Climate Strategies’ submission on views relevant to the topic of the 3rd dialogue under the UAE JTWP Lessons from international research and practice

Climate Strategies argues that climate adaptation must move beyond a technical exercise to a justice-centered approach that addresses the structural drivers of vulnerability. Drawing on its South to South Just Transitions (S2S) programme, the submission highlights that adaptation actions can create winners and losers, risking the further marginalization of vulnerable populations if not managed through a Just Transition lens. The document identifies best practices in countries like South Africa, Australia, and the EU, while noting significant barriers in the Global South, such as data gaps on lived experiences and the disconnection between mitigation and adaptation policies. It calls for the JTWP to facilitate shared frameworks for operationalizing equity, tracking social outcomes, and mapping transboundary risks.

• Adaptation actions can inadvertently create 'winners and losers,' meaning that without a justice-centered approach, policies may harm the populations they intend to protect or lead to maladaptation, which can reinforce or create new risks.
• Several countries are leading the integration of justice into adaptation and resilience: South Africa, the EU, Canada, and Australia are noted as being at the forefront, while Ecuador, Bolivia, India, and New Zealand are exploring approaches based on Indigenous Peoples' knowledge.
• Specific national frameworks demonstrate the institutionalization of justice in adaptation: South Africa uses 'Climate Resilient Development Pathways' (CRDP) for sectors like agriculture; Australia has a 'National Strategy for Just Adaptation'; and the EU's 2021 Adaptation Strategy focuses on policy alignment and social protections.
• A critical barrier to effective adaptation is the disconnection between mitigation and adaptation frameworks; while Just Transition principles are established in mitigation, adaptation is often still treated as a technical issue.
• There is a significant lack of data regarding the lived experiences of communities, which increases the risk of maladaptation. For example, in Kenya, introducing drought-resistant crops without considering local preferences led to cultural disconnection and reduced food diversity.
• Social marginalization significantly impacts climate vulnerability, as evidenced by India's use of inclusion assessments which revealed that the Dalit minority group faced disproportionate vulnerability during monsoon floods due to the caste system.
• Adaptation is frequently treated as a national issue, ignoring the global interdependence and transboundary risks. This is exemplified by the global coffee supply chain, where climate responses ignoring justice can worsen conditions for producers and increase world market prices.
• The document proposes several actionable solutions for the JTWP, including establishing national Just Transition Commissions, integrating justice principles across the entire policy cycle, and developing shared metrics to track the social outcomes of adaptation.

APA

Climate Strategies (n.d.). Climate Strategies’ submission on views relevant to the topic of the 3rd dialogue under the UAE JTWP Lessons from international research and practice. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Climate-Strategies-UNFCCC-JTWP-submission-Apr-2025.pdf

Chicago

Climate Strategies. Climate Strategies’ submission on views relevant to the topic of the 3rd dialogue under the UAE JTWP Lessons from international research and practice. n.d. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Climate-Strategies-UNFCCC-JTWP-submission-Apr-2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Climate Strategies |title=Climate Strategies’ submission on views relevant to the topic of the 3rd dialogue under the UAE JTWP Lessons from international research and practice |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Climate-Strategies-UNFCCC-JTWP-submission-Apr-2025.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{climatestrategiesndclimate, author = {{Climate Strategies}}, title = {{Climate Strategies’ submission on views relevant to the topic of the 3rd dialogue under the UAE JTWP Lessons from international research and practice}}, publisher = {Climate Strategies}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Climate-Strategies-UNFCCC-JTWP-submission-Apr-2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }