13 September 2012: The Adaptation Committee held its inaugural meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from 7-10 September 2012, and developed activities for its three-year work programme. According to the UNFCCC Secretariat, the four-day meeting achieved a good sense of common purpose and greater clarity on the vision for the committee among its members.

Discussion focused on articulating the strategic vision of the Committee, ranging from accelerating climate-resilient investment and fostering synergies across all adaptation actors, to achieving coherence of adaptation considerations within and outside the Convention process.

The Adaptation Committee was established at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) as part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework as a way to promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation in a coherent manner under the Convention. The Committee’s functions include: providing technical support and guidance to the Parties; sharing of relevant information, knowledge, experience and good practices; promoting synergy and engagement with national, regional and international organizations, centres and network; and providing information and recommendations for consideration by the COP. Parties decided at COP 17 that the Adaptation Committee shall comprise 16 members, who serve in their personal capacity and are nominated by Parties in their respective groups or constituencies and elected by the COP. [UNFCCC Information on the Adaptation Committee]