This document discusses prioritizing adaptation in national development planning. It outlines the objectives of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, which are to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts and integrate climate adaptation into policies and development planning. It emphasizes framing adaptation in the context of development and provides a sample process for formulating and implementing NAPs. It also discusses themes for adaptation assessment, integrating adaptation into development frameworks like sustainable development goals and national plans, and prioritizing adaptation measures.

1. Mr. Thinley Namgyel
Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG)
2016 NAP Expo
13 July | Bethovenhalle, Bonn
Prioritizing adaptation in national
development planning

2. Objectives of the NAP process:
a) To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building
adaptive capacity and resilience;
a) To facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a
coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes
and activities, in particular development planning processes and
strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as
appropriate.

3. Framing adaptation in the context of development
• The first step in prioritizing implementation of adaptation at the national
level is to characterize the development context, including development
priorities and goals during the assessment.
• Addressing adaptation in development context enables vulnerability
reduction to both climate stressors and other non-climate factors as
part of the system which altogether affects achievement of development
goals
• Framing adaptation in the context of development makes it more long-term
and sustainable and issues are addressed holistically and anchored to
more sustainable solutions

4. Sample process to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans

5. 1. Characterizing
the development
context and
identifying
collection of
systems for
analysis
2. Characterizing
climate risks and
sources of key
vulnerabilities
3. Assessment of
climate change
risks and
vulnerabilities for
collection of
systems
4. Scenarios and
pathways of
development in a
changing climate
5. Prioritizing
actions to build
resilience, reduce
vulnerability and
address climate
risks
6. Design of
coherent
implementation
strategies
7.
Implementation
and management
of actions
Assess and plan
Implement
Monitor &
evaluate
Update
Process to formulate
and implement NAPs
-----------------------------
under the UNFCCC
Stocktaking,identifyingandaddressinggapsandneeds,building
readinessandcapacity,awareness-raising,learning
Governancestructures,coordinatingmechanisms,accessingand
managingsupport

6. Adaptation development themes as a way to align adaptation with development
The LEG developed the following cross-cutting themes under the Step by Step Guide for
NAPAs as a way to capture main areas for adaptation assessment:
1. Agriculture and food security: Achieve and safeguard food security
2. Water Resources: Achieve and safeguard water security and sanitation
3. Physical Safety: Protecting life and property against climatic extremes and disasters
including along low-lying and coastal areas
4. Protecting livelihoods and enhancing adaptive capacity
5. Climate-proofing major components of national economies and sustainable
development (Climate-proofing the socio-economic growth engine)
6. Supporting and enhancing Human Health and Safety
7. Protecting and enhancing ecosystem structure and function for sustainable provision of
Ecosystem Goods and Services including land use
8. Climate-proofing renewable Energy Sources and Supplies
9. Protecting and preserving Cultural Values and Cultural Systems
10. Protecting and improving the design of critical Infrastructure and Land Use Planning

7. Sustainable Development Goals

8. Examples of approaches and frameworks for integrating CCA into development
Approaches
• Integrating climate risks and adaptation options into medium term
development plans (national development plans)
• Integrating climate risks into land use plans (local and national)
• Setting up climate change budget codes and trust funds
Enabling frameworks
• Climate change policies, laws/acts
• Environment policies, laws/acts
• Regulations governing coordination of institutions
• Laws on sustainable use or protection of natural resources.

9. Prioritizing adaptation
• Helps policymakers and relevant stakeholders to select the most important adaptation
measures to be implemented for a country or region given competing development needs
• Helps to identify high-priority and feasible adaptation measures that build on and
complement existing adaptation activities
• Aligns with the national vision on adaptation as well as national goals for environmental,
social and economic development

10. Contact the LEG Chair
Mr. Abias Huongo
E-mail: legchair@unfccc.int
LEG webpage
http://unfccc.int/4727
LEG Work Programme 2016-2017
http://unfccc.int/9516