Least developed countries call for increased focus on climate change adaptation

January 28, 2021, Thimphu, Bhutan – The world’s least developed countries called on the international community to focus more on climate change adaptation, especially locally driven adaptation, at the Climate Adaptation Summit which was held practically this week.

Bhutan, represented by Mr. Sonam P. Wangdi, chairs the Group of 46 Least Developed Countries in the UN climate negotiations. He said: “Our people are increasingly suffering from a climate crisis that they did not do to cause. We need to work together to adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change and build resilience to its impacts. “

“Support for adaptation is urgently needed in the least developed countries, because our countries have a weak response capacity but are highly exposed to increasingly intense climate impacts.”

“Our priority is to ensure that our communities and our economies can adapt to climate change. The climate crisis is worsening and our countries are the most vulnerable. Lives and livelihoods are threatened every day. Climate adaptation is essential to ensure a secure future for all our people and future generations. “

At the Climate Adaptation Summit, a number of countries and organizations expressed their commitment to the Principles for Locally-Led Adaptation. Mr. Wangdi said, “We are inspired by these principles for locally driven adaptation. It is at the local level that communities are most familiar with the climate impacts that affect them and best placed to develop and implement effective and sustainable adaptation actions in the long term.

At the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that Germany was making 100 million euros available to the Least Developed Countries Fund.

Mr. Wangdi welcomed the announcement of increased support for climate change adaptation, saying: “I am pleased that some countries are stepping up their dedicated support for climate change adaptation actions. We welcome the announcement by Germany to provide additional funding to the LDC Fund. The LDC Fund is the only multilateral fund entirely dedicated to climate action in LDCs. We therefore warmly welcome the contributions made to this fund which helps to implement adaptation actions in our countries. We hope to see other governments follow suit to protect our people from the worst climate impacts. Much remains to be done to close the gap between the level of adaptation funding needed and that which has been received. “

The UN Adaptation Finance Gap Report estimated that by 2030, adaptation costs are expected to be in the range of $ 140 billion to $ 300 billion per year. Developed countries have yet to deliver on their pledge to mobilize $ 100 billion in climate finance, and so far most of what has been delivered is geared towards mitigation actions. A renewed focus on supporting vulnerable countries through climate change adaptation measures is essential to protect the lives and livelihoods of the poorest and most vulnerable as the climate crisis worsens.