18 September 2009: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a fact sheet titled “The need for adaptation,” which outlines links between climate change and sustainable development, options for responding to adaptation needs, funding requirements, current UNFCCC efforts, the Adaptation Fund and negotiations post-2012.

The fact sheet highlights the challenges facing developing countries, the need for start-up funding for adaptation in developing countries to be made available at Copenhagen, the success of the first phase of the Nairobi work programme, and the need to pursue adaptation in parallel with mitigation. It suggests steps for effective national level adaptation strategies that complement development objectives and underscores that strategies for adaptation funding should not be based on reactive funding for short-term emergency relief. [The fact sheet]