The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, warned that national climate adaptation plans have become more necessary than ever.
During his speech at the COP29 sessions in Baku, Azerbaijan, Stiell emphasized the crucial role of national adaptation plans in transforming the support system for national action plans from vision to action.
Stiell emphasized that adaptation plans are not just policies but essential tools for saving millions of lives in the face of increasing climate disasters. He pointed to the significant challenges faced by developing countries and small island nations; they suffer from a lack of resources and capacities, hindering their ability to effectively combat climate change.
"We have seen this year how every part of preparation, every policy, and every plan makes the difference between life and death for millions of people around the world. Wisdom dictates that we plan for the worst," Stiell explained.
Stiell further pointed out that resources are scarce, both in terms of funding and capacities, especially for the most vulnerable groups in least developed countries and small island developing states.
A financial gap for climate adaptation
Stiell discussed the massive financial gap for climate adaptation, pointing out that adaptation costs could reach $340 billion annually by 2030 and could double to $565 billion by 2050. He added that these figures reflect the difference between devastating disasters and effective protection for billions of people.
The Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC called for the need to move beyond small funding flows toward massive and sustainable financing. He also emphasized the importance of removing bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the most vulnerable countries from obtaining the necessary financial support.
A call for collective action
Stiell highlighted the role of adaptation as a transformative force that goes beyond mere risk reduction, pointing out that investing in it contributes to enhancing economic opportunities and equality. Initiatives like "NAP 3.0," recently launched, aim to enhance innovative financing for adaptation, with a focus on the needs of developing countries, he explained.
He also called upon governments, financial institutions, and international actors to move beyond traditional solutions and explore innovative financing mechanisms in his concluding speech, highlighting the urgency of achieving a sustainable and more resilient future in the face of climate change.
