As impacts accelerate, adapting to climate change must become a global priority – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report

As impacts accelerate, adapting to climate change must become a global priority – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report

More than eight out of ten parties to UNFCCC have adaptation planning instruments in place; estimated adaptation costs are five to ten times greater than international adaptation finance flows to developing countries; unprecedented political will and long-term investments in adaptation are urgently needed.

As climate impacts intensify across the globe, nations must dramatically increase funding and implementation of actions designed to help vulnerable nations and communities adapt to the climate storm, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

"Adaptation needs in the developing world are set to skyrocket to as much as $340 billion a year by 2030. Yet adaptation support today stands at less than one-tenth of that amount. The most vulnerable people and communities are paying the price. This is unacceptable," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on the release of the Adaptation Gap Report.

"Adaptation must be treated with a seriousness that reflects the equal worth of all members of the human family. It’s time for a global climate adaptation overhaul that puts aside excuses and picks up the toolbox to fix the problems," he added.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, said: “Climate change is landing blow after blow upon humanity, as we saw throughout