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| Welcome to the March edition of the UNFCCC NWP eUpdate! The eUpdate aims to provide a periodic update on the implementation of the NWP to Parties and all interested stakeholders through the UNFCCC national focal points, and to its over 300 partner organizations. |
| IN THIS EDITION Click on the headers on the left to move to that specific section |
| NWP and UNFCCC Negotiations |
SBSTA 41 conclusions The 8th NWP Focal Point Forum UNEP-UNFCCC Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative |
| Key Events Convened by NWP Partners & Regional Centres and Networks |
- Prioritising Knowledge Gaps in Climate Change Adaptation in
the Andes (CIAT) - 5th Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change Adaptation in
the Greater Mekong Region (GMS EOC) - Building Resilience: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Policy
and Practice (Birdlife International) - Global Climate Change: Reducing Risk & Increasing
Resilience (APN) - Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals:
Inter-linkages and Opportunities in South Asia (CANSA) - Global Adaptation Network (GAN) Forum (UNEP) |
| New NWP partners |
- adelphi - The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) - Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) |
| Case Studies: Good Practices & Lessons Learned on Adaptation Planning Processes |
An update on progress to date and next steps on the development of case studies on good practices and lessons learned on adaptation planning processes, as mandated by SBSTA 40 |
| Perspectives from Regional Centres & Networks |
Reflecting the perspectives of; - The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change,Agriculture
& Food Security Latin America - The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development - Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre |
| Engagement of Regional Centres & Networks |
An update on efforts to engage regional centres and networks (RCNs) with a view for these RCNs undertaking regional activities, as mandated by SBSTA 40 |
| Knowledge Resources & Opportunities |
Inviting NWP partner organizations to view and share a new 20-minute documentary "Adapting to a changing climate", and to submit applications to the 2015 Momentum for Change Awards |
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NWP AND UNFCCC NEGOTIATIONS
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 SBSTA 41 Conclusions
Agreement on activities, with contributions from and through engagement of relevant NWP partner organizations, in response to recommendations from the
Adaptation Committee
. These include
concrete follow up actions on t
he
joint meeting
on available tools for the use of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices, needs of local and indigenous communities, and the application of gender-sensitive approaches and tools for
understanding and assessing impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, such as a compilation of good practices, strengthening communities of practice and network, and the consideration, in relevant knowledge products under the NWP, of the importance of integration into national adaptation plans.
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 8th NWP Focal Point Forum
The 8th NWP Focal Point Forum was held during SBSTA 41 in Lima, Peru, and was attended by over 70 representatives from Parties and NWP partner organizations. It was divided into two segments.
The first segment focused on sharing good practices, lessons learned and key challenges on adaptation planning and actions, as presented in the submissions from Parties and NWP partner organizations, in four areas: ecosystems, human settlements, water resources and health, and in linking national and local adaptation planning. Conducted by representatives of NWP partner organization BBC Media Action, the second segment focused on how adaptation knowledge gaps can be prioritised and responded to through effective communication. Divided into four groups, participants first discussed different regionally contextual scenarios to understand how communication can support adaptation in communities where people have different needs, before devising solutions to the problems.
A summary note on the 8th Focal Point Forum, including the key messages from these group discussions across different regional contexts, is available here>>.
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The COP Presidency Endorses and Launches the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative
 The COP20 Presidency endorsed and launched the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI), a collaborative action pledge to the NWP by UNEP and UNFCCC. The Initiative aims to identify and prioritise adaptation knowledge gaps in different global subregions across a range of different sectors and areas of vulnerability before catalysing responses to the prioritised knowledge gaps. It aims to engage all the relevant knowledge stakeholders, including our NWP partner organizations, in generating responses to the prioritised knowledge gaps with a view to significantly enhancing adaptation action.
The Initiative builds upon a successful pilot in the Andean subregion, where gaps were prioritised through a priority-setting workshop lead by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), an NWP partner organization. For more information on CIAT's action pledge to identify and prioritise gaps in the Andean subregion, please click here>>.
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NWP AS AN ENGAGEMENT TOOL
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Key Events convened by NWP Partners & Regional Centres and Networks
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International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT): Prioritising Knowledge Gaps in Climate Change Adaptation in the Andes
(5 December 2014)
Representatives from UNEP and UNFCCC presented the NWP
Joint action pledge
on the
Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative
. CIAT's director Andy Jarvis described the
10 adaptation knowledge gaps
prioritised for the Andean subregion through application of the Initiative's methodology. Participants then engaged in discussions on the importance of including climate change adaptation in policy formation, and on using the prioritised knowledge gaps to guide both investment and action. The prioritisation methodology applied for the Andean pilot has since been improved, and is ready for application in other subregional and thematic domains.
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| GMS Environment Operations Center (GMS EOC): 5th Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change Adaptation in the Greater Mekong Region (11 December 2014)
Co-organized by the NWP partner organization Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the 5th roundtable discussion on climate change adaptation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) brought representatives from USAID, the Stockholm Environment Institute, UNEP, Southeast Asia START, the US Forest Service, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Mekong Region Futures Institute to Bangkok to discuss strategies to influence economic investments in the region.
Participants looked at and discussed potential climate resilience actions for the $30billion pipeline of high priority economic development projects identified by the Regional Investment Framework Implementation Plan of the Asian Development Bank-led GMS Economic Cooperation Program. Discussions also centered on adaptation messaging and inputs for the 4th GMS Environment Ministers' Meeting held in January 2015, as well as roundtable activities for 2015. Partners prioritised a knowledge product on benefit-cost analysis for climate change adaptation, and committed to outlining framework thinking on monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation programs and projects.
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BirdLife International: Building Resilience: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Policy & Practice
(12 December 2014)
Held in Sipan, Peru, this event gave an overview of the key findings from the recently published Royal Society report on
Resilience to Extreme Weather. This was followed by an expert panel discussion during which policy-makers and practitioners shared their experiences and views on integrating ecosystem-based adaptation into policy and practice.
 The event highlighted the need for a portfolio of adaptation approaches which include ecosystem-based and hybrid approaches alongside engineering ones, as these tend to protect against a wider range of hazards and deliver additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation. Panellists noted the importance of engaging local communities throughout the planning process as well as the need for better integration of community-based and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches. There was a call for more comprehensive integration of ecosystem values into national policy making, and for the adoption of stronger safeguards for adaptation. The meeting in Paris 2015 was underlined as a key opportunity to recognize and better address the role and needs of ecosystems in adaptation.
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 Asia Pacific Network (APN): Global Climate Change: Reducing Risk & Increasing Resilience (19-21 January 2015)
Hosted in Thimpu, Bhutan, the event aimed to promote informed decision-making on action to minimise climate change impacts, reduce risk, and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change, especially in developing countries in the region.
Participants flagged that many gaps still exist in transferring scientific findings to policy planning, noting that despite opportunities, information dissemination is poor. To attract policy makers to science, research needs to be more evidence-based and action-oriented, involving local 'champions' from the scientific sphere. To motivate scientists to conduct policy related studies, mechanisms to monitor and evaluate effective ground level policy developments need to be built. (Contributed by APN) |
 Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA):
Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals: Inter-linkages and Opportunities in South Asia
(23 February 2015)
During this sub-regional conference, CANSA
, called upon the heads of governments of developing countries to coordinate their efforts on climate change adaptation plans. Acknowledging that climate change is the greatest humanitarian, environmental, and security threat facing the world today, participants stressed the need for bottom-up, inclusive, responsive and flexible approaches to adaptation planning, whilst still ensuring that the Sustainable Development Goals converge with climate change goals. Participants discussed options for pooling together knowledge and resources, and the need for a multi-stakeholder and multi-institutional approach to create a collaborative vision to address adaptation. National policy-makers committed to facilitate a better understanding of the impacts of climate change amongst their citizens, as well as prioritise the integration of climate change into the political agenda.
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Global Adaptation Network (GAN) Forum
(6-7 March 2015)
 Organised in collaboration with CIAT and the UNFCCC, UNEP's first GAN forum brought together over 80 representatives from global and regional adaptation knowledge networks and governments and adaptation experts for dialogue and learning between adaptation stakeholders and knowledge networks across regions and globally. The event included a series of plenary sessions addressing the adaptation knowledge gaps, adaptation knowledge in support of policy making, adaptation technologies and finance, strategic focuses and good practices of GAN regional networks, experiences making adaptation knowledge networks work, as well as parallel sessions for in-depth discussions on actions to address priority adaptation knowledge gaps in the Andean subregion, effective communication, the global NAPs Network, and vulnerability and adaptation assessments.
A large number of NWP partner organizations were present, with issues relevant to the work under the NWP, such as how important it is for the provision of adaptation knowledge to be user needs-oriented and the role of regional networks in addressing the adaptation knowledge gaps, were discussed. The LAKI under the NWP was introduced, before participants engaged in an interactive exercise where they worked through the knowledge gap prioritization methodology underpinning the Initiative. The ensuing discussions focused on ways to improve the methodology.
The Forum concluded with a large number of Intended Individually Determined Contributions (IIDCs) towards enhanced adaptation action through effective collaboration and partnerships.
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|  New NWP Partners
adelphi, a leading think tank for policy analysis and strategy consulting, assists communities, cities and governments to integrate climate change adaptation into local, sectoral and regional programmes. The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) aims to build the resilience of natural ecosystems and community livelihoods through participatory policy development, vulnerability assessments, planning, building capacity for on-the-ground action, awareness building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy. Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), a platform of 120 organizations spread across 7 countries throughout South Asia, is geared to redress policy divides and insufficient systematic scientific evidence & collective action. |
| Case Studies: Good Practices & Lessons Learned on Adaptation Planning Processes
Progress to date:
In accordance with the mandate of SBSTA 40, the secretariat invited Parties and NWP partner organizations to contribute case studies on good practices and lessons learned on ecosystems, water resources, health, human settlements, and on linking national and local adaptation planning. In total, the secretariat has received 138 case studies thus far. In the graphical representation below, case studies have been grouped into region and theme. However, most of these case studies are cross-cutting, relevant to more than one theme.
The NWP support team at the secretariat sincerely thanks all contributors for their efforts in preparing and coordinating the case studies.
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Next steps:
An official document highlighting the good practices and lessons learned through these case studies will be developed under the guidance of the Chair of the SBSTA and in collaboration with the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, for consideration by SBSTA 43. In addition, all case studies as contributed by Parties and partners will be made available online on the NWP webpage.
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| Perspectives from Regional Centres and Networks
The role of regional centres and networks (RCNs) is critical in providing the knowledge support needed for enhanced adaptation action under the new global climate regime. Recognising the important role that these organizations play in strengthening knowledge support for adaptation, we've dedicated a space to interviewing representatives from three of our most actively engaged RCNs on their ongoing work, and how they think the UNFCCC can improve the guidance/incentives it provides. These RCNs are:
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| Q. What would you consider as the potential areas of work related to the provision and dissemination of adaptation knowledge that your organization could most effectively contribute as a regional centre/network? |
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CCAFS LA: Firstly, by bringing easy to understand agro-climatic information and adaptation knowledge to smallholder farmers through suitable and tailored mechanisms which are both easy to understand, and which allow for knowledge appropriation. Secondly, CCAFS Latin America works to enhance collaborative work with national agricultural research scientists (NARS) through the joint construction and development of scientific products that respond to their institutional priorities whilst accounting for knowledge appropriation and capacity building. Thirdly, by linking decision making and science both at the public and private sector level, facilitating informed decision-making which allows for the identification of implications and opportunities when considering climate information in their investment-related decisions.
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ICIMOD
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ICIMOD has been actively engaged in bridging the knowledge gap on adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, focusing on drivers of change (both climate and socioeconomic) as well as the responses and support needs of rural mountain communities to manage it. While much of ICIMOD's knowledge has been gathered through research, much has also come through innovative pilot programmes designed to develop solutions to some of the critical issues this research has identified. Therefore ICIMOD can contribute significantly in information and knowledge provision, methodologies, tools and approaches and capacity building in the areas of climate and water scenario building, poverty and vulnerability assessments (both qualitative and quantitative), valuation of ecosystem services, water resource management and in gender-sensitive community and ecosystem based adaptation. ICIMOD disseminates its knowledge through publications, web-based mediums, conferences and workshops as well as capacity building approaches.
