Adapting to Climate Change: A Challenge for Vulnerable Communities

According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report, 2022, global efforts in adaptation planning, financing and implementation are not enough to prepare vulnerable communities around the world to adapt to the rising risks from the impacts of climate change.

Findings of the Report

• Adaptation Gap Report 2022 therefore emphasizes that both mitigation and adaptation are key to help vulnerable countries and communities cope.
• Increase in Funding: Demand for financing to turn these plans into action is increasing, it finds significant acceleration is needed to double 2019 finance flows by 2025, in accordance with the Glasgow Climate Pact.
• In 2020, international adaptation finance to developing countries reached USD 28.6 billion, representing a 4% increase from 2019. The report estimates annual adaptation needs to be between USD 160 billion and 340 billion by 2030 and USD 315 billion to 565 billion by 2050.

Steps suggested by the Report

The report highlighted that the best way was to link actions on mitigation and adaptation in terms of planning, financing and implementation, which would provide co-benefits.

• Increase Financing for Adaptation: There is a need for developed countries to provide a clear roadmap for their promise of doubling finance for adaptation to USD 40 billion, which was decided at COP 26 in Glasgow.
• A New Business Model: The world urgently needs a new business model for turning adaptation priorities into investable projects as there is a mismatch between what governments propose and what financiers consider investable.
• Need for Data Implementation: The availability of climate risk data and information, an issue for adaptation planning in many developing countries.
• Modified Warning Systems: The implementation and operationalisation of early warning systems against extreme weather events and slow onset changes such as sea level rise.

India’s measure to adapt to Climate Change

• The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established 2015 to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the State and Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.