AdComs FAQ Content

• What information should be included in an ADCOM?

  All of the content included in an ADCOM is optional.

  The possible “elements” that a country might choose to include were decided in Decision 9/CMA.1 in 2018.

  Countries are invited to provide information in the categories a–d, and, as appropriate, the additional information described in elements e–i.

  Countries are also encouraged to include “ex-ante” information (that is, forward-looking information), and they may tailor the information in light of the guidelines of the “vehicle” document (with the aim of ensuring coherence and reducing reporting burdens).

  In addition to the guidelines in 9/CMA.1, the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee is preparing supplementary guidance to help countries prepare their ADCOMs. That guidance will be finalized in 2022, and the latest draft is available here.

  Invited to provide this information

  a) National circumstances, institutional arrangements, and legal frameworks b) Impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities, as appropriate c) National adaptation priorities, strategies, policies, plans, goals, and actions d) Implementation and support needs of, and provision of support to, developing country parties

  Invited to provide this additional information, as appropriate

  e) Implementation of adaptation actions and plans, including: i. Progress and results achieved ii. Adaptation efforts of developing countries for recognition iii. Cooperation on enhancing adaptation at the national, regional, and international levels, as appropriate iv. Barriers, challenges, and gaps related to the implementation of adaptation v. Good practices, lessons learned, and information-sharing vi. Monitoring and evaluation f) Adaptation actions and/or economic diversification plans, including those that result in mitigation co-benefits g) How adaptation actions contribute to other international frameworks and/or conventions h) Gender-responsive adaptation action and Traditional Knowledge, knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, and local knowledge systems related to adaptation, where appropriate i) Any other information related to adaptation

• How much of the information in an ADCOM is new, and how much is a synthesis of existing information?

  This is a country’s choice.

  Much of this information may be already available in documents countries already have (such as NCs, draft or published NAPs, or the adaptation component of an NDC).

  Synthesizing existing information may help reduce the burden of developing an ADCOM and may help align the ADCOM with different existing documents.

  Countries that wish to include new information are free to do so.

• Can countries cross-reference to other documents?

  Yes. For example, in Element A (National circumstances) of its ADCOM, Canada writes: “Canada’s national circumstances are described in detail in its Seventh National Communication. This includes details on its governance structures, as well as Canada’s unique population, geographic, economic and climate profiles.”

  Cross-referencing other documents may be a useful strategy to avoid duplication of effort and reduce any additional burden.