The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024 must accelerate the integration of adaptation into local, national and regional planning, including the development and implementation of participatory, inclusive and gender-transformative National Adaptation Plans.
Kulthoum Omari, lead adaptation negotiator with African Group of Negotiators (AGN), who made the submission at the Africa Journalists Climate Training (AJCT) held from July 29 to 30, 2024, in Mombasa, Kenya, noted that adaptation finance channels must be reformed to increase the allocation and access for those who need it most by reducing administrative barriers.
Speaking on civil society organisation (CSO) expectation on adaptation in COP29, Ms. Omari also laid emphasis on funding and supporting local institutions and women-led groups, including through operationalising key principles.
“Developed countries must keep their promise at COP26 to at least adaptation finance by 2025 – this commitment hasn’t been met yet even we are talking about the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG),” she said, adding that, according to the GAP Report, adaptation finance flows and finance gaps are running up to $370 billion per year.
While expecting that progress on mapping of existing indicators mapping is concluded at COP29, she stressed that adaptation must be premised high up as a global priority, with secure-grant based funding at global level for accelerated adaptation action at scale, through new and additional finance, capacity and technology transfer across developing countries.
According to her, the CSO community is likewise expecting advance decisions that promote the realisation for Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) Actions for greater responsiveness of climate action to those at the frontline of climate. She called on global leaders to demonstrate leadership in advancing LLA.
The AJCT, which focused on climate change adaptation, was organised by PowerShift Africa.
By Michael Simire
