The OACPS is a strong advocate for urgent global response to support the Adaptation of developing countries to climate change. Moreover, the Organisation has repeatedly called for support for adaptation to be equal to that provided for mitigation.
As UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, remarked during the recent Leaders’ dialogue held on 6 April 2021 that, “climate adaptation and resilience” is a “vital component on the path to a successful COP26”.
Over the past months, there has been increasing momentum built around the need for finding concrete solutions to climate adaptation.
The UN Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS) 2021, which took place from 25-26 January 2021, marked the first-time world leaders gathered at a global event focusing solely on adaptation and resilience. In this context, some 22 Heads of States, including six (6) from Members of the OACPS (namely Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal), and more than 50 ministers and leaders of International organisations, contributed to raising the political profile of adaptation.
They also adopted the Adaptation Action Agenda to serve as a guide for the coming decade to accelerate adaptation actions. The Agenda is indeed expected to respond to the need for more action, integration, partnership, innovation, finance and equity during the next decade.
Several Adaptation initiatives were also launched during the Summit. Those of relevance to the OACPS include:
• The Adaptation Action Coalition, with Malawi and St. Lucia at the forefront under the leadership of the UK and Egypt;
• The Race to Resilience Campaign; and
• The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP).
Intrinsically linked to the issue of Adaptation is the question of Finance.