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| CCCCC: Through its regional work, the CCCCC has gathered a wealth of information in the areas of agriculture and food security, coastal zones and fisheries, systematic observations, tourism, and water resources. We would be very happy to share this information and use this to both further our existing programmes, and develop additional work programmes in these and other areas. |
| Q. An ongoing collaborative initiative for 2015 is for regional centres and networks to share and disseminate knowledge on tools and methods that are available and implemented for adaptation planning addressing the four issues of ecosystems, human settlements, water resources and health, and good practices and lessons learned in relation to adaptation planning, including monitoring and evaluation on the same four thematic issues, as well as processes and structures for linking national and local adaptation planning. Would you like to share with us some of actions planned for this year that have the focus indicated above? |
| CCAFS LA: We're implementing a number of tools and methods which address the issues of ecosystems, human settlements, water resources and health as well as linking national and adaptation planning;
Climate Smart Agriculture Prioritization Framework: The framework is being implemented at the national level in Guatemala and locally in Cauca, Colombia, with results expected by the end of 2015.
Agroclimatic Forecasts: As a result of monthly discussions at the local level, Technical Agroclimatic Groups are being implemented which provide recommendations to farmers on what measures to implement given a one-to-three-month agroclimatic forecast.
Socioeconomic Scenarios: Honduran and Colombian policy makers have used this methodology to strengthen their policies on climate change and agriculture. In 2015, this methodology will be used as a tool to develop local adaptation plans in Honduras.
Climate Change Monographs: By the end of 2015 preliminary chapters on the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru will be complete, helping to inform future planning on adaptation.
Gender and Inclusion Tool Box - Participatory Research in Climate Change and Agriculture: By the end of 2015, communities in El Cauca, Colombia will have developed local adaptation plans which take the gender perspective account. Capacity building on how to include the gender component in planning and strategising at the local level will be enhanced in Central America during 2015.
Formulation of local adaptation plans:
In terms of linking national and local adaptation planning, CCAFS LA are formulating local adaptation plans together with the community in Los Cerrillos, Colombia. Evidence of the process and the results will be documented in order to support the scaling up of processes at national and regional levels.
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ICIMOD: Several activities are planned for 2015 pertaining to enhancing capacities of mountain communities to adapt to change. Significant among these are the activities planned to enhance the institutional capacity of local agencies for adaptation planning with regards to NAPs preparation in Nepal and Bhutan. In addition, capacity building events are also planned that are specifically geared towards NAPs support for national agencies of ICIMOD's regional member countries. In addition, we have several regional events planned for results sharing and peer learning (including good practices and lessons learned) in the areas of ecosystem services, water management and natural resource management.
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CCCCC:
Regarding tools and methods available and implemented for adaptation planning, the CCCCC has developed the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation tool (CCORAL) to assist Caribbean Community Member States to screen their outputs, budgets, policies and plans for climate change sensitivities; understand the climate influences on programmes; apply the climate risk management processes; and provide additional tools to improve climate proofing. Regarding water resources, good practices and lessons learned have emerged from the Centre's work to improve water security whilst simultaneously reducing carbon footprint in the Caribbean Islands. Examples can be found on the Islands of Benquia in the Grenadines and Carriacou and Petite Marinique in Grenada, where the Centre, with grand financing from the World Bank, GEF, UK-DFID and the EU-GCCA, has or is in the process of erecting saltwater reverse osmosis (SWRO) systems using photovoltaic panels.
One good practice and lesson learned related to national action being tied to local action is the CCCCC supported, and CARIBSAVE executed, Caribbean Fish Sanctuary Partnership Initiative (C-FISH), designed to improve the management of marine resources and promote sustainable livelihoods by enhancing the effectiveness of fish sanctuaries and increasing their resilience to climate change. The project works with a growing number of communities, governments, universities and businesses to ensure that supporting policies, research and financing mechanisms are put in place to ensure that fish sanctuaries generate sustainable benefit for local communities and the environment.
Due to the importance of ecosystems services in the Caribbean, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is providing the CCCCC with funding for a project on Coastal Protection for Climate Change Adaptation in the Small Island States in the Caribbean. This initiative complements a few projects being spearheaded by the CCCCC, as well as the Caribbean Region's Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR), expected to commence by the 2nd quarter of 2015.
