NAP Champions Webinar: Advancing NAPs and climate-resilient recovery under COVID-19

Date 2020-Jun-9
Time 14:00-15:30hrs
Location Virtual

As part of the June Momentum events by the SB Chairs, the NAP Champions will host an event on 9 June to discuss advancing NAPs in this COVID-19 era.

Overview:

The COVID-19 pandemic introduces yet another challenge to societies and systems. And like many risks of a similar kind, the impacts are greater on the already vulnerable members of society, further widening their vulnerability to other risks (existing and new). As governments embark on recovery efforts to the devastating impacts of COVID-19, it is important that such efforts build upon and contribute to resilience-building to climate change. The term resilient recovery is used to mirror green recovery efforts that also aim to ensure COVID-19 recovery efforts contribute and are aligned with low carbon strategies.

The national adaptation plans (NAPs) offer an opportunity for countries to address multiple development objectives including on food security, health, water and other key areas. Furthermore, their connection with the most vulnerable parts of the society and systems enables interventions that target vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, and tackle important areas such as gender.

At this event the NAP Champions will offer views on how to accerelate adaptation planning and resilience-building during COVID-19 recovery. The LDC Expert Group (LEG) will describe ongoing efforts under the Open NAP initiative to ensure progress on NAPs in 2020. Agencies and organizations supporting formulation of NAPs will offer specific initiatives to enhance NAPs, and how to contribute towards recovery efforts. Voices of representative LDCs will share their efforts to progress on NAPs during this difficult time.

Agenda:

Time

Item and Speaker

14:00–14:05

Introduction to the event, Ms. Beth Lavender, Moderator

14:05-14:10

Welcoming remarks, Ms. Marianne Karlsen, SBI Chair

14:10–14:20

Keynote speech: Adaptation cannot wait: a call for resilience building during recovery efforts , Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, NAP Champion

14:20–14:35

Voices of the vulnerable, Mr. Choi Yeeting, Government of Kiribati, Mr. Gabriel Kpaka, Government of Sierra Leone

14:35–14:40

Current progress on NAPs and strategies to advance during COVID-19 through the Open NAP initiative, Ms. Hana Hamadalla Mohammed, Chair of the LDC Expert Group 

14:40–14:45

Update on GCF support for adaptation in 2020, Mr. Orville Grey, Adaptation Planning Specialist, Green Climate Fund Secretariat

14:45–14:55

Highlights of technical support by the NAP Technical Working Group, Mr. David Stevens, UNDRR, Mr. Alex Simalabwi, Global Water Partnership

14:55-15:20

Interactive discussion

15:20–15:30

Maintaining momentum on adaptation, Mr. Manuel José Saldias, Chile, (COP 25 Presidency), Mr. Achie Young, United Kingdom (Incoming COP Presidency)

Additional information from NAP Technical Working Group members:

  • Update from the NAP Global Network
  • Update from UNEP