Publication date: 2013

Abstract

In order to promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation in a coherent and cohesive manner under the Convention, Parties established the Adaptation Committee in 2010 as the overall advisory body on adaptation to the Conference of the Parties (COP). Since its inaugural meeting in September 2012, the Adaptation Committee has advanced its efforts on providing technical support and guidance to the Parties on adaptation action and on means of implementation as well as its efforts on raising awareness, sharing information and reaching out to stakeholders outside the traditional adaptation community. As part of its work plan, the Adaptation Committee agreed to prepare annual thematic reports to provide information on adaptation to Parties as well as the broader international adaptation community.

With this 2013 thematic report on the State of Adaptation under the Convention, the Adaptation Committee seeks to raise awareness and understanding of the variety of adaptation‑related bodies, programmes and workstreams under the Convention and how they contribute jointly to enhanced action on adaptation (see figure 1 for an overview of the existing institutional structure on adaptation under the Convention).

This report is structured as follows: section II provides some background on the adaptation challenge. Section III elaborates on the evolution of adaptation under the Convention, while section IV provides some insights on support available for adaptation under the Convention, including finance, technology and capacity‑building. Engaging stakeholders is discussed in section V. The report concludes with a description of how the implementation of adaptation‑related provisions under the Convention is facilitated by the secretariat (section VI).