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| Q. What guidance/incentives from the UNFCCC process do you think would help enhance the effectiveness of your organization to function as a regional knowledge platform for the implementation of the activities? |
| CCAFS LA: There are several ways in which guidance/incentives could enhance our effectiveness to function as an RCN; Link Lima to Paris by linking regional work and learning experiences to global climate change negotiations will promote greater investment in food security projects in the agricultural sector, and the inclusion of the gender perspective on climate change at both the global and regional levels. The UNFCCC's experience in climate finance could help support the replication of successful projects in other countries within the region and support the national priorities of the agricultural sector, better preparing it for climate change and its associated impacts. Likewise, access to climate finance supporting processes related to the implementation of NAPs would be useful for countries already in an advanced formulation stage, such as Costa Rica and Colombia. Increased collaboration on research and knowledge will help build regional capacity to produce and utilise climate-related studies. Intra and inter-regional coordination and incentivisation on issues related to climate change, agriculture and food security could improve the coordination of activities to promote adaptation for smallholder communities across a diverse range of regional platforms. |
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ICIMOD: Our mandate is to address the wellbeing of the women, men and children of the Hindu Kush Himalayas. As such, our primary effort is to make the voice of mountain communities heard at decision-making forums at the national, regional, and global levels. The UNFCCC's support and guidance would enable us to highlight and promote the mountain agenda whilst drawing global attention to the adaptation needs of mountain communities - especially during the UNFCCC SB meetings. Resource support from the UNFCCC would also strengthen ICIMOD's endeavours to enhance the national agencies' capacity to better design and target programmes on adaptation and to strengthen regional cooperation in the HKH region. Co-organising and supporting events geared towards improving methodologies and approaches for developing (or refining) adaptation planning and knowledge sharing would increase ICIMOD's ability to implement the activities outlined under the UNFCCC NWP.
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CCCCC:
We believe that the UNFCCC process could consider recognising regionally specialised agencies such as the CCCCC as "Climate Change Adaptation Implementing Entities", in a manner similar to the processes being employed to establish regional technology bodies for the CTCN and regional CDM bodies to promote CDM in underrepresented regions. This would enhance communication between the CCCCC and the UNFCCC Secretariat as well as enhance interaction and activity within and across regions.
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Engagement of Regional Centres and Networks
In line with SBSTA 40 mandate, the NWP support team at the secretariat is engaging regional centres and networks (RCNs) with a view to them undertaking regional activities in 2015 which focus on sharing and disseminating knowledge on good practices and lessons learned on ecosystems, water resources, health, human settlements, and on linking national and local adaptation planning. To date, 25 regional centres & networks and 5 UN/IGOs, who will coordinate collaboration on behalf of their regional offices, have confirmed to collaborate under this initiative. The outcomes of these activities will be reported to SBSTA 44.
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KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
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Adaptation Committee Documentary: Raising Awareness for Adaptation Needs
The AC would like to invite you all to view and share their new 20-minute documentary, "Adapting to a changing climate". The documentary aims to introduce viewers to the topic of climate change adaptation by presenting inspiring stories of action alongside a series of expert interviews. In addition to the English version, subtitled versions in 9 languages are planned for the future, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. For a high-quality copy of the documentary please contact the AC, and for more information on the documentary itself click here>>. |
Applications for the 2015 Momentum for Change Awards are open until 24 April
If you're leading a results-driven project successfully addressing and adapting to climate change, then the UNFCCC would like to hear from you. The UNFCCC opened its call for applications for the 2015 Momentum for Change Awards as part of wider efforts to mobilize action and ambition as national governments work toward adopting a new universal climate agreement this year. Winning initiatives, called 'Lighthouse Activities,' highlight some of the most innovative, scalable and replicable examples of what people are doing to address climate change, in the hope of inspiring others to do the same. The 2015 Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activities will recognize adaptation and/or mitigation action that is already achieving real results in four key areas: action by and for the urban poor, action that fosters women's leadership, action that unlocks climate finance and action that uses ICT-enabled solutions. The winning activities will be announced in November 2015 and officially recognized and celebrated during a series of special events in December at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. Applications for the 2015 Momentum for Change Awards are being accepted until 24 April 2015, so to submit yours, click here>>. |
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