Next Steps for Defining a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System for the Global Goal on Adaptation by COP 28

The report argues that the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) should avoid a rigid, top-down indicator framework, which often creates bureaucratic burdens and fails to reflect local realities. Instead, it proposes a 'mixed approach' that combines a few high-level global targets with bottom-up, country-driven indicators derived from existing national MEL systems. The authors emphasize that the MEL system must be iterative and pragmatically bold, focusing on enhancing adaptive capacity and reducing vulnerability without imposing new reporting burdens on developing countries. Key recommendations include leveraging existing frameworks like the SDGs and the Sendai Framework, strengthening participatory processes, and defining clear roles for UNFCCC bodies to analyze collective progress for the Global Stocktake.

• The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) serves as the conceptual and methodological framework for the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) of adaptation under the Paris Agreement, specifically to provide the system for the Global Stocktake (GST) to assess collective progress every five years.
• Top-down approaches to global MEL systems, such as those used for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), often fail to reflect local priorities and create excessive bureaucracy and reporting burdens for countries.
• A 'mixed approach' is recommended for the GGA, utilizing a small number of top-down targets informed by a variety of bottom-up, contextualized indicators from existing national and global MEL systems to minimize additional burdens on states.
• The proposed GGA framework is based on four overarching dimensions of the adaptation policy cycle: impact, vulnerability, and risk; assessment; planning and implementation; and MEL.
• Developing countries, including the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) and Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), have emphasized that the GGA must not impose additional communication or reporting burdens and must include a strong focus on means of implementation (MoI) and capacity building.
• The report suggests that the MEL system should be iterative, potentially agreeing on broad targets by COP 28 and refining specific information vehicles and sources between COP 28 and the next Global Stocktake in 2026.
• There is currently no dedicated body within the UNFCCC with the capacity to produce global assessments on adaptation evidence, necessitating a definition of roles and collaboration between existing bodies like the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Country Expert Group.

APA

Beauchamp, E., & Józefiak, I. (2023). Next Steps for Defining a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System for the Global Goal on Adaptation by COP 28. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/global-goal-on-adaptation-monitoring-evaluation-learning-framework-cop-28.pdf

Chicago

Beauchamp, Emilie, and Iga Józefiak. Next Steps for Defining a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System for the Global Goal on Adaptation by COP 28. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/global-goal-on-adaptation-monitoring-evaluation-learning-framework-cop-28.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Beauchamp |first1=Emilie |last2=Józefiak |first2=Iga |title=Next Steps for Defining a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System for the Global Goal on Adaptation by COP 28 |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/global-goal-on-adaptation-monitoring-evaluation-learning-framework-cop-28.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{beauchamp2023next, author = {Beauchamp, Emilie and Józefiak, Iga}, title = {{Next Steps for Defining a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning System for the Global Goal on Adaptation by COP 28}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/global-goal-on-adaptation-monitoring-evaluation-learning-framework-cop-28.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }