Background 

The 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded on 24 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking several landmark decisions to advance global climate action. With significant updates expected on the different processes under the Paris Agreement, including the global goal on adaptation, National Adaptation Plans and support to the work of adaptation-related constituted bodies such as the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), it is essential to translate these outcomes into actionable insights for regions like the West and Central Africa (WACA), which faces unique vulnerabilities and opportunities in addressing climate change.

The West and Central Africa (WACA) region, home to diverse developing economies, small island developing states (SIDS), and countries with high emissions, is crucial in driving global climate action. A post-COP29 webinar series will provide regional stakeholders with an inclusive platform to unpack key decisions' implications, discuss regional priorities, and strategize implementation pathways.

Since its establishment, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Center for West and Central Africa (RCC WAC Africa) has collaborated to mainstream Climate Actions with stakeholders and parties within the region. This post-COP29 webinar on Adaptation is being collaboratively organized with the UNFCCC Secretariat.

Objectives

The webinar series aims to:

• Highlight COP29 outcomes on adaptation and resilience, particularly focusing on the global goal on adaptation, including region-specific opportunities and challenges.
• Foster discussions among regional stakeholders to address shared priorities and solutions.
• Build capacity for implementing COP29 decisions, particularly for climate-vulnerable nations and communities.
• Strengthen regional collaboration and partnerships for enhanced climate action post-COP29.

Target Audience

• Government representatives and policymakers from West and Central Africa;
• UN Country Teams;
• Regional centers and organizations;
• Civil society and non-governmental organizations;
• Private sector and businesses; and
• Youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and academic institutions.

Key Takeaways

• Collaboration and Coordination: The webinar underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, including UN agencies, development banks, and civil society organizations, to support countries in formulating and implementing NAPs. A coordinated approach is essential to address the challenges of access to finance, technical capacity, and data gaps.
• Indicators for Adaptation: The development of indicators for the GGA is a critical step in tracking progress toward global adaptation goals. The process of refining the current list of 7000 indicators to a manageable set of 100 by COP30 is underway, with a focus on ensuring that the indicators are globally applicable while capturing the diverse contexts of adaptation.
• Implementation Support: There is a clear need for structured support for the formulation and implementation of NAPs, particularly for LDCs. The establishment of a NAP implementation partnership, similar to the NDC Partnership, could provide a formal mechanism to support countries in implementing their adaptation plans.
• African Priorities: The webinar highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of African countries and the need for global adaptation efforts to reflect African priorities. The GGA indicator work program presents an opportunity to strengthen the case for adaptation finance, capacity building, and technology transfer in the region.
• NAP Support Partnership: The webinar highlighted the need for the establishment of an NAP Implementation Support Partnership, similar to the NDC Partnership, to provide coordinated support for countries in the region.

Credit: UN Climate Change