Addressing Loss and Damage: What can we learn from countries’ National Adaptation Plans?
Through a systematic review of NAP documents and interviews with key informants, this report showcases the role of NAP processes in minimizing and addressing loss and damage. It provides insights into how loss and damage information is presented in relation to adaptation efforts and how adaptation priorities identified in the NAPs have the potential to respond to loss and damage.
The following recommendations, among others, target governments and international actors engaged in discussions on financing arrangements for loss and damage:
- Recognize the contribution of NAP processes in minimizing loss and damage. Essentially, NAPs are countries’ plans for minimizing losses and damages. Continued and increased investment in NAP processes is critical if countries’ efforts to minimize loss and damage are to be realized in an equitable and sustainable manner.
- Build on the extensive work that has already been done by countries to assess risks and vulnerabilities through their NAP processes. Existing vulnerability and risk assessments should be the starting point for the assessment of loss and damage in particular countries.
- Support countries in assessing the potential for irreversible impacts. NAP documents contain limited information on scenarios beyond the limits of adaptation. Countries may need support to assess existential threats associated with climate change as a basis for identifying appropriate actions to respond to loss and damage.