Since the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process was established in 2010 under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the UN has reported that 129 developing countries have launched NAPs. This was the focus of a side event at the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 27). Other events focused on ocean-based climate solutions and Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism.

The 8 November event themed, ‘Accelerating Action for a Climate-resilient Future Through NAPs,’ showcased concrete experiences in, and best practices from, countries when devising, implementing, and monitoring their NAPs, and highlighted the work of the NAP Global Network in helping countries implement their adaptation plans.

During the event, Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment, UK, announced that the UK will triple its adaptation finance by 2025.

Anne Hammill, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), said a NAP is “just a piece of bigger and more consequential stories unfolding in countries,” and that countries’ adaptation efforts should not be judged by whether or not they have NAPs and/or how advanced they are.

Country representatives whose NAP processes are at different stages, ranging from formulation to implementation and monitoring, made presentations. Liberia mentioned use of an inclusive monitoring and evaluation framework to measure progress of its NAP. Saint Lucia presented highlights from its first NAP Progress Report, covering the years 2018-2021. Representatives from Zimbabwe and Eswatini also spoke.

The event was organized by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Adaptation, Nature & Resilience Department, UK, and the NAP Global Network.

Among other events that took place on 8 November was one on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), a cooperative mechanism in which Japan and partner developing countries contribute to emission reductions by facilitating the diffusion of decarbonizing technologies and implementing emission reduction activities. The event on promoting and expanding implementation of the JCM took place as the JCM celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. The JCM has 223 active projects in 24 countries around the world.

Another event addressed ocean-based climate solutions, during which panelists called for breaking down silos and greater cooperation between biodiversity and international climate frameworks. It was organized by the UN Climate Change High-level Champions, the Global Climate Action Agenda for Ocean and Coastal Zones, and the Ocean & Climate Platform.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is covering selected side events at the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference in Egypt, which runs through 18 November 2022.