaken by the work programme on loss and damage leading up to COP 18. Activities include international- and regional-level expert meetings to address the first two thematic areas of the work programme: assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, and options to address this risk.

The first expert meeting will focus on assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. Further regional expert meetings will take place for Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Island Developing States later this year, to address issues related to different approaches to address loss and damage. These meetings will be informed by a technical paper and a literature review in accordance with the mandate.

The outcomes of these activities are expected to generate an adequate knowledge base to inform the COP in making a decision on loss and damage at COP 18.
 
New activities agreed under Nairobi work programme, Private Sector Initiative database launched
 
 Image    In Durban, new activities on freshwater and ecosystem based adaptation were agreed under the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and the NWP Private Sector Initiative adaptation database was launched.

Under the Nairobi work programme (NWP), the Conference of the Parties (COP) requested the secretariat to organize two technical workshops: the first on water, climate change impacts and adaptation strategies (to take place before 37th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, SBSTA 37), and the second on ecosystem based approaches to adaptation (to take place before SBSTA 38).

The COP also requested the development of a compilation of case studies on national adaptation planning processes, and the continuation of the development of knowledge products and stakeholder engagement. SBSTA 38 will further consider how the NWP can support scientific and technical work under the Cancun Adaptation Framework.

During the Durban conference, the UNFCCC secretariat also launched a database featuring profitable climate change adaptation activities pioneered by private companies, as part of its efforts to put the benefits and business sense of adaptation firmly on the agenda of the private sector.
 
Next steps agreed for the least developed countries work programme and implementation of NAPAs
 
 Image   Next steps were agreed on in Durban for the least developed countries work programme and further implementation of national adaptation programmes of action.

The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) provided further guidance to the LDC Expert Group (LEG) on training workshops on National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) implementation. The COP requested the LEG to provide further specification on each of the elements of the LDC work programme to inform negotiations on the LDC Fund (LDCF) at SBI 36. The LEG will continue its work based on its work programme for 2011-2012 and the new mandates received in Durban. The next meeting of the LEG will be held from 9-13 March 2012 in Bhutan. 


As of 17 January 2012, a total of 47 National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) had been submitted to the secretariat. The latest NAPA received is from Angola, in December 2011. As of December 2011, the LDCF supports 52 projects and programmes in 42 LDCs, and 33 LDCF NAPA projects have begun implementation.
 
Continuing the research dialogue and further funding climate observations
 
The COP requested the GEF to continue to provide financial resources to developing countries relevant to strengthening observation networks and capabilities under the LDCF and the Special Climate Change Fund. Parties agreed to continue the research dialogue and hold the next dialogue at SBSTA 36, including discussion on GHGs from coastal and marine ecosystems. Two related side events were organized in Durban: