Ecosystem-based Adaptation

1. • Be able to identify who should be involved in implementing an EbA project and their roles
• Build an understanding of the policy context relevant to the proposed project
• Understand how EbA can be implemented in response to different climate hazards across
different ecosystems and sectors
• Stakeholder analysis: A participatory process that builds an understanding of who is involved in a
project, what their roles are and how to engage them (WWF, 2005). This process is also known
as stakeholder mapping.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992): An international
treaty focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation (UNFCCC, 1992).
• Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010): The agreement from the 16th
UNFCCC Conference of the
Parties that enhances action on adaptation, including through international cooperation and
coherent consideration of matters relating to adaptation. It established the National Adaptation
Plan (NAP) approach, which enables Parties to develop and implement NAPs to identify
adaptation needs and formulate and implement actions to increase their climate resilience
(UNFCCC, 2010).
• Paris Agreement (2015): A legally binding agreement established at the 21st
UNFCCC
Conference of the Parties to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5°C, compared
to pre-industrial levels. It requires parties to submit Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs), making commitments to mitigate climate change. Although not compulsory, many
countries are also choosing to include adaptation actions in their NDCs (UNFCCC, 2015).
• Glasgow Climate Pact (2021): As an outcome of the 26th
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, this
pact established the Sharm el-Sheikh work programme to help enhance understanding of the
Global Goal on Adaptation and track progress towards it (UNFCCC, 2021).
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (1992): The overarching international agreement for
biodiversity conservation (CBD, 1992).
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity
for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries (UN, 2015).

2. 1. It is important to identify and understand the roles of actors in relation to an EbA project and
how EbA actions relate to cross-cutting topics, such as gender and governance. Participatory
stakeholder analysis is essential for establishing a successful project because it is an inclusive
and transparent process that helps build actors’ ownership and commitment.
2. Understanding the policy context will help determine plans, targets and budgets that can
support EbA actions. Policies across the global, national and local levels provide a framework in
which EbA can be planned and implemented. The main international policies relevant to EbA
are the UNFCCC and its Cancun Adaptation Framework, the Paris Agreement, the Glasgow
Climate Pact, the CBD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
3. The impacts of different climate-related hazards can be reduced by protecting, managing and
restoring ecosystems, particularly those that provide critical adaptation services. For example,
the conservation and restoration of coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, sand dunes and
beaches can be used to reduce the impacts of coastal hazards, such as tropical storms, wave
impacts and storm surges.
4. EbA actions can be integrated into different sectors, such as the water, agriculture, and urban
sectors, through watershed and river basin management, climate-smart agriculture and green-
gray infrastructure, respectively.
5. Integrating EbA in different ecosystems and sectors not only generates adaptation benefits but
also a range of co-benefits, such as enhancing biodiversity, carbon sequestration and improving
human well-being. It also enhances political support and financial capacity for EbA.
6. Funding can be obtained from different sources and received at different stages of a project.
From multilateral and bilateral sources of funding to financing from the private sector, there are
different options for projects to explore. In addition, there are novel sources of funding, such as
blended finance, microfinance and crowdfunding, that are being used for EbA.
• Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based
approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and supplementary
information (by the CBD, 2019). This document consists of three sections. The first section
highlights the advantages of EbA and discusses how it can be integrated into plans and policies
focused on climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The second section provides
guidelines to practitioners on how to effectively design and implement EbA at the programme
and project levels. And the third section covers outreach to different sectors.
• EbA in different ecosystems placing measures in context (by UNEP-WCMC and UNEP, 2019).
This briefing note which provides an overview of EbA actions commonly implemented in various
ecosystems (mountains, drylands, wetlands, coasts, and urban areas).
• Ecosystem-based adaptation in the agriculture sector – A nature-based solution (NbS) for
building the resilience of the food and agriculture sector to climate change (by Manar
Abdelmagied and Molefi Mpheshea for FAO, 2020). This report highlights the potential of EbA
measures to build resilience to climate change in the food and agriculture sectors. It discusses
the importance of different cultivated ecosystems, how they are being affected by climate
change, how EbA can help in climate change adaptation and considerations for scaling up EbA.
• Integrating EbA and IWRM for climate-resilient water management (by Esther Dörendahl and
Dipankar Aich for GIZ, 2021). An exploration of how the two leading approaches in water

3. resources management and ecosystem thinking for climate change adaptation (IWRM and EbA)
can be merged to achieve greater climate resilience in watersheds.
• Nature‐based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas Linkages between
Science, Policy and Practice (edited by Nadja Kabisch et al., 2017). This book contains a
compilation of articles on urban nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate change adaptation. It
covers the concept of urban NbS, highlights the benefits it can provide, discusses policy,
planning and governance for urban NbS, and provides evidence of NbS helping cities adapt to
climate change.
• Finance options and instruments for Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Overview and compilation of
ten examples (by Kiran Hunzai et al., for GIZ, 2018). This document provides an overview of
available financing sources and instruments for EbA. It also discusses the importance of financial
support for EbA and presents ten examples of EbA financing options across the globe.
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