A multiyear drought in the Horn of Africa has put millions on the brink of starvation. The floods in Pakistan caused over USD 30 billion in damages and economic losses. Severe summer heat across the northern hemisphere brought destructive and deadly wildfires.
These events are inextricably linked to climate change. They are what we are seeing at only 1.1°C above pre-industrial temperatures. And we aren’t going to stay at 1.1°C for long. Policies currently in place put us on the path for a 2.8°C rise by the end of the century, as UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report showed last week.
We must quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strive for net-zero. But people, ecosystems and economies are already suffering. And it will be decades before temperatures start to fall again – if we manage to cut emissions. So, we must also urgently increase efforts to adapt to climate change.
UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2022, which we are launching today, tells us that efforts to adapt are not keeping pace with climate risks and impacts. Yes, over 80 per cent of countries have at least one national adaptation planning instrument in place. Yes, these instruments are increasingly prioritizing disadvantaged groups such as women and indigenous peoples.
However, to turn adaptation plans into action, we need funding. And this funding isn’t coming through. We are going to need from USD 160 to 340 billion per year for adaptation by 2030. In 2020, international adaptation finance flows to developing countries hit USD 29 billion. This leaves a yawning gap to be filled – around 5 to 10 times the size of the adaptation finance that arrived in 2020.
The message of this report is clear: nations need to live up to the Glasgow Climate Pact with strong action, starting at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. We need a rapid acceleration in scientific research, innovative planning, adequate finance and implementation, and deeper international cooperation. As the Secretary-General said today, “COP27 must provide a clear and time-bound roadmap on closing the finance gap for addressing loss and damage. This will be a central litmus test for success at COP27.”
Yes, the war in Ukraine, global supply shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to an energy and food security crisis. Costs of living are going through the roof. Climate adaptation may not seem like a priority right now. It is. Even if all commitments are implemented immediately, the reality is that climate change is going to be with us decades into the future. And the poorest keep paying the price for our inaction. It is therefore imperative that we put time, effort, resources and planning into adaptation action.
