Step up climate change adaptation or face serious human and economic damage – UN report

Nairobi, 14 January 2021 – As temperatures rise and climate change impacts intensify, nations must urgently step up action to adapt to the new climate reality or face serious costs, damages and losses, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report finds.Adaptation – reducing countries’ and communities’ vulnerability to climate change by increasing their ability to absorb impacts – is a key pillar of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.Nature-based solutions – locally appropriate actions that address societal challenges, such as climate change, and provide human well-being and biodiversity benefits by protecting, sustainably managing and restoring natural or modified ecosystems – must also become a priority.“The hard truth is that climate change is upon us,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

Cumulative investment for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects under the four funds stood at USD 94 billion.Stepping up action According to the report, cutting greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the impacts and costs associated with climate change.