FCCC/CP/2015/7

FCCC/CP/2015/7
(c)
Impact and vulnerability assessments;
(d) Legal and regulatory frameworks, strategies, programmes and plans, which
provide the basis for, or have informed, adaptation actions;
(e) Measures or actions planned or under implementation for different time
frames, in particular for the shorter (2015–2020) and longer terms (2020–2030);
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
Loss and damage;
Means of implementation;
Monitoring and evaluation;
Synergies between adaptation and mitigation.
244. The secretariat has synthesized the information submitted by Parties for each
element with a focus on areas communicated by a critical mass of Parties. Additional
examples and specific aspects of the adaptation components are highlighted throughout the
sections. For each element, a number of emerging trends have been identified. It was not
possible at this point to evaluate the aggregate effect of the adaptation components given
the methodological uncertainties associated with such an evaluation.
2. Synthesis of the information communicated by Parties in the adaptation components
of their intended nationally determined contributions
National circumstances informing the adaptation component
245. Most Parties provided information on their national circumstances, identifying, inter
alia, aspects of their national circumstances that are particularly important for the
adaptation component. This information relates in particular to their geography, population
and economic indicators. A few Parties stated that their INDC is subject to revision, taking
into account future changes in national circumstances.
246. Several Parties described their overall geographical characteristics. Such information
generally includes a description of the overall location and geography of the country.
Parties also referred to key climatic zones of the country, length of coastline, mountain
chains and level of forest coverage and biodiversity. Descriptions of the overall climate of
the country were included in some INDCs, with references to indicators such as mean
temperature, mean precipitation, arid- or semi-arid character and level of climate variability
of the country. Some Parties provided more specific parameters, such as the amount of
cultivated land, estimated amount of available groundwater and deforestation rate. Specific
environmental developments were also highlighted, including the disappearance of major
water bodies, a high deforestation rate and the rapid spread of desertification in past
decades.
247. Some Parties described their population dynamics and considered how they relate to
climate change and adaptation, referring to, for example, high population density, growth,
high proportion of youth in the population and the need to adapt under the assumption that
the population is likely to be significantly higher in 2030. Others highlighted the challenges
associated with concentrations of population in vulnerable areas. Some referred to their
placement in the Human Development Index as an indicator of their overall development
status.
248. Overall economic situation and associated development challenges were also
described. Parties highlighted key economic indicators such as GDP, GDP growth and Gini
coefficient. They described the main economic activities and the number of people engaged
in those activities, dependencies on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water
resources, tourism and health, as well as economic weaknesses due to, for example, the
narrow focus of the economy. Some drew attention to the multiple challenges of pursuing
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