ACCCRN sees COP21 as a crucial event in determining the future of climate change adaptation, particularly in contributing to the development of urban climate resilience.

The efforts being made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not enough to avoid the serious impacts of climate change, whether these are due to sporadic events (floods, storms) or gradual ones (rising sea levels, ocean acidification).

Adaptation will receive much greater emphasis than it has before under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and initiatives in the fields of risk and disaster management and humanitarian assistance.

Adaptation should be at the heart of the discussions leading to the Paris agreement, thus confirming their crucial political importance, and should contribute to climate resilient development. This agreement could propose and catalyse the implementation of concrete solutions for the most vulnerable countries.

If Parties so wish, they may include specific adaptation measures in their national contribution or communicate their needs and efforts through other existing channels.

This text is taken from the COP21 press factsheet. To read the original documents please click here.