The event gathered representatives of governments, multilateral development banks, investment funds, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Photo: Carlos Tavares/COP30
By Laura Marques/COP30
To accelerate large-scale implementation of climate change adaptation actions, the Alliance for the Implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) was launched on Wednesday, 18 November, at COP30. The initiative is led by the Presidency of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the governments of Germany and Italy, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The platform will promote dialogue among those supporting the implementation of NAPs and will facilitate the allocation of public and private resources to adaptation projects. Developed under the COP30 Action Agenda, the Alliance counts on the collaboration of national governments, multilateral development banks, investment funds, and institutions from civil society and the private sector. The collective support was demonstrated during the High-Level event in the Blue Zone at the moment of the official announcement.
The COP30 Presidency’s Director of Programmes, Alice Amorim, noted with appreciation that “the meeting brought together different organizations examining the landscape of NAPs through various methodologies and will result in a joint effort for adaptation”.
Participants presented efforts to address bottlenecks that hinder large-scale adaptation actions. A UNDP report released this month indicates that current financing needs are between eight and fourteen times greater than the government resources allocated for this purpose. The report also stresses the need to strengthen capacity-building and technology transfer to address the challenge.
The Director of Adaptation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Youssef Nassef, underscored that it is essential to demonstrate that adaptation is attractive for investment and warned that if not financed, it may cost human lives. He added: “May the Alliance serve as a catalyst to attract actors beyond the obvious ones.”
COP30 High-Level Climate Champion Dan Ioschpe reiterated that Belém should mark a turning point in ensuring that adaptation receives the attention it requires. “We have taken a major step forward with the establishment of this Alliance.”
Although Brazil has not yet submitted its NAP to the UNFCCC, the country has already developed its plan, according to Aloísio Melo, Brazil’s National Secretary for Climate Change. The process included analyses and consultations, including the training of professionals from public institutions. A total of 560 of the most vulnerable municipalities were identified.
Representatives from the governments of Germany, Italy, Vanuatu, and Kenya participated in the discussion. Also present were representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Adaptation Fund. Contributions were also made by philanthropic organizations such as Itaúsa and ClimateWorks, and by civil society institutions including The Atlantic Council’s Climate Resilience Center, NRDC, NAP Global Network, and the NDC Partnership.
NAPs
NAPs define how countries will adapt to climate change in the medium and long term. Developed by national governments, they guide responses to climate risks and reduce vulnerabilities in order to protect people, infrastructure, livelihoods, the economy, and the environment. The document enables governments to access climate finance, mobilize international support, and coordinate efforts across institutions.
They are a type of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) focused exclusively on adaptation actions, without addressing mitigation. However, unlike NDCs, their submission to the UNFCCC is not mandatory and does not follow a set deadline.
National Adaptation Plans are particularly relevant for the 1.2 billion people exposed to critical climate risks such as storms, floods, heat waves, and more frequent and intense droughts, according to the UNFCCC. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are especially vulnerable and have already experienced severe climate impacts such as sea level rise, extreme storms, and ocean acidification.
Throughout the COP30 cycle, Brazil encouraged countries to update their NAPs. In 2025, eleven countries presented their documents: Antigua and Barbuda, Burkina Faso, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Montenegro, Somalia, and Viet Nam. In total, seventy-one nations have submitted their plans to the UNFCCC.
Adaptation Fund
The international financial mechanism created in 2001 by the UNFCCC to support developing countries in mobilizing resources for adaptation to climate change impacts received nearly USD 135 million during Brazil’s COP30 Presidency. The following contributions were announced and already confirmed as of Tuesday:
-Belgium (Walloon Region): USD 3.31 million
-Germany: EUR 60 million (USD 69.36 million)
-Iceland: USD 0.62 million
-Ireland: USD 11.56 million
-Luxembourg: USD 5.78 million
-Portugal: USD 1.16 million
-Republic of Korea: USD 0.84 million
-Spain: USD 23.12 million
-Sweden: USD 13.28 million
-Switzerland: USD 5.16 million
