The UN Climate summit, COP29, must deliver a strong outcome for adaptation

As the world prepares for the UN Climate Summit (COP29) in Baku this November, a coalition of leading organizations is calling for a stronger emphasis on adaptation finance. The summit will be a crucial platform for discussing and agreeing on the future of climate finance under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

With uncertainty surrounding the strength of potential outcomes for adaptation finance, DanChurchAid, E3G, UN Foundation, German Watch, and South South North have formed a powerful alliance. Their goal is to ensure that adaptation remains a top priority on the COP29 agenda.

The coalition emphasizes the critical need to build momentum for adaptation finance in the lead-up to the Baku summit. They stress that adaptation is essential for communities worldwide facing the immediate impacts of climate change.

As global leaders convene in Azerbaijan, this alliance calls on all parties to prioritize concrete commitments and actionable plans for adaptation finance. The outcome of COP29 must reflect the urgency of supporting vulnerable nations and communities in their fight against the impacts of climate change.

Jonas Vejsager Nøddekær, Secretary General in DanChurchAid, comments:

“The climate summit in November must deliver a strong adaptation outcome. People are already suffering the effects of climate change around the world, and it is crucial that measures to help us adapt are scaled up now.”

Kaysie Brown, Associate Director of Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics at E3G, comments:

“Climate impacts are being felt across the world at an ever-quickening pace, presenting a risk to development, socio-economic progress, and security. Without robust financial commitments and policies put in place at COP29, the world risks exacerbating these challenges and squandering an opportunity to put adaptation more centrally into climate action and global cooperation. COP29 must serve as a turning point where climate adaptation is prioritized, enabling communities to better respond and thrive amidst uncertainty and climate adversity.”

Pete Ogden, Vice President, Climate and Environment at the UN Foundation, comments:

“A strong outcome on adaptation finance at COP-29 is critical to fulfilling the promise of the Paris Agreement. The global community must deliver the resources vulnerable nations need to confront the climate emergency and have a prosperous, equitable, and

resilient future. We must seize the opportunity provided by this year’s negotiations to deliver an ambitious adaptation agenda”

David Ryfisch, Head of Division – Future-proof Finance at Germanwatch, comments:

“Adaptation finance has dramatically been short of what is needed. COP29 will need to mark a turnaround and offer a step change in the availability of adaptation finance. This is not just a moral but also an economic imperative. Each dollar spent for resilience saves five to seven dollars in losses and damages.”

Dr. Shehnaaz Moosa, Director at SouthSouthNorth, comments:

“Climate actions are happening as the most vulnerable react to the climate stressors they are faced with. This is often done in the absence of access to adequate adaptation finance and the impacts of this are being seen and felt. A clear and ambitious goal on the volume and quality of adaptation finance is an essential outcome of COP29 if we are to stay within the boundaries of a tipping point. “

To ensure that adaptation is addressed during the UN General Assembly, the coalition has invited key representatives from some of the main country groups in the UN climate negotiations. During the event they will be asked what adaptation outcome they expect from COP29.

The event will take place the 24th of September, 8.00-10.00 EDT. It is possible to follow the event online, both live, and later as a recording. You can find out more here High Level Roundtable: Scaling up Adaptation Finance and Action at COP-29 – DanChurchAid

The following persons will speak at the event:

• Hon. Elmaddin Mehdieyev, Finance Team Leader, COP-29 Presidency
• H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of the Netherlands
• Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Lands, Samoa
• Hon. Evans Njewa, Chief Environmental Officer, Head of Climate Change and UNFCCC Focal Point for the Government of Malawi, LDC Chair.
• Hon. Lotte Machon, State Secretary for Development Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
• Hon. Ali Mohamed, Climate Change Envoy, Executive Office of the President, Kenya
• Hon. Alessandro Guerri, Director General for International and European Affairs, Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, Italy
• Hon. Ambassador Janine Felson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations
• Hon. Trigg Talley, Managing Director for Climate Negotiations and Programs, Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of State.
• Hon. Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister for Transport, Ireland

For more information Contact Global Climate Lead in DanChurchAid, Mattias Söderberg at (phone/WhatsApp) +45-29700609