Abstract
The need for transparency is taking more prominence in international climate negotiations as developed countries pledge large sums of money to foster adaptation efforts in developing countries. Tools that provide accurate and up-to-date spatial information that can be easily used and vetted by local practitioners may provide effective and affordable ways to improve transparency. The Global Adaptation Atlas is such a tool, combining vetted, publicly available climate impact data with timely maps of on the ground adaptation projects to highlight confluences of effects of climate change with actions taken to address those effects. Here, we describe the structure and general functions of the Global Adaptation Atlas and explain how it may be utilized to track short-term investments in adaptation. Over longer time scales, it may also help gauge the effectiveness of specific adaptation investments as well as reveal how different climate impacts affect long-term investment in differing regions.
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Notes
Under UNFCCC structures, scientific efforts, called the “Nairobi Work Programme,” were placed under the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advance (SBSTA) and improving methodologies fell under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
Decision 1/CP.13. Bali Action Plan. 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2011 from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2007/cop13/eng/06a01.pdf.
Draft decision -/CP.15. 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2011 from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf.
The LDCs Fund, operated by the Global Environmental Facility independent of the UNFCCC, provides support to the group of least LDCs as they prepare NAPAs. Following their completion, additional funds could be made available to assist these countries to implement the NAPAs. This development-focused fund became operational in July 2001.
www.rockfound.org. The Rockefeller Foundation is the major supporter of the Asian Cities Climate Resilience Network, a USD 70 million effort designed to improve the resilience of major cities in the Asian continent against the impacts of climate change.
Available at www.adaptationatlas.org.
The relevant color schemes are food—green, water—blue, land—brown, health—red, and livelihood—purple.
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Morris, D.F., Krishnan, N. Mapping Adaptation Opportunities and Activities in an Interactive Atlas. Ambio 41 (Suppl 1), 90–99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0244-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0244-3