11 December 2018
COP 24 Side Event Discusses Linkages between NAPs and NDCs
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
story highlights

The side event sought to enhance understanding of the linkages and areas of coherence between the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Speakers discussed challenges and opportunities for linking the processes, with one speaker noting that no country has mastered the alignment of NDCs and NAPs.

3 December 2018: A side event at the Katowice Climate Change Conference discussed ways to advance implementation of adaptation needs and goals by realizing linkages between the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

The side event, which was organized by the NAP Global Network, whose Secretariat is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), sought to enhance understanding of the linkages and areas of coherence between the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In addition, the event sought to highlight the potential benefits and challenges associated with aligning countries’ NAP processes and their NDCs.

Anika Terton, NAP Global Network, discussed the outcome from a workshop on strengthening alignment of NDCs and NAPs that convened in Thailand in 2018, highlighting that countries had mapped their alignment of the two processes and indicated they would want the processes aligned in the future. Terton highlighted that countries face political, coordination and institutional challenges in aligning these processes, but could generate efficiencies and leverage additional financing.

Aligning NAPs and NDCs could generate efficiencies and leverage additional financing.

Malte Maass, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), highlighted that NDCs focus on mitigation while NAPs aim to integrate climate change adaptation planning into national planning processes. Stressing that climate resilient development is at the heart of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and the SDGs, Maass called for finding synergies in implementing the three agendas to avoid duplication of work and financial resources.

Jerome Ilagan, Philippines, stressed the complementarity of the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework in addressing the challenges of typhoons, and highlighted efforts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address regional adaptation plans.

Vositha Wijenayake, Sri Lanka, reported that Sri Lanka is trying to integrate actions related to DRR and climate change in implementing the SDGs. She suggested that sector-based NAPs could positively affect the region, such as adaptation measures in the agriculture sector.

Emily Fadzai Matingo, Zimbabwe, highlighted the need to mainstream gender in the NAP process to ensure countries include the voices of women and vulnerable groups in adaptation planning and in the NDC process.

Edgar Hernán Cruz Martínez, Colombia, pointed to the gap in translating national frameworks to local decision-making processes, and stressed that national level planning must consider all the resources needed for implementation at the local level.

Robert Bradley, Knowledge and Research Director, NDC Partnership, noted that no country has mastered the alignment of NDCs and NAPs. [IISD RS ENB+ Coverage of Side Event Titled, ‘Alignment to Advance Climate-Resilient Development: Linking NAPs and NDCs’] [NAP Network website]


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