Prioritising mountain resilience: Regional experts’ workshop on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) indicators under the Paris Agreement

About the event

We are organising a regional experts’ workshop on Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) indicators under the Paris Agreement from 17 to 18 March in ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal. Taking off from the groundwork of the UAE- Belém  work programme on GGA indicators development in 2024, this workshop aims to develop context-specific indicators for mountain ecosystem and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. These indicators are expected for inclusion in the GGA Framework target indicators for adoption at the 30th Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 30) in November. This workshop will unite GGA experts from ICIMOD’s  regional member countries (RMCs) in identifying and agreeing on measurable mountain indicators for submission to the work programme on indicators.

Moreover, this event will enhance participants’ understanding of the GGA, its framework indicators, and the commitments of the UAE- Belém  work programme. At the regional level, it will enhance HKH collaboration to strengthen mountains’ voice and explore pathways to improve regional actors’ capacity to implement and monitor climate adaptation strategies using the developed indicators. It will also catalyse regional GGA work leading to the 62nd sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) in June.

Objectives

1. Develop context-specific indicators for the mountains by
   • summarising the unique nature of climate risks within the HKH region and reflecting upon the proposed adaptation needs and initiatives implemented by the RMCs.
   • identifying existing and proposed relevant indicators for monitoring climate adaptation efforts in the HKH region, within national and regional initiatives.
   • understanding steps to ensure the indicators are region-specific, reflecting the diverse ecosystems, socio-economic conditions, and vulnerability levels across the HKH.
   • understanding potential pathways in strengthening regional collaboration on adaptation through the development of unified adaptation monitoring approaches and common indicators across the RMCs.
   • creating an enabling environment for regional stakeholders, including governments, scientists, NGOs, and local communities, to collaborate on developing, implementing, and monitoring adaptation indicators, and within UNFCCC processes.
2. Align the proposed indicators with the GGA as outlined in the Paris Agreement, while also considering national and local adaptation priorities.
3. Strengthen regional capacity for monitoring and evaluation of adaptation actions through the development of technical capacities, knowledge sharing and integrated regional approaches.

Expected outcomes

• Context-specific adaptation indicators: A finalised set indicators tailored for the HKH region, or an actionable methodology for the development of the same, aligned with GCA.
• Roadmap for strengthened regional cooperation: Enhanced collaboration among countries and stakeholders in the HKH region, leading to improved data sharing and joint adaptation efforts.
• Potential for capacity building: Increased understanding and capacity of regional stakeholders to implement and monitor climate adaptation strategies using the developed indicators.

Background

What is  Global Goal on Adaptation?

The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), established by Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement, serves as a united call for the world to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and minimise vulnerability to climate change. The goal aligns with global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a critical threshold to reduce  the risk of catastrophic climate impacts. It aims to unify global adaptation efforts, driving political action and financing on par with mitigation.

To properly measure and report the attainment of the GGA framework indicators, parties established the UAE- Belém  Work Programme, which is a two-year work programme on setting indicators for measuring progress achieved towards the targets of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience to identify, and as needed, develop indicators and potential quantified elements for those targets. The indicators are set to for adoption at  COP 30 in Belém, Brazil in 2025.

Climate vulnerabilities of the HKH

Spanning over 4.3 million km² across eight countries, the HKH region exemplifies the urgent need for targeted adaptation. The region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with impacts such as glacier retreat, inconsistent snow cover, rising permafrost temperatures, and intensified hydrological changes. The HKH region also faces increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters like floods, droughts, landslides, and avalanches. These cascading events have transboundary impacts, exacerbating the region’s socio-economic vulnerabilities. Effective adaptation in the HKH requires addressing its unique challenges, including its fragile ecosystems, diverse socio-economic conditions, and the need for cross-border collaboration.

GGA as driving force towards delivering mountain specific adaptation actions

GGA can play a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of the HKH region in the face of escalating climate impacts. The GGA framework offers a critical opportunity to integrate these region-specific challenges into global adaptation strategies, hence, recognising the unique nature of mountain ecosystems and the HKH region within measurable GGA indicators is essential.

The operationalisation and the implementation of the GGA framework can provide an impetus for the integration of national adaptation action across borders and the mobilisation of climate finance. It will also provide a framework for the development of climate action to better promote resilience, adaptive capacity, and integrated climate action.

Therefore, recognition of the unique nature of mountain ecosystems and the HKH region within the measurable indicators of the GGA framework is essential. Its inclusion as context-specific and urgent challenges under the GGA will ensure that climate actions, and financing will be allocated to building the resilience of mountain ecosystems.