Mandate
Mandated at SBSTA 28, the focal point forums aim to facilitate the exchange of views on thematic areas, knowledge needs, and actions required at different governance levels; enhance the engagement of experts and organizations, particularly from developing countries and those involved in national adaptation plans; and promote collaboration among Parties, partners, and institutions to translate key findings and identified gaps from NWP activities into tangible adaptation actions (see SBSTA 47).
Objective
The 18th Focal Point Forum will convene Parties, NWP partners, and diverse knowledge holders to explore pathways through which knowledge, foresight, and strategic partnerships can drive progress towards the resilient future. It will also reflect on the evolving nature of knowledge in an era of uncertainty and transformation, how diverse knowledge systems can inform more inclusive, just, and future-ready adaptation pathways. The concept note is available here.
Expected outcomes
Participants will:
- Identify pathways through foresight-driven knowledge and strategic partnerships can accelerate action at all levels.
- Reflect on how the future of knowledge, integrating ethics, foresight, and diversity, can shape more resilient and equitable societies.
Tentative agenda
| Time |
Overview |
| 15:00 - 15:10 |
Welcome - Adonia Ayebare, Chair of the SBSTA |
| 15:10 - 15:35 |
Scene setting
Framing a resilient future
Youssef Nassef, Director, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC
Keynote
Imagination as a pillar of visioning future resilience
Kim Stanley Robinson, Acclaimed author and visionary thinker
Interactive Q&A with participants
|
| 15:35 - 17:55 |
Co-creating pathways: How knowledge, foresight and partnerships can advance progress towards a resilient future?
Part I: Plenary
- Expert reflections
Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director, Climate Policy Initiative
Laura Pereira, Professor, Sustainability Transformations and Futures at the Global Change Institute, Wits University; Researcher, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
- Learning from knowledge and foresight on adaptation finance under the NWP (see Informal summary report on knowledge and know-how for adaptation and finance )
Rojina Manandhar, Team Lead, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC
- Reflections from all participants
Guiding questions
-What knowledge and know-how, innovations, and partnerships are needed to make progress towards a resilient future?
-How should the future of knowledge, integrating ethics, foresight, and diversity, shape future resilient and equitable societies?
Part II: Group exercise
Group exercise in co-creating pathways
|
| 17:55 - 18:00 |
Closing remarks
Youssef Nassef, Director, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC
|
