Adaptation Gap Report 2017

Authors: UN Environment DTU Partnership
AGR COVER

The report explores key opportunities and challenges associated with assessing progress on adaptation at the global level. The report synthesizes information relevant for the ongoing work under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to prepare for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. In contrast to previous Adaptation Gap Reports, the 2017 report focuses on issues relating to frameworks, comprising concepts, methodologies and data, rather than on assessing a particular dimension of the adaptation gap. Future Adaptation Gap Reports will return to assessments of specific adaptation gaps

The 2017 Adaptation Gap Report points to the following key insights for informing an assessment of global progress on adaptation:

  1. Frameworks that are based on nationally determined proximity-to-target approaches have the greatest potential to respect a diversity of national contexts while facilitating global assessment of progress. There are no one-size-fits-all metrics given the diversity of resources, vulnerabilities, and adaptive capacity.
  2. A transparent assessment of global progress is facilitated if national reporting of descriptive metrics (including activities and results) is clearly distinguished from evaluative metrics.
  3. Global review of adequacy and effectiveness, which typically involves the use of evaluative metrics, is unlikely to be achievable through standardized or quantifiable indicators alone.
  4. A focus on the contribution made to a result rather than strict attribution is emerging as a more useful concept to link national efforts with results.
  5. Longitudinal assessment of adaptation progress over time is reflected relatively poorly in existing assessment frameworks, but will be critical in a global effort to review adaptation progress over time.
  6. The SDGs and the Sendai Framework offer considerable opportunities for alignment via shared indicators, joint implementation, capacity building, and creation of policy support.
  7. Third party information can complement information provided by countries.

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