A comprehensive report by the NDC Partnership has outlined twelve critical recommendations to strengthen climate adaptation measures in upcoming national climate commitments.
The guidance arrives as nations prepare to submit their third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, with deadlines approaching in 2025.
The report emphasizes the accelerating need for robust adaptation strategies, noting that 2024 marked the hottest year on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.55 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. While mitigation efforts remain essential, the analysis underscores that current adaptation actions are insufficient to address the scale of climate risks, particularly for vulnerable regions. Financing remains a significant hurdle, with annual adaptation funding gaps estimated between 187 and 359 billion dollars globally.
Central to the recommendations is a call for countries to adopt both incremental and transformational adaptation approaches. The guidance suggests aligning national targets with the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, which includes measurable goals across seven key sectors such as water security, food systems, and infrastructure. Nature based solutions feature prominently, with examples like Costa Rica’s forest restoration programs demonstrating how ecosystem protection can simultaneously enhance biodiversity and climate resilience.
Implementation challenges are addressed through case studies from various nations. Rwanda’s integration of adaptation targets with its National Adaptation Plan shows how coherent policy frameworks can drive progress, while Jordan’s water management initiative illustrates innovative financing models that combine public and private resources. The report also highlights the importance of inclusive governance, pointing to Kenya’s engagement of indigenous communities and Chile’s multilevel climate planning as effective models.
The analysis comes at a critical juncture in global climate policy. Recent agreements like the Sharm el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda have established new benchmarks for resilience, yet many countries continue to face barriers in translating commitments into action. With the 2025 deadline for updated climate plans approaching, the report serves as both a roadmap and a warning. The window for effective adaptation is narrowing, and the decisions made in the coming year will determine whether nations can build adequate defenses against the climate impacts already underway.
As climate hazards intensify, the report’s most pressing insight may be its emphasis on systemic change. Traditional approaches are proving inadequate against rising seas, extreme weather, and ecosystem collapse. What emerges is a clear message that climate resilience now requires nothing less than a fundamental rethinking of how societies plan, build, and finance their future. The success of this transformation will depend on whether nations can mobilize the political will and resources to match the scale of the challenge.
