adaptation in international climate change law

Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and Policy

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Dr. Achala Abeysinghe

Adaptation Policy and Governance of Climate Change

Dr. Achala AbeysinghePrincipal Researcher/ Team LeaderGlobal Climate Law, Policy and [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Dr. Achala AbeysinghePresentation Outline

Part I: Key concepts of adaptation Part II: Evolution of global responses on

adaptation Part II: Adaptation finance Part IV: Adaptation in the Paris Agreement

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Part I: Key concepts of adaptation


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheWhat is adaptation?

“Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects…”(IPCC)

“Process by which strategies to moderate, cope with and take advantage of the consequences of climatic events are enhanced, developed, and implemented” (UNEP)

“The process or outcome of a process that leads to a reduction in harm or risk of harm, or realisation of benefits associated with climate variability and climate change. (The UK Climate Impacts Program)”


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheWhy adaptation?

CO2 emissions have risen (145 fold since 1850, projected to rise by an additional

54% by 2030 (UNEP))

At the present rate, global mean temperature will increase above 4°C relative to pre-industrial level by 2100 (IPCC 2013)

“Increasing magnitudes of warming increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts” ( Heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, and wildfires… IPCC)

The CO2 emitted today will stay in the atmosphere for more than 100 years

The response to climate change mitigation so far has been inefficient

Therefore countries and communities have to address climate change

impacts today and tomorrow


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Dr. Achala AbeysinghePrinciples of adaptation

Country driven Gender responsiveness Participatory Human rights


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Climate change and equity: key questions

Who is vulnerable to climate change impacts? Who should receive support? Who should pay for adaptation?


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheClimate change and equity

From1980 to 2013, roughly 1.28 million people lost their lives in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) due to climate-related disasters (Over half of the global percentage)

Between 2010 and 2013, a total of nearly 240,000 people from LDCs lost their lives to climate related disasters (67 per cent of deaths from climate related disasters worldwide)

People in the LDCs were five times more likely to die from climate related disasters than people living anywhere else on earth.

Data from Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (Brussels).


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It is better to face Sandy in the US than Aila in Bangladesh?


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Every country is vulnerable to climate change but some are more vulnerable.

Lack of capacity and resources exacerbates climate vulnerability


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Part II: Evolution of Global Responses on Climate Change Adaptation


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Evolution of global responses to adaptation

Paris Agreement Article 7

2015

Lima decision

on Adaptation component in Intended Nationally Determine

d Contributio

ns

2014

Cancun Adaptatio

n Framewor

k

2010

Nairobi Work

Programme on

Climate Change

2005

National Adaptation

Programmes of Action

(NAPAs) and Least

Developed Countries

Fund (LDCF)

2001

Poor cousin of mitigation

1992


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Key elements of adaptation under the UNFCCC

Principles Planning Institutional arrangements Funding Monitoring and evaluation Learning/ awareness


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Planning: NAPAs and NAPs National Adaptation Programmes of Action- NAPAs (2001)

To address urgent and immediate adaptation needs of LDCs

National adaptation plans- NAPs (2010) Medium and long term adaptation plans for all developing

countries


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheInstitutional Arrangements

Adaptation committee Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG)


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Learning, knowledge and awareness Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Nairobi Work Programme Adaptation Committee


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Part III: funding for adaptation


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Adaptation finance and the UNFCCC “The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in

Annex II shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.”

“The Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology”

“The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments under the Convention will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources…”


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Equity and principles of adaptation finance Adequacy Predictability Balanced between adaptation and mitigation New and additional Grant based Easy access


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheFinancial Mechanism: UNFCCC

The Global Environment Facility (GEF): an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the Convention

The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)

The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

GEF Trust Fund

The Kyoto Protocol: Adaptation Fund (AF)

The Green Climate Fund (GCF): as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheStatus of Funds

Source: Climate Fund Update, June 2015


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheOther climate funds

Source: Climate Fund Update, June 2015


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheAmount/ Adequacy

Word Bank: $70–100 billion (between 2010 and 2050)The UNFCCC: Up to US $67 billion a year annually by 2030UNDP: Up to US $86 billion a year by 2015DARA: 2030 - $1 Trillion


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheAnnual global climate finance flows

Reached an average of USD 364 billion in 2010/2011

USD 350 billion went to mitigation measures Only USD 14 billion goes to adaptation

Key recipients: Emerging economies

Source: CPI, February 2013


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• Part IV: Adaptation in the Paris Agreement


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Adaptation in the Paris Agreement: Key elements Recognizes that the current need for adaptation is

significant greater levels of mitigation can reduce the need for

additional adaptation efforts, greater adaptation needs can involve greater adaptation

costs

Long term vision: global goal for adaptation Equal footing with mitigation Establish common responsibilities Establish link to level of warming and adaptation support


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheParis Agreement…

Each Party to engage in adaptation planning processes and the implementation of actions including national adaptation plans

Continuous and enhanced international support to be provided to developing country Parties for the implementation


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheParis Decisions…

Reference to the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries expert Group

Requests Parties to strengthen regional cooperation and establish regional centres and networks

Further requests the Green Climate Fund to expedite support for the LDCs for the formulation of the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)


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Adaptation in Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)

Adaptation as voluntary element in the INDCs Elements include:

Type(s) of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation needs, by Sector

Type(s) of Policies, Actions and Tools Quantified goals (if any) Timeframe Methodologies and Assumptions Implementation Support Needs


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May 2, 2023

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Example: Mexican INDCThree areas of action in 2020-2030

1. Adaptation to climate change for the social sector - e.g. Guarantee food security under CC; reduce by 50% number of municipalities regarded most vulnerable etc.

2. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation- e.g. 0% deforestation target, reforestation of watersheds, strengthen

coastal protection etc.3. Adaptation of strategic infrastructure and productive systems - e.g. infrastructure relocation in high-risk zones, incorporate adaptation criteria in public building systems etc.


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Dr. Achala AbeysingheQuestions

adaptation in international climate change law

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