Enhancing Ecosystem-based Adaptation in National Adaptation Plans - On 3rd December, GAN held a webinar in partnership with the NAP Global Network (IISD). The webinar introduced UNEP’s upcoming Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The NAP Global Network also presented their new analysis of the extent to which EbA has so far been taken up in NAP processes. Watch the webinar recording here. The event was organized as part of Adaptation Week, an initiative led by the World Resources Institute.
Network News
OCT-NOV UPDATE
Continuing the Learning: Leaving a Legacy of Partnerships at Local Level - On 27 October, during ICLEI’s ‘Daring Cities 2020’ webinar series, GAN gave a presentation in collaboration with its partner the EPIC Network. The presentation focused on the support that GAN, UNEP, and the EPIC Network offer to initiatives that build city adaptation capacities. Watch the webinar here.
Partnering for Ecosystem-based Adaptation - At the 5th EbA Community of Practice Conference on November 24-25, UNEP and IUCN presented work on their collaborative efforts and respective roles to support countries to integrate and scale up EbA through the Global EbA Fund 2020-2025. GAN (UNEP) and Friends of EbA (IUCN) will draw on their extensive networks, tools and expertise to support the Fund.
Register today for the 7th Asia-Pacific Adaptation Forum! - Now with less than 100 days to go, it is time to lay out the programme for the main forum, which will take place virtually from 8-12 March 2021, hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan. The APAN Secretariat is pleased to announce that the registration is now open! If you would like to organize a session at the forum, please have a look at the Guidelines and use the Template to submit your application.
Ecosystems, Climate Change and People: Strengthening Nature to Enhance Resilience in Asia- Pacific - UNEP and IUCN are leading on the Nature-based Resilience stream for the APAN Forum. This stream was kicked off by a webinar on 5 November that explored governance, planning, science, technology, and financing, all in the context of EbA. The webinar had 180 participants, representing various sectors from multilateral organizations, government, academia, and the private sector. Watch the webinar here.
National Adaptation Plan Action Days - On 20-21 October, participants gathered for a virtual meeting, titled NAP Action Days: Regional Exchange on NAP projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by UNDP & UNEP. Government representatives and NAP project teams from 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the dialogue: Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. Find the complete report here (English & Spanish)
Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative - On behalf of GAN, WARN-CC is co-organizing a Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) technical meeting for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 8-10 December 2020. A joint UNFCCC/UNEP action pledge under the Nairobi Work Programme, LAKI works at the sub-regional level to spur adaptation action by identifying and closing knowledge gaps. In its first phase from 2014-2018, LAKI carried out 6 sub-regional multi-stakeholder workshops covering 38 countries. The MENA meeting represents the first activity in LAKI’s second phase of work aiming at closing those knowledge gaps, with further work planned in 2021. WARN-CC presented its plans for the upcoming LAKI meeting at a webinar during UNFCCC's November Climate Dialogues. Watch the webinar here.
Job vacancy - WARN-CC is looking for support for the upcoming LAKI workshop for the MENA region. The position is home-based and runs from December to April. Deadline for applications is 9 December.
EPIC-Asia Workshop: Training Opportunity on the EPIC Model! - EPIC is sharing an upcoming virtual training opportunity on its pioneering model to gain greater understanding of how cities and universities in the Asia-Pacific can create more effective, action-oriented partnerships that bolster local resilience and sustainability! After the training, the most promising city-university pairs can apply for a seed grant (around USD 2,000 per pair) to support their proposed EPIC project. The deadline for applications is 20 January 2021. City managers and seasoned university faculty members are encouraged to apply together as a pair through this link. For more information, click here.
UNEP & Adaptation
OCT-NOV UPDATE
‘Sponge City’: San Salvador uses nature to fight floods– A recent story explores how UNEP is working with San Salvador city and its surrounding coffee farms to create a natural defence against floods. Known as CityAdapt, the project is restoring 1,150 hectares of forests and coffee plantations. The goal? Revive San Salvador’s ability to absorb rainfall. Watch the new project video here.
Adaptation Fund, UNEP, UNDP and CTCN launch $10m Climate Innovation Accelerator - The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) aims to foster innovation in climate change adaptation in developing countries. We are looking for great ideas for adaptation technologies that need funding to scale up! UNEP will be responsible for administrating $5 million to these great ideas. Find out more here.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Nature-based Solutions for Disaster & Climate Resilience – UNEP and the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) have launched a new MOOC on Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience. This course is open to everyone, whether you have an environmental background or not. Find out more about the course here.
New strains of rice could address climate change - A new story explores how UNEP has been working with the Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center to develop strains of rice that are drought-resistant and don’t need to be planted in paddies. The research, say experts, could help bolster food security at a time when Covid-19 is threatening to propel more people into hunger.
Can forest restoration reduce the threat of megafires? – A UNEP story explores how ecological restoration principles can be incorporated into strategies to defend properties in fire-prone regions. Residents can plant fire-tolerant native plants around their home and avoid more flammable or exotic species that can become invasive. Forest restoration can also help after a fire. Read the story to find out more.
In Latin America, farmers use microfinance to fight climate change - The Microfinance for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (MEbA) project, spearheaded by UNEP and implemented in Costa Rica along with Fundecooperación, is working with micro-lenders across Latin America to provide 17,000 loans to small-holder farmers looking to invest in eco-friendly solutions. The initiative has supported the creation of 11 test farms. Read the full story here.
Good news: Cooperation Agreements signed for the Green Climate Fund project- On October 29, the Cooperation Agreement for a Green Climate Fund project, titled Payments Based on the Results of REDD + in Paraguay for the Period 2015-2017, was signed. From 2015-2017, Paraguay saved 23m tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by reducing deforestation and enhancing forest stocks. Read more here.
GAN is Growing!
Meet our new staff...
Anna Kilponen, GAN Regional Liaison for Asia Pacific - My name is Anna Kilponen and I recently joined the Global Adaptation Network (GAN) Secretariat in the role of Regional Liaison based at the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. In this role, I’m supporting GAN and the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), and I liaise with partners and actors to strengthen the links between the regional and global network.
My background includes working on research, knowledge and data management, supporting the implementation of environmental monitoring programmes, and working on environmental education and communication projects. In my free time I like to cook, read, practice yoga and enjoy Bangkok’s food scene, and whenever possible, spend time outdoors visiting Thailand’s national parks. I'm excited to have the opportunity to join the team and to support GAN and APAN in strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience. Take care and stay safe everyone!
Bryce Bray, GAN Regional Liaison for Latin America & the Caribbean - I can usually be found in a forests photographing insects and plants, or diving on coral reefs, which is one of life's most magical experiences. I also enjoy learning languages, and carry packs of flashcards wherever I am. I'm from the United States where I have an identical twin brother and identical twin sisters, but feel at home in Brazil whose Cerrado and coral reefs inspired me to cement my journey as an environmentalist.
In 2018, I finished an MA in Environmental Policy, and have since received the Fulbright and Boren Fellowships to conduct research on climate-fragility issues. I am currently working with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to protect coral reef ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods that depend on them. Based on my research and experience, I see large-scale, nature-based solutions as an essential tool over the coming decades to ensure millions of people`s food and livelihood security in the face of climate change.
