17 April 2018: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a synthesis report, detailing progress, experience, best practices, lessons learned, gaps, needs and support provided and received in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs). In related news, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia have launched their respective NAP documents.

The UNFCCC report (FCCC/SBI/2018/INF.1), released ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 30 April to 10 May, compiles information on, inter alia, progress, lessons learned, gaps and needs, as well as financial and technical support received by developing countries and provided by developed countries, in the process to formulate and implement NAPs as of 9 February 2018. The document is intended to facilitate negotiations at the 48th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 48).

The UNFCCC report identifies the need for capacity to effectively address adaptation within the broader framework of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the national context.

The report addresses the role of NAPs in: reducing vulnerability to climate change by framing vulnerability and risk in the context of assessing progress in reducing vulnerability over time; and facilitating integration of adaptation into development planning by achieving integration and coherence of adaptation planning and implementation in the national setting. It also considers the guiding principles of the process to formulate and implement NAPs, and includes information compiled by the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Expert Group (LEG) to support the assessment of progress in the process to formulate and implement NAPs.

The report highlights the Integrative Framework for NAPs and SDGs (NAP-SDG iFrame) being developed by the LEG, with the support of the NAP technical working group, to enable explicit consideration of how to contribute to addressing the SDGs through NAPs. It also underscores the role of integrative systems approaches in addressing the coherence and synergy of adaptation action at multiple scales and levels, considering relevant frameworks such as the SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

In relation to gaps and needs in particular, the publication recommends that stakeholders be aware of the linkages between national monitoring, and the evaluation and monitoring of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the SDGs and other global frameworks. It also identifies the need for capacity to effectively address climate change adaptation within the broader framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs in the national context. [Progress, Experience, Best Practices, Lessons Learned, Gaps, Needs and Support Provided and Received in Process to Formulate and Implement NAPs: Synthesis report by Secretariat]

The Governments of Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines launched their respective national plans to prepare their countries to climate change impacts by achieving their adaptation goals. Saint Lucia’s NAP addresses multiple sectors, including water, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, education and health, as well as infrastructure and spatial planning, and terrestrial, coastal and marine natural resource management. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ NAP priority sectors include agriculture, energy, fisheries, forestry, health, infrastructure, tourism, water and transport.

The NAP Global Network provided assistance to national ministries in the development and preparation of Saint Lucia’s, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ NAPs. The NAP Global Network Secretariat is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). [NAP Global Network Press Release on Saint Lucia’s NAP Launch] [NAP Global Network Press Release on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ NAP Launch] [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ NAP Poster] [Saint Lucia’s NAP Poster] [Government of Saint Lucia Press Release Press Release on NAP Poster]

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