The ongoing COP28 UN Climate Summit, hosted in the UAE, has released a preliminary text delineating the contours of the ‘Global Goal on Adaptation.’ Unveiled on Sunday, the draft intricately outlines the substantial, long-term efforts that nations are expected to undertake by 2030 to mitigate vulnerability to extreme climate impacts.
A notable feature of the draft is its emphasis on seven adaptation targets, ranging from ensuring climate-resilient food and agricultural production to fortifying resilience against climate-related health impacts. However, the text faces criticism for what experts identify as a glaring weakness in climate finance provisions, particularly concerning the support needed by developing countries to achieve these ambitious adaptation targets.
India, a country acutely susceptible to climate impacts, submitted its third national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the preceding Saturday. The submission underscored that a significant portion of adaptation-based activities relies on public finance, including flagship programs. India, cognizant of the substantial adaptation needs, stressed that these cannot be solely met through government resources.
The draft, pivotal to COP28, establishes a framework for global adaptation goals. It places paramount importance on both transformational and incremental adaptation efforts, taking into account the best available science and the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. A notable aspect of the proposed framework is its advocacy for a country-driven, voluntary approach, explicitly avoiding becoming a basis for comparison between participating nations.
The text urges participating countries to expedite actions across various levels, from local to global, targeting seven specific adaptation goals by 2030. These goals include addressing climate-induced water scarcity, enhancing food production resilience, and safeguarding cultural heritage from climate-related risks. The draft sets out a comprehensive review process, necessitating climate hazard assessments and multi-hazard early warning systems to be in place by 2025 and 2027, respectively.
Despite these substantial strides, concerns linger within the text, particularly regarding the adaptation finance gap, which is noted to be widening. Developed nations are called upon to double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries by 2025, building upon the levels observed in 2019.
However, uncertainties persist concerning the agreed-upon text related to equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). Developed countries have inserted a ‘no text’ option, introducing complexities to the negotiations. Critics argue that while the overall targets are articulated, there is a lack of concrete metrics to measure progress on adaptation facets such as water scarcity, water-related hazards, health impacts, food and agriculture resilience, and ecosystems. To address these shortcomings, the draft suggests a two-year work program to develop metrics and review the framework, potentially leading to a delay in tangible progress.
