Key COP document calls for progress in adapting to climate change by 2030
- By 2025, all countries must have in place a detailed plan to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change in their countries.
- This must demonstrate progress in implementing such a plan by 2030.
Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) document
- The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) document is expected to be part of the agreement when the UN’s COP-28 climate summit concludes in Dubai.
- Much of the focus at the annual talks is on
- ‘Mitigation’,
- Getting countries to commit to time-bound plans to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change,
- Emphasis on the Global Stocktake process.
Adaptation Approach
- This approach to push countries to take the steps necessary to cope with the current and future impacts of a changing climate.
- Global temperatures have already risen 1.1 degrees C since pre-industrial times
- They need to be brought in their wake and accelerated in climate-related disasters.
- ‘Adaptation’ refers to the adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems that countries must make in response to these, and other anticipated climate effects.
- These actions are country-specific.
- They can range from
- Building flood defences,
- Setting up early warning systems for cyclones,
- Switching to drought-resistant crops,
- Redesigning communication systems
- Business operations
- Government policies
COP Talks
- At COP 21 in Paris, negotiators decided that the GGA was necessary to get all countries on board a common framework for adaptation.
- Eight workshops were held after the last COP in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt where quantitative targets were decided.
- To adverse impacts of climate change by at least 50% by 2030
- By at least 90% by 2050”
- Achieving100% coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems, climate information services and response systems by 2027”
The cost of adaptation
- Just as billions and trillions of dollars are needed for mitigation,
- adaptation too is expected to require developed countries to invest trillions of dollars in developing countries and island states,
- developing countries and island states, are most at risk from climate hazards.
- Only a fraction of what is required has made its way to where it is required.
Financing of Indian Efforts on Climate Change
- India had formally conveyed to the United Nations that it was meeting most of its adaptation expenses with its own money.
- “The total adaptation relevant expenditure was 5.6% of the GDP in 2021-2022, growing from a share of 3.7% in 2015-16.
- There is a significant gap in adaptation resources which cannot be met only through governmental resources.
- Significant contributions need to be channelized through bilateral and multilateral public finance and private investments
India’s Expression of Disappointment
- There are no clearly defined targets, no clear definition of a framework, lots of very general exhortations, no outcome targets
- The developed countries do not do anything for the adaptation agenda for developing countries and this is disappointing.
- Out of $1.27 trillion in climate finance flows in 2021-22, only $63 billion is allocated for adaptation.
- This is out of the framework of the the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change
Prelims Takeaway
- National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change