Using NDCs, NAPs and the SDGs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development

The document argues that NAPs, NDCs, and SDGs are mutually reinforcing frameworks for climate-resilient development. It provides a four-quadrant framework to help countries align their NDC adaptation components with their NAP processes, depending on the progress of each. Furthermore, it positions the NAP process as an operational bridge to the SDGs, specifically targets 13.1 and 13.2, and demonstrates how sector-specific adaptation in agriculture, infrastructure, and marine resources aligns with various SDG goals