Press Release | Immediate Release
SAN PEDRO, BELIZE, August 12 – Decision makers from around the world will convene from August 12 to 14 at the Grand Caribe Resort in San Pedro, Belize, at a global forum to share experiences in strengthening the alignment between national adaptation plans (NAPs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
At the peer-learning forum, co-organized by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Belize, experts and the government representatives who lead in their development will work together to identify concrete actions that can increase the coherence and complementarity between these processes.
Aligning NAPs, which aim to identify and address adaptation needs, with NDCs, which outline a country’s climate pledges for meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, is particularly relevant this year, as countries are scheduled to update their NDCs by early 2025.
Representatives from Belize, Benin, Burundi, Fiji, Haiti, Grenada, Madagascar, Nepal, South Sudan, and Suriname will also discuss how the NAP process can enhance the quality of adaptation information in NDC updates and incorporate gender equality and social inclusion considerations.
Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the NDC Partnership will also be in Belize to offer their perspectives and guidance. The 3-day forum also features experts from Brazil, Switzerland, and Canada.
“As countries need to update their climate pledges – Nationally Determined Contributions – at the international level in early 2025, closely drawing from their National Adaptation Plans to inform these pledges provides a crucial opportunity to raise the importance and need for adaptation to cope with the growing impacts of the climate crisis,” said Anika Terton, NAP Global Network’s senior policy advisor.
Communities around the world are facing intensified climate disasters due to the rise in global temperatures. In July, Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of 2024, tore through the Caribbean and became the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
As the impacts of the climate crisis intensify, more governments like Belize and other country members participating in this global forum are including an adaptation component in their NDCs.
“As we face these realities, it becomes increasingly evident that vulnerable countries like ours must continue to align our NAPs to provide a framework for translating our NDCs and adaptation commitments into action, ensuring the sustainability of blue economy,” said Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management.
Belize is currently seeking to update its latest NDC, which was submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021.
“These efforts are not just about meeting international commitments; they are about creating a sustainable and resilient future for Belize,” said Hon. Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change.
While NDCs represent countries’ climate pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including adaptation components, NAPs are country-driven, country-owned processes to build an effective and inclusive climate-resilient future, as well as reducing the vulnerability of communities, ecosystems, and economies against the impacts of climate change.
Governments increasingly use NAP processes to identify and address their medium- and long-term priorities for adapting to climate change. Aligning the NAP process with NDCs offers a strategic approach for many countries, as both processes are linked to the Paris Agreement.
However, countries still struggle to understand what it looks like in practice and how it can be achieved.
This peer-learning forum, supported by Global Affairs Canada, strives to address these challenges through peer-to-peer exchanges and highlight the benefits and opportunities of linking these adaptation-related planning processes.
For media inquiries, please contact:
The Government of Belize Press Office
Ministry of Economic Development
Adrián Estañol
Communication Officer, NAP Global Network
About the NAP Global Network
The NAP Global Network was created in 2014 to support developing countries in advancing their NAP processes, and help accelerate adaptation efforts around the world. To achieve this, the Network facilitates South-South peer learning and exchange, supports national-level action on NAP formulation and implementation, and generates, synthesizes, and shares knowledge. The Network’s members include individual participants from more than 155 countries involved in developing and implementing National Adaptation Plans. Financial support for the Network has been provided by Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Green Climate Fund. The Secretariat is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). For more information, visit www.napglobalnetwork.org.