AdCom FAQ BASICS

• What is an adaptation communication (ADCOM)?

  An ADCOM is a report prepared by countries that synthesizes and shares their priorities, efforts, needs, and lessons around adapting to climate change.

• When was the ADCOM established?

  The ADCOM was established under Article 7, paragraphs 10, 11, and 12 of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Paragraph 10 reads:

  “Each Party should, as appropriate, submit and update periodically an adaptation communication, which may include its priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions, without creating any additional burden for developing country Parties.”

  Paragraphs 11 and 12 point to how an ADCOM can be submitted (see below) and that it will be recorded in a public registry maintained by the UNFCCC secretariat.

• Where are ADCOMs currently captured?

  ADCOMs are currently presented on a provisional webpage by the UNFCCC secretariat. In the future, they will be recorded in a public registry. Countries are currently working on the design of the registry. At the moment, parties interested in posting their ADCOMs on the UNFCCC website can contact adaptation-communications@unfccc.int.

• What is the purpose of an ADCOM?

  The ADCOM has four main purposes (identified in decision 9/CMA.1, which provides the guidance for the ADCOM):

  • - “Enhance visibility and profile of adaptation, and balance with mitigation”: This can mean countries can use ADCOMs to show the rest of the world what they are doing on adaptation, highlight the importance of these efforts to domestic audiences by using an international report, and ensure that adaptation is not eclipsed by mitigation or other global priorities. The latter speaks to the Paris Agreement’s goal of achieving balance in terms of support for mitigation and adaptation.
  • - “Strengthen adaptation action and support for developing countries”: By articulating a compelling message around the importance of adaptation for both global and domestic audiences, ADCOMs can rally or mobilize further action. By highlighting progress and needs on adaptation, an ADCOM can boost donor understanding and support.
  • - “Provide inputs to the global stocktake”: The global stocktake will review collective progress toward achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals, including the global goal on adaptation. ADCOMs will be one key source of information that is used to synthesize the state of adaptation efforts, experiences, and priorities to assist in this review.
  • - “Enhance learning and understanding of adaptation needs and actions”: ADCOMs will be an important source of information on what countries are doing to adapt, what they need to do to scale up and improve their efforts, and what lessons and results are being observed.

• Are countries required to submit an ADCOM under the Paris Agreement?

  No. The preparation and submission of an ADCOM are completely voluntary.

• What is the deadline for submitting an ADCOM?

  Countries that wish to prepare and submit an ADCOM are encouraged to “submit their first ADCOM as soon as possible, … to provide timely input to the first global stocktake” (1/CMA.2, para 12).

  The first global stocktake will take place in 2023, with the information collection and technical assessment stages starting in 2022. The stocktake will be informed by a series of synthesis reports, including several on adaptation. One will be prepared by the UNFCCC secretariat and several others by constituted bodies, including the Least Developed Countries Expert Group and Adaptation Committee. These synthesis reports are to be completed in early 2022.

  In order for a country’s ADCOM to be included in these synthesis reports on adaptation, it has to be communicated to the UNFCCC secretariat by the end of January 2022 at the very latest—but ideally by the end of December 2021.

• How can a country submit an ADCOM?

  A country has three main options for submitting an adaptation communication:

  1. 1. As a standalone document: A separate document directly uploaded to a public registry.
     1. Examples of standalone ADCOMs so far include those from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Switzerland, and Norway.

  1. 2. In conjunction with another document: A separate document submitted together with another document (see below for examples of other documents). While separate, the documents are linked—for example, through cross-referencing, joint cover letters, etc. The public registry will enable countries to link their documents.
     1. a. Canada’s adaptation communication notes that it “is being submitted in conjunction with Canada’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution.”

  3. 3. As a component of another document: Integrated into another document (see below for examples of other documents). The ADCOM can be an existing section of the other document, a new section, or an annex; countries can choose the best structure to suit their needs.
     1. a. For example, as of August 2021:
        1. i. 11 countries (Angola, Lebanon, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, Panama, Paraguay, the Russian Federation, and Uruguay) have used the adaptation chapter of their nationally determined contribution (NDC) as their ADCOM.
        2. ii. One country (New Zealand) has used their National Communication (NC) as their ADCOM.
        3. iii. One country (Timor Leste) has used their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) as their ADCOM.

  As in the above examples, if countries choose to submit their ADCOM “in conjunction” or “as a component of” another document, the other document can be their NAP, their NDC, their NC, or their Biennial Transparency Report (BTR).[1]

  These multiple options exist to maximize flexibility, serve the strategic need(s) of a country, and minimize burdens—particularly for developing countries—in preparing and submitting an ADCOM. For example, countries that have recently completed or are completing an NC may decide that it captures much of the latest information that could be included in an ADCOM—or they may want to submit a separate document that focuses on the country’s implementation and support needs as their ADCOM. Countries can then refer to relevant sections of their NC in their ADCOM but keep the document focused on needs. This would be an example of submitting an ADCOM in conjunction with an NC.

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  [1] BTR submissions will start in 2024.