3 November 2016
Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update: UNFCCC Secretariat, Constituted Bodies Prepare for COP 22, Sudan, Sri Lanka Submit NAPs
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
story highlights

On adaptation, the Marrakech Conference is expected to make progress on developing , inter alia: guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, including as a component of nationally determined contributions (NDCs); and modalities and procedures for a public registry to record adaptation communications.

With respect to loss and damage, COP 22 is expected to address, among other issues, the review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM), and the five-year programme of the WIM.

2 November 2016: The final preparations for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference are being completed as we move closer to the biggest climate change event of the year. By the time the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC convenes in Marrakech, Morocco, from 7-18 November 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change will have entered into force. COP 22 is expected to address numerous adaptation- and loss and damage-related issues emanating from the Paris Agreement, as well as from various decisions adopted by the COP.

On adaptation, the Marrakech Conference is expected to make progress on developing , inter alia: guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, including as a component of nationally determined contributions (NDCs); and modalities and procedures for a public registry to record adaptation communications. With respect to loss and damage, COP 22 is expected to address, among other issues, the review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM), and the establishment of a clearinghouse for risk transfer.

UNFCCC Secretariat, Adaptation Committee Issue Documents Ahead of COP 22

In preparation for COP 22, the UNFCCC Secretariat has released a number of documents on issues relating to adaptation and loss and damage, including:

  • Report of the Adaptation Committee (AC) (FCCC/SB/2016/2) covering its work in the period from November 2015 to September 2016. [Report of the Adaptation Committee]
  • Report of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the WIM (FCCC/SB/2016/3) for the period from December 2015 to September 2016. [Report of the ExCom of the WIM]
  • Report by the Secretariat of the 30th meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Expert Group (LEG) (FCCC/SBI/2016/18) held in Monrovia, Liberia, from 7-10 September 2016. [The 30th Meeting of the LEG]
  • A note by the Secretariat on progress in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs) (FCCC/SBI/2016/INF.11). [Progress in the Process to Formulate and Implement NAPs]
  • A note by the Secretariat on progress made in implementing activities under the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change (NWP) (FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.10). [Progress Made in Implementing Activities Under the NWP]
  • An information document by the Secretariat containing Parties’ views regarding further guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, including, inter alia, as a component of nationally determined contributions, referred to in Article 7, paragraphs 10 and 11, of the Paris Agreement (FCCC/APA/2016/INF.2), including submissions from: Argentina on behalf of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay; Canada; Congo on behalf of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC); Costa Rica on behalf of the Independent Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC); Indonesia; Iran on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs); Japan; Maldives on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); Mali on behalf of the African Group; Mexico on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG); New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; and the US. [Parties’ Views Regarding Further Guidance in Relation to Adaptation Communications]
  • An information document by the Secretariat containing Parties’ views regarding further guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, including, inter alia, as a component of NDCs, referred to in Article 7, paragraphs 10 and 11, of the Paris Agreement (FCCC/APA/2016/INF.2/Add.1), including submissions from Morocco, Slovakia and the European Commission on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States, and Vanuatu [Addendum to Parties’ Views Regarding Further Guidance in Relation to Adaptation Communications]

The AC has issued two publications. A technical paper titled ‘Opportunities and options for enhancing adaptation actions and supporting their implementation: reducing vulnerability and mainstreaming adaptation’ aims to contribute to the understanding of how good practices and lessons learned can lay the foundation for the enhanced implementation of pre-2020 adaptation actions and beyond. An e-publication ‘Fact sheet on livelihood and economic diversification: complementary tools for adaptation: How can we promote economic diversification and build resilience?’ describes livelihood and economic diversification (LED) tools that can be used to strengthen resilience and decrease vulnerability of vulnerable countries over time. [Opportunities and Options for Enhancing Adaptation Actions and Supporting Their Implementation: Reducing Vulnerability and Mainstreaming Adaptation] [Fact Sheet on Livelihood and Economic Diversification: Complementary Tools for Adaptation: How Can We Promote Economic Diversification and Build Resilience?] [AC Webpage]

A new UNFCCC webpage provides an update on activities carried out under the joint AC and LEG mandates in support of the Paris Agreement, including previous work and recent progress. [UNFCCC Webpage on Joint AC and LEG Mandates] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting Paris Agreement]

In accordance with its mandate from COP 21, the WIM Executive Committee (ExCom) issued an invitation to institutions to provide input on the content, design and use of the clearing house for risk transfer through a user needs assessment by 14 November 2016.

COP 21 requested the ExCom “to establish a clearing house for risk transfer that serves as a repository for information on insurance and risk transfer, in order to facilitate the efforts of Parties to develop and implement comprehensive risk management strategies.” [Invitation to Institutions to Provide Input] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting Paris Agreement]

Sudan, Sri Lanka Submit NAPs

Two new NAPs from developing countries have been posted on the UNFCCC NAP Central. Sudan submitted its NAP on 26 September 2016, and Sri Lanka on 1 November 2016, bringing the total number of submitted NAPs ready for implementation to five.

In its NAP, Sudan provides information on actions to reduce climate change vulnerability with respect to water resources, agriculture and food security, public health, coastal zones and rural communities in its 18 states. Sudan’s NAP outlines enabling environments, including improved observation networks, enhanced national research on climate change adaptation, vulnerability hotspot mapping and climate-proofing, as well as a NAP implementation strategy. [Sudan’s NAP] [UNFCCC NAP Central]

Sri Lanka’s NAP identifies food security, water, the coastal sector, health, human settlements, biodiversity, tourism and recreation, export development and industry-energy-transportation as the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse effects of climate change. Relying on broad stakeholder engagement, it identifies options to address Sri Lanka’s adaptation needs per sector, as well as interventions necessary to fulfill cross-cutting national needs. [Sri Lanka’s NAP]


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