14 Nov 2021

The Conference of Parties (COP) serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement has launched Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation which aims to scale up the Parties mitigation ambition.

The two-year climate change adaptation action programme is intended to operationalize the global goal adaptation plan established under the Paris Agreement by enhancing adaptation action and support as well as to improve national planning and implementation of adaptation actions.

It further seeks to enable Parties to communicate their adaptation priorities better, facilitate monitoring and evaluating mechanisms and strengthen adaptation action in developing countries.

In an interview, the lead negotiator for Botswana and adaptation researcher Ms Kulthoum Motsumi noted that the establishment of the new programme would ensure that all Parties take responsibility on climate change adaptation and would also assist them measure their progress.

She noted that even though the Paris Agreement recognized the importance of global goal on adaptation, the Parties agreed that more needed to be done to ensure implementation and support of adaptation action.

She said it was also a welcome development for Botswana to effectively address climate change effects such as drought. ”

Adaptation is Botswana’s priority due to the climate change effects currently affecting the country, and therefore this is an appropriate platform where we can discuss our adaptation issues with the support of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change(UNFCCC),” she said.

Ms Motsumi further noted that since the emphasis was moving from adaptation planning to action, the programme would go a long in enhancing action and support on Botswana’s communication, as well as measuring such action for effective response to climate change effects.

According to the Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh work programme, it has been agreed that Parties can implement the programme according to their equitable geographical representation and the country-driven adaptation approach to avoid putting more pressure on developing countries.

Even though the programme acknowledges that climate change is a global challenge to mankind, it underscores the need to respect the rights of various groups of society while adapting to climate change.

“Acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights and intergenerational equity,” reads part of the decision. ENDS