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Adaptation covers a wide range of activities, from
reducing risk and vulnerability, to taking advantage
of opportunities, to building capacities at multiple
government levels and across sectors, and coping
with climate change impacts (Tompkins et al.,
2010). Additionally, the complexity of adaptation
requires governments to respond in multiple
policy sectors (e.g. agriculture, ecosystems, and
urban areas) (Eakin and Lemos, 2006). Central
government authorities design adaptation policies
that ought to be locally implemented. This requires
coordination and feedback among multiple levels
of governance. However, weak vertical integration
among governance levels and highly heterogeneous
capacities among actors at a given level (e.g.
municipalities) make success of adaptation strategies
implemented exclusively by subnational (local)
governments highly inconsistent. A balance needs
to be attained between centralized and decentralized
approaches in a long-term transition process towards
more effective work by local governments.
One reason for underdeveloped adaptation policies
is the lack of strong institutions, stable budgets and
political will as well as appropriate mechanisms to
align international agreements to national agendas.
The increasing number of policy instruments
designed at the global level is not adequately reflected
in the countries’ adaptation policies.
Global policy instruments
Treaties and international agreements are the
main framework of global policy, with some also
establishing funding commitments for adaptation.
Policy approaches
The UNFCCC is the most prominent international
treaty addressing climate change. The UNFCCC has
advocated adaptation and has founded the Adaptation
Committee.
5
In addition, the Convention has facilitated
the creation of the Adaptation Fund, which since 2010
has committed US$ 331 million in 54 countries for
climate adaptation and resilience activities,
6
as well as
other financial and technical assistance mechanisms
for adaptation and resilience-building (e.g. Green
Climate Fund, Climate Technology Centre and
Network). Existing global estimates of the costs of
adaptation in developing countries range between
US$ 70 billion and US$ 100 billion per year globally
by 2050, although this is likely to be a significant
underestimate especially after 2030 (UNEP, 2014).
The UNFCCC, as well as relevant financial
mechanisms, assists countries to mainstream climate
change considerations into national agendas and
priorities, and provides a framework for regional joint
initiatives and national policy responses to climate
change. Even though global mechanisms may lack
binding or regulatory capacity, they provide effective
leadership and guidance for innovative policies for
confronting climate change in national policymaking.
During the 20th meeting of the Conference of
the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP20) in Lima
in 2014, countries agreed on the importance of
implementing National Adaptation Programmes
of Action (NAPAs) and identifying vulnerable
populations in a participatory and transparent
manner. The importance of focusing on people
in vulnerable situations to prevent damage by
climate change was reiterated in the 2015 Paris
Landscape in Cordillera Blanca, Peru