Knowledge Support provided to the Adaptation Committee

Introduction

The Adaptation Committee (AC) was established in 2010 as part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework to promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation in a coherent manner under the UNFCCC.

The AC has benefited from the wide range of technical expertise that the Nairobi work programme (NWP) and its partners provide in implementing its work plan, including support for:

Deepening understanding of adaptation themes among Parties and stakeholders, and establishing partnerships for relevant collaborative action;
Strengthening partnerships and promoting collaboration on closing adaptation knowledge gaps and scaling up adaptation action, including at sub-regional level;
Producing knowledge outputs and sharing information on relevant work and engagement opportunities with a global network of partners;
Promoting collaboration with other constituted bodies on scaling up adaptation action.

The NWP has been providing support to the work of the AC since 2013, following the progressively renewed mandates by the Conference of Parties (COP) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), particularly in contributing to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Upon the invitations by the COP and the SBSTA, the AC has invited the NWP to collaborate in implementing several activities as a part of its workplan, as well as provided recommendations and advice on the delivery of the NWP mandates.

Deepening understanding of adaptation themes among Parties and stakeholders, and establishing partnerships for relevant collaborative action

Indigenous and local knowledge in adaptation action and the application of gender-sensitive approaches and tools for adaptation

In 2014, the AC, in collaboration with the NWP, organized the technical expert meeting, which was informed by a technical paper and a scoping paper prepared at the end of 2013.
In 2019, a joint event with the NWP, the AC and the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) was convened at COP 25 to facilitate the effort to integrate indigenous knowledge and local knowledge systems into climate adaptation action.
Dedicated pages on local, indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices and gender-sensitive approaches and tools for adaptation are available on the Adaptation Knowledge Platform (AKP).

Promoting livelihoods and economic diversification

In 2015, the AC convened the expert meeting in collaboration with NWP partner organizations. The final report on the meeting was endorsed in 2016 and a user-friendly information and outreach product was disseminated.
In 2017, the AC carried out work to collect inputs and compile a report on various approaches to adaptation, taking into account livelihoods and economic diversification. A user-friendly version of the long-term adaptation planning paper was disseminated in 2018 and included elements from this report.

Oceans, coastal areas and ecosystems

In 2019, a scoping exercise was undertaken involved mapping partners and institutions in this thematic area. The scoping paper served as input to discussions at the 13th NWP Focal Point Forum, which was held at COP 25.
In 2020, a policy brief on the ocean was produced by the expert group on oceans, and an ocean and climate change dialogue was held as part of the UNFCCC Climate Dialogues.
A dedicated page on oceans is available on the AKP.

Biodiversity and climate change adaptation

In 2020, NWP conducted the mapping of organizations working on issues related to biodiversity and forest and grassland ecosystems, to be represented in the expert group. The 1st expert group meeting on biodiversity and climate change adaptation was held virtually in July. A session on biodiversity and climate change adaptation was held as part of the UNFCCC Climate Dialogues in November.
In 2021, the second expert group meeting on biodiversity took place in February.
A dedicated page on biodiversity is available on the AKP.

Strengthening partnerships and promoting collaboration on closing adaptation knowledge gaps and scaling up adaptation action, including at sub-regional level

Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI)

In 2014, the COP endorsed the launch of LAKI, an initiative that aims to address knowledge gaps to the implementation and catalyze climate change adaptation actions in the context of various sub-regions and thematic domains, and in a demand-driven process.
During its pilot phase (2014–2017), the LAKI identified a total of 85 priority adaptation knowledge gaps across six sub-regions, which are included in an e-publication. The NWP has convened partnerships with universities, regional and global centers and networks and NWP partners in closing these priority knowledge gaps.
In 2019, the AC invited the NWP to provide regular updates on progress of the LAKI, including an overview of recent findings, to inform its work.

