44 / 96
44
Global level
Over the past 20 years, governments have been
intensifying their consideration of the threats posed
by climate change by progressively implementing
strategic policy action to tackle such changes, and
in parallel, advancing scientific knowledge on the
climate system for more informed decision-making.
The global policy response so far has mostly centred on
mitigating climate change by reducing anthropogenic
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This strategy has
been pursued by setting binding reduction targets of
international instruments, such as the Kyoto Protocol,
to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). Most industrialized
nations listed in Annex I of the Convention, including
the European Union (EU), have committed to
reductions until the end of 2020.
Policy responses at the Global, Regional and
Sub-regional level
The complementary response to mitigation is
adaptation, which entails facing the consequences
of unavoidable changes by adjusting to new climatic
conditions and climate variability, regardless of
future emissions. At the global level, the UNFCCC
and its Kyoto Protocol refer specifically to adaptation
in several of their Articles and require the Parties’
cooperation in this area. Industrialized countries
have committed to supporting the most vulnerable
developing countries with limited capacities to cope
with the impacts of climate change (UN, 1992).
Within the UNFCCC process, adaptation covers five
key elements needed to enable knowledge sharing
and learning, namely:
• Observation of climatic and non-climatic variables
• Assessment of climate impacts and vulnerability
• Planning
• Implementation and
• Monitoring and evaluation of adaptation actions
(UNFCCC, 2015).
In order to allow the functioning of such adaptation
components, Parties should ensure technical and
institutional capacities, as well as technological and
financial support.
A number of institutions, mechanisms and
workstreams have been established under the
UNFCCC to allow Parties to undertake activities
associatedwithknowledgeonclimate change impacts,
vulnerability and adaptation, mostly coordinated
under the Cancun Adaptation Framework.
The actual implementation of adaptation projects,
programmes, policies and other activities is funded
through the financial mechanisms of the Convention,
via the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust
Fund and three special funds under the UNFCCC
and Kyoto Protocol: the Special Climate Change
Fund (SCCF); the Least Developed Countries Fund
(LDCF); and the Adaptation Fund (AF). The Green
Climate Fund (GCF) represents the largest scheme
under the UNFCCC, through which developing
country Parties receive support both for adaptation
and mitigation actions. Funding for adaptation also
flows through bilateral and multilateral channels.
Outside the Convention, several UN agencies such
as UNEP, UNDP, the United Nations Office for
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
FYR Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
Kosovo
1
ratified the Convention in 1994 (Non-Annex I)
ratified the Convention in 2000 (Non-Annex I)
ratified the Convention in 1996, added to AI in 1998 (Annex I, EIT)
ratified the Convention in 1998 (Non-Annex I)
ratified the Convention in 2006 (Non-Annex I)
ratified the Convention in 2001 (Non-Annex I)
not ratified the Convention
Status of Western Balkan countries within the UNFCCC