Climate action: ‘Take steps to close the adaptation gap, now’
(United Nations News) Instead of accelerating to meet the challenge of rising emissions, progress on climate adaptation is slowing across the board, a new report published on Thursday by the UN’s environment agency finds.
The Adaptation Gap Report 2023 issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), says the world is underprepared, under invested and lacking the necessary planning, leaving us all exposed. It warns that instead of speeding up, progress on adapting to climate change is stalling.
The slowdown extends to finance, planning and implementation, says UNEP, with massive implications for loss and damage, particularly for the most vulnerable.
Financial lag
“Today’s report shows the gap in adaptation funding is the highest ever. The world must take action to close the adaptation gap and deliver climate justice,” said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, commenting on the report’s findings.
The updated adaptation costs for developing countries are estimated at $215 billion to $387 billion annually this decade, reflecting higher estimates than previous studies which are bound to increase significantly by 2050.
And the needs of developing countries are 10-18 times higher than the flow of public financing – over 50 per cent higher than the previous estimated range.
Read more at: United Nations News
Source: CARICOM TODAY