Partnership with national, regional and international organizations

In 2016, the AC organized an event on the potential establishment of a partnership platform with national, regional and international organizations, centres and networks. Based on the information and feedback received from Parties, organizations and networks, as contained the report on the meeting. The NWP, in collaboration with the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), prepared an overview of the landscape of existing platforms.
The NWP developed an online database that includes a network of over 400 partner organizations for collaboration on addressing adaptation knowledge needs identified by Parties and constituted bodies.

Private sector engagement

In 2018, the AC, together with the International Trade Centre (ITC), held a workshop on fostering private sector engagement in building resilience to climate change, and compiled the report on this workshop.
In 2019, the AC expanded its efforts to involve the private sector in adaptation planning and action, by organizing the Adaptation Forum on the topic of “Engagement of the private sector in adaptation planning processes, including NAPs: challenges and opportunities”.

Producing knowledge outputs and sharing information on relevant work and engagement opportunities with a global network of partners

Experiences, good practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs in the process to formulate and implement NAPs

In 2014, the AC and the LEG compile an information paper presenting experiences, good practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs in the process to formulate and implement NAPs, based on the submissions from Parties and organizations on NAPs, and the first and second NAP Expo held in June 2013 and August 2014.
In 2015, a workshop was organized by the AC and the LEG on experiences, good practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs in the process to formulate and implement NAPs. The report on the workshop was submitted at SBI 42.

Good practices and lessons learned in relation to adaptation planning processes for ecosystems, human settlements, water resources and health; and good practices and lessons learned in processes and structures for linking national and local adaptation planning

In 2014, the AC and the LEG developed the case studies with inputs from the NWP partner organizations and compiled them into a report. A review group comprising representatives from the AC, the LEG and thematic experts from NWP partner organizations also selected the case studies to be shared at the 9th NWP Focal Point Forum.
Dedicated pages on ecosystems and water resources, health, and human settlements are available on the AKP.

Monitoring and evaluation of adaptation

In 2016, as part of its 2016–2018 workplan, the AC agreed to develop an inventory of monitoring and evaluation work, with support from the NWP partner organizations.
In 2018, an expert meeting on national adaptation goals/indicators was organized, and the AC considered the report and agreed to forward relevant recommendations for consideration at COP 24.

Communication and Outreach

As a knowledge hub, the NWP employs a variety of communication channels and platforms to collect relevant information and disseminate it in a usable format to Parties, partner organizations and other relevant organizations.

Adaptation Knowledge Portal for sharing and exchanging knowledge about climate change adaptation actions.
NWP eUpdate newsletter, published three times a year and disseminated to Parties and NWP partner organizations.
UNFCCC communication platforms, including the Adaptation Exchange Facebook page, UNFCCC climate conference YouTube channel, UNFCCC Newsroom, UNFCCC and Adaptation Division Facebook accounts, UNFCCC and NWP Adaptation Exchange Twitter account.
The annual NWP Focal Point Forum is convened under the NWP on the margins of COP.
Online database of partner organizations.

Promoting collaboration with other constituted bodies on scaling up adaptation action

Building on the collaboration with the AC and the LEG, and following the AC’s advice, the SBSTA requested the NWP, under the guidance of the SBSTA Chair, to communicate information on the work and mandates of the NWP to the relevant constituted bodies and institutional arrangements and to invite them to consider collaborating with the NWP. The NWP’s collaboration is underway with the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM Excom), the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), the Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG), the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), and the Technology Executive Committee (TEC).

Upcoming activities

Based on the AC19 advice, the following activities are planned to take place in collaboration with the NWP:

Supporting the work mandated to the AC and the AC’s 2019-2021 workplan;
Strengthening partnerships to address knowledge gaps and needs related to the ongoing activities of the AC and the LEG, including the process to formulate and implement NAPs.
Contributing to the AC’s and the LEG’s work on methodologies for reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation and support;
Contributing to the AC’s work on monitoring and evaluating adaptation;
Contributing to the AC’s technical paper on “Priorities and needs”, including through collecting cases studies;
Aligning the theme of the 15th NWP Focal Point Forum with the AC’s synthesis report on “Costs of adaptation”;
Contributing to events and forums conducted by the AC;
Sharing information with a global network of partners, through its communication channels.