Cross-border scaling of climate and impact solutions

Center for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD)’s policy brief, Addressing the Cascading Impacts of Climate Change: Scope of Transboundary Adaptation in the South Asian Delta’ calls for a bold shift from isolated national efforts to unified, regional adaptation strategies as the current frameworks, often focused on local or national responses, fail to address the interconnected nature of cross-border climate risks. https://lnkd.in/g2ta3jmu The escalating cross-border climate impacts in South Asia, concerning with the shared water resources like the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra River systems, the countries of the South Asian subcontinent, from the foothills of the Himalayan Range to the coastal plains, must prioritize cooperation to protect the shared river systems that sustain millions. This should begin with transparent data-sharing, equitable water-sharing agreements, and collaborative disaster response mechanisms. REMARKS 🔍 The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) recognized transboundary adaptation and highlighted the necessity of transboundary cooperation in managing shared water resources, ecosystems, and infrastructure to prevent maladaptation and boost resilience.   🔍 The global stock take process highlighted transboundary collaboration in managing water ecosystems, especially for vulnerable regions   🔍 The Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh Work Programme (GlaSS) also incorporated transboundary risks into its framework discussions with calls to integrate transboundary climate risk more explicitly into adaptation frameworks, setting a precedent for future COPs.   POLICY ARGUMENT AT COP 29 📢 Initiate a process at COP 29 for developing a collaborative framework for assessing and addressing cascading risk of climate change across the boundaries. The Frameworks must move beyond territorial approaches and foster regional collaboration in adaptation planning, with an emphasis on joint governance of shared resources, data transparency, and policies that reflect the interdependence of nations facing common climate risks.   📢 Establish an international regulation under the GGA: The COP 29 should initiate discussion for establishing an international regulation and its governance structure under the GGA to guide and regulate trans-boundary adaptation actions while also ensuring their means of implementation.

When countries work together, supported by strong coalitions and partnerships, we can turn shared risks into shared progress. In the Western Balkans, support from the Adaptation Fund has enabled Albania, Montenegro & North Macedonia to join forces in tackling floods in the Drin River Basin – a challenge that knows no borders. With UNDP and partners, and building on earlier efforts supported by the Global Environment Facility, this initiative truly highlights the power of partnerships to meet transboundary climate challenges and advance shared climate goals. The results speak for themselves: More than 30 new or upgraded hydrometeorological stations are improving flood forecasting and early warning. Thousands of hectares of farmland and communities are better protected through rehabilitated embankments and drainage systems. And for the first time, Albania, North Macedonia & Montenegro have a joint flood risk management strategy, backed by shared data, aligned with EU standards, shaped by community voices, and paired with a five-year action plan to reduce vulnerability across borders. See the work in photos: https://lnkd.in/e-hgzK9C This is proof that partnerships are one of the most powerful defenses we have against climate change. UNDP in Europe and Central Asia UNDP Albania UNDP Montenegro UNDP North Macedonia

How do we adapt to #transboundary_risks from #climate_change? #Transboundary_adaptation includes actions taken to avoid or reduce the impacts of climate change. It requires managing #climate_risks that cross geographic, temporal and sectoral boundaries through planning and investing in feasible interventions that can operate effectively at scales appropriate to how the impacts of climate change manifest across boundaries. In our new ODI Global Policy Brief, Portia Adade Williams and I highlight seven entry points for transboundary adaptation to address climate impacts at source, destination, along transmission channels, at boundaries, and with what interacting and feedback effects. This is important because the impacts of climate change in one country or sector can cascade into another. Both the physical impacts and climate mitigation and adaptation response taken in one or more countries can trigger risks to neighbouring countries. This highlights the importance of also understanding how responses to climate change can themselves affect risk or transmit it across boundaries, and the need for transboundary adaptation. Key Messages: Transboundary adaptation can reduce risks by focusing interventions at the origin or source of the climate change impact, along transmission channels, and in destination country or region. Anticipating, planning for, and managing flows across geographic and sectoral boundaries builds resilience across interconnected systems and populations. Transboundary adaptation is strengthened and more effective when using a nexus approach, which considers how interconnected flows such as hydropower changes affect irrigation and/or energy needs. Greater recognition of governance of transboundary flows within adaptation planning can better identify and manage systemic vulnerabilities that escalate climate change risk. Strengthening governance frameworks to improve cross-border cooperation must be done in conjunction with addressing critical dimensions of vulnerability and promoting the integrated management of shared resources. Read the Policy Brief here: https://lnkd.in/dCMkuXap Thanks to Irish Aid for supporting this work, to the constructive reviews by Martin Munene, Sarah O., Jessica Thorn, Nathaniel Mason and Laetitia Pettinotti.