1st draft lists 7 adaptation targets to achieve by 2030

A first draft text on the Global Goal on Adaptation, that is expected to be negotiated at COP28, was released on Sunday morning which captured the long-term adaptation efforts that countries are supposed to make towards reducing vulnerability of countries and communities from extreme climate impacts.

- Jayashree Nandi

But the text remained extremely weak on climate finance provisions that will help developing countries meet these adaptation targets, experts said. It also did not specify milestones or mechanisms to verify the implementation of these targets.

The Global Goal on Adaptation is an important issue for India as it is highly vulnerable to climate impacts. India submitted its third national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Saturday. In India, public finance covers most of the adaptationbased activities through flagship programmes, schemes etc. Around 40 ministries have adaptation relevant budgetary provisions. The total adaptation relevant expenditure was 5.6% of the GDP in 2021-2022, growing from a share of 3.7% in 2015-16, the communication said. India also informed in its national communication that the large gap to fulfil adaptation needs cannot be met only through government resources.

The text lists out at least seven adaptation targets that countries need to take by 2030. These include attaining climate-resilient food and agricultural production and supply; strengthening resilience against climate-related health impacts, promoting climate-resilient health services, and reducing climate-related morbidity; increasing the resilience of infrastructure and human settlements to climate change impacts to ensure basic and continuous essential services for all and substantially reducing poverty and livelihood vulnerability in areas with high climate risk.