Abstract

Despite rising climate impacts, the 2023 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report reveals that progress on climate adaptation is slowing across planning, implementation, and finance. Escalating climate impacts and concerning trends, as outlined in the UNEP Adaptation Gap report, have further left countries ill-prepared to adapt to climate change. Global adaptation action urgently needs to be accelerated in 2024 to ensure efforts are effective, equitable and meet the urgent needs of climate vulnerable countries. 

The Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025) consortium have outlined three crucial priorities for adaptation at COP28. ACT2025’s paper examines the gaps and progress made since COP28 and serves as a comprehensive go-to-guide on adaptation inside and beyond the UN climate negotiations.

This technical note aims to critically analyze the outcomes of COP28, focusing specifically on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) Framework and its implications for future climate action. It also explores how other global trends beyond the international climate negotiations are shaping the frontiers of adaptation action, providing insights into effective approaches and their impacts in resolving country-specific vulnerabilities while tackling discrete dimensions of adaptation.

As such, this paper will examine the progress made so far in global adaptation efforts, identify the significant gaps and challenges that remain, and outline the essential steps that need to be taken in 2024 to ensure that adaptation efforts are effective, equitable, and in line with the urgent needs of vulnerable developing countries in a rapidly changing climate.