Publication

30.10.2015

Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Issues in the Asia-Pacific Region

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This report aims to fill a need for the latest thinking on climate change adaptation (CCA) in the Asia-Pacific region, thus the members of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN)* produced this report titled Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Issues in the Asia-Pacific Region to address pertinent and relevant issues in the region and sub-regions. This report aims to raising awareness and building the capacity of policymakers to deal with CCA.

APAN is a regional network for managing and applying adaptation knowledge in the Asia- Pacific region and supports governments and other organisations working on adaptation, with emphases on knowledge management and capacity building. APAN operates through its regional hub in Bangkok and through its sub-regional and thematic nodes located in Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and the Pacific.

For the publication, each APAN node identified challenges, gaps and recent trends in CCA in their region. They have highlighted emerging priority issues at the national and sub-regional levels in addition to major developments, the latest policies and strategies, new institutional support frameworks and analysis of key studies within APAN. The nodes have provided practical examples of mainstreaming adaptation into national development in each sub-region.

The chapters of this report address aspect of planning climate adaptation projects, seeking and mobilising funds and implementing adaptations APAN sub-region or within climate sensitive sectors. New terminologies and trends in climate change policy and strategy development are described along with the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional frameworks underpinning project implementation.

The research undertaken has aimed to keep track of recent concepts and relevant issues in the region and factor in the latest scientific consensus from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Emerging and priority issues in climate adaptation are highlighted at the national and sub-regional levels and across different thematic areas.

Each chapter contains examples of good practices and case studies in the use of technologies and tools to deal with CCA. The chapters also provide general recommendations and possible future actions that are relevant to all Asia-Pacific countries.

The APAN nodes have gained valuable knowledge in carrying out their work. As CCA will be an essential pillar within the future climate regime and United Nations sustainable development agenda, the lessons drawn from their work offer valuable insight for others. The new agreement (currently being negotiated for adoption in 2015) will shape the approach to adaptation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change beyond 2020. Within the Copenhagen and Cancun agreements, developed countries pledged $30 billion in climate finance from 2010 through 2012 (the “fast start” period) and agreed to mobilise $100 billion a year in public and private finance for developing countries by 2020. Many opportunities lie ahead for APAN members to strengthen their institutions and play a part in implementing actions in the region.