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Global Network News
Observers welcome COP29 financing deal but say much work remains – At a somewhat fractious UN Climate Conference (COP29) dominated by finance, the final agreement in Baku, Azerbaijan, saw developed countries pledge to “take the lead” in raising USD 300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035. This is up from the USD 100 billion a year that was pledged in 2009. Read UNEP’s wrap up article from the conference here.
Adaptation Gap Report 2024 - The world's most comprehensive study on the adaptation finance gap was launched on 7 November, followed by multiple outreach events with key stakeholders, including at COP29. This report finds nations must dramatically increase climate adaptation efforts, starting with a commitment to act on finance, and it emphasizes the need to strengthen capacity building and technology transfer to improve the effectiveness of adaptation actions. The launch event can be viewed at the UNEP website.
E-Course: Bringing Nature Into National Adaptation Planning – UNEP and UNEP-WCMC are now bringing you an online training course on how we can adapt to the impacts of climate change by integrating Nature-based Solutions into National Adaptation Plans. The 60-90-minute course not only looks at the extraordinary opportunities, but crucially, the severe risks of failing to recognize and incorporate nature into these plans.
Resilience: The Global Adaptation Podcast – The first 6 episodes of UNEP’s climate adaptation podcast are now available! So far, the show has covered key adaptation themes such as climate-resilient buildings, innovation, youth, restoring ecosystems, adaptation finance, and extreme heat. Stay tuned for more episodes here every Tuesday! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts – Spotify, Amazon, Apple.
Fairhaven: A novel of climate optimism – Unlike most ‘cli fi’ novels, which present apocalyptic scenarios for the future, Fairhaven envisions in an engrossing, readily-accessible story for general readers how a range of practical climate adaptation and mitigation solutions could work when fully implemented. The novel starts in the year 2036 and follows the path of Grace Chan from Malaysia, who is just days away from assuming office as the President of the newly-formed Ocean Independent State.
Water was in the spotlight at the UN climate summit. Here’s why that matters – An interview with Susan Gardner, the Director of UNEP’s Ecosystem Division, sheds light on the declaration of the Baku Water for Climate Action Dialogue and how action on water and freshwater ecosystems can help keep alive the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. A recent report from UNEP found that half of the world’s countries have degraded freshwater systems.
Growing the Green: How and why restoration finance needs to quadruple by 2030 – UNEP and partners have launched a report on restoration finance, tracking public and private finance to Nature-based Solutions and comparing these flows with investments needed to achieve global restoration goals (1 billion hectares to be restored by 2030) under the Rio Conventions. Key findings include that restoration finance needs to quadruple to USD 296 billion by 2030 to reach global restoration targets.
Insuring a resilient nature-positive future: Global guide for insurers on setting priority actions for nature – A first-of-its-kind global guidance has been produced for the insurance industry on priority actions to contribute to the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The publication assists insurers in addressing nature-related issues in underwriting portfolios and provides concrete and practical actions to help primary insurers fulfil their dual responsibility.
Coastal mapping holds the key to climate adaptation for the world's island nations - One of the most important questions for Small Island Developing States worldwide – how high are our islands and how soon will waves and rising sea levels overwhelm them – remains poorly answered. Accurate sea-level data, combined with an understanding of the depth and shape of coastal terrain, is crucial for effective coastal protection and adaptation, especially for low-lying Pacific Island countries.
Are cities ready to handle climate-related risks? – A 2024 report from The Economist Group’s Economist Impact, supported by Zurich Insurance Group, explores urban residents’ concerns about their cities’ readiness to handle the impacts of climate change, their perceptions of existing climate adaptation and mitigation and the barriers to it. The findings are based on a literature review, a general population survey and an expert interview programme conducted by Economist Impact between May and September 2024.
Capturing Collective Progress on Adaptation - Last year, the first Global Stocktake found insufficient data to assess climate adaptation and a lack of universal indicators for global adaptation efforts. Measuring adaptation progress across sectors remains complex. UNDP’s new publication offers sector-specific methodologies by leveraging existing metrics to enable more comprehensive evaluations of adaptation outcomes for the next Global Stocktake in 2028.
News From The Regions
Africa
On front lines of climate change, Tanzanian communities search for answers to deepening drought – The government of Tanzania and UNEP are helping tens of thousands of rural Tanzanians struggling with drought and other impacts of climate change. Since 2018, the push, funded by the Global Environment Facility, has bolstered water supplies, helped communities build up their savings, and trained drought-bedevilled farmers in more resilient livelihoods, like beekeeping.
How a novel type of insurance is helping Uganda’s banana farmers avoid catastrophe – The NDC Action Project – a joint initiative between UNEP and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre – is aiming to give Uganda’s banana farmers a measure of protection from increasingly extreme weather by expanding access to crop insurance. When there is a storm, farmers share photos of the damage and agroeconomists hired by the insurance company determine the value of the damage. Read the full story.
A Perfect Storm: Climate adaptation in Durban informal settlements – As the planet heats, climate disasters are expected to hit coastal cities with greater force. Durban’s recovery from the devastating April 2022 floods highlights the uncertainties such cities face and gives insight into how they can prepare for a sustainable and resilient future. An initiative known as the EPIC Model is leading the way with finding the solutions, from early warnings to disaster management plans.
How “forest gardens” are restoring land – and hope – in Sub-Saharan Africa – Tens of thousands of smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa have established tree-dotted “forest gardens” with assistance from Trees for the Future, a non-profit group. The initiative, say those involved, is helping to diversify food and income sources, making families more resilient, and pushing back against land degradation.
News from the Regions
Asia Pacific
Ecosystem restoration for climate resilient natural capital and rural livelihoods In Nepal – The government of Nepal and UNEP are working on a project to increase the capacity of the government and local communities to use Ecosystem-based Adaptation to adapt to climate change in forests and rangelands in mid-hill and high mountain regions of Nepal. Watch two videos here and here to see the progress so far. Read the web story for full context.
Restoring the Indus, Pakistan’s lifeline – Launched in 2021, Living Indus aims to scale up efforts to protect the natural resources of the Indus Basin, which is home to 90 percent of Pakistan’s population and irrigates 80 percent of its arable land. A major goal is to make the country more resilient in the face of climate change. In addition to securing water supplies for homes, farms and factories, the initiative aims to restore 40 percent of the Indus basin within Pakistan by 2030 and to create more than 200,000 green jobs.
News from the Regions
Latin America & the Caribbean
Drought or flooding are no match for this climate-adapted bean – An FAO story showcases the resilience of the Wayuu people in Colombia's arid La Guajira region through the example of their beloved Guajiro bean. Cultivated for generations, this drought-resistant crop thrives despite harsh climate challenges, serving as both a food source and a cultural emblem. With support from the SCALA programme, the Wayuu community is combining traditional knowledge with innovative climate adaptation practices.
America Adapts: Saving nature with artificial intelligence in Mexico – The latest episode of the America Adapts podcast looks at a pioneering initiative using advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, to understand how mangrove ecosystems and their contributions to communities are affected by climate change. You will take a journey to the Yucatán in Mexico as we visit some spectacular mangrove forests with WWF Mexico staff.
To counter climate change, Colombian cities weave nature back into their urban fabric – To shield itself from those tempests, Barranquilla has launched an ambitious effort to restore the swamps, waterways and greenspaces that surround the city. Officials hope that work, supported in part by UNEP, will create a buffer against high winds and ocean swells. Barranquilla is one of several Colombian cities that have, in recent years, re-incorporated nature into their urban fabric.
Five women at the forefront of climate action in Colombia - Three Paramuna women are leading their farming communities in the search for climate change adaptation solutions in the majestic Moorland areas of Sumapaz and Chingaza, ecosystems that supply water to more than 20 million people in Colombia's Eastern Cordillera. This precious resource is becoming increasingly scarce and inaccessible, threatening farmers' livelihood. A documentary, titled Paramunas: The soul of the mountain, was launched at COP16 to showcase these climate heroes.
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