MARRAKECH, November 14, 2016—Australia, Austria, Canada, France and the European Commission have joined a network to enhance their support for National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes in developing countries that are preparing for climate change impacts.
Through their participation in the NAP Global Network, these countries and the European Commission will coordinate with other bilateral donors that are already active in this network, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. Austria announced USD 100,000 in funding and Canada announced CAD 2 million in funding for NAP Global Network activities.
“We warmly welcome Australia, Austria, Canada, France and the European Commission’s participation in the NAP Global Network to enhance bilateral support for national adaptation planning,” said Anne Hammill, Director of the NAP Global Network secretariat. “Developing countries are using the National Adaptation Plan process to prepare their most vulnerable communities and ecosystems for immense threats posed by climate change.”
“By working closely with developing countries, bilateral donors can ensure their already significant support for adaptation is well-aligned with the priorities that developing countries are identifying in their NAPs,” she continued.
The NAP process was created by the United Nations as an opportunity for countries to plan for sustainable development in the face of climate stress. The Paris Agreement calls on all countries to engage in NAP processes, and each country’s NAP is driven by its unique adaptation needs.
Bilateral donor support is critical to many countries’ NAP processes. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, bilateral support makes up the majority of development finance for climate change adaptation. The NAP Global Network is a forum in which bilateral donors can engage with one another to coordinate this adaptation support.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Environment Program warned that the world is on track for 3ºC of global warming even if all countries achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets set out in their current Nationally Determined Contributions. This is well above the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit warming to 1.5ºC. As countries’ need to adapt to climate change increases, the NAP process will be an important way to build resilience to these escalating climate impacts across sectors.
“Canadians care about helping others in need, and they care about the effects of climate change on the health and security of our most vulnerable global citizens,” said Hon. Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “Today’s $2 million investment will empower more communities in the developing world to put in place the measures they need to adapt to these changes and help their citizens prosper despite these challenges.”
“Australia is excited to announce our participation in the Network, which holds great promise to support urgently needed adaptation planning and action in developing countries,” said Russell Miles, Director of the Mechanisms and Adaptation section in the sustainability and climate change branch of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“Austria very much looks forward to collaborating with bilateral donors involved in the NAP Global Network to ensure that our support for developing countries that are adapting to climate change can be as effective as possible,” said Helmut Hojesky, Director for climate and air quality in the Austria’s Environment Ministry.
“France is very pleased to join the NAP Global Network to build strong partnerships with developing countries and other bilateral donors alike to take bold action on climate change adaptation,” said Anne-Marie Descôtes, Director General in France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.
“The objectives and approach of the European Union’s flagship Global Climate Change Alliance fit very well with those of the NAP Global Network,” said Roberto Ridolfi, Director, International Cooperation and Development, European Commission. “We look forward to fruitful collaboration.”
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Media Contact:
Christian Ledwell
Media & Communications Officer, Resilience
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Email: cledwell@iisd.ca
Phone: +1 613 238 2296 ex.106
About the NAP Global Network
The NAP Global Network was created in 2014 to enhance support for national adaptation planning through peer learning and exchange, improved coordination, and supporting national level action on NAP development and implementation. The Network’s participants are based across over 50 countries and include representatives of bilateral donors, as well as participants from developing countries involved in creating and implementing national adaptation plans. Initial funding for the Network is provided by the United States’ State Department and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ. The Secretariat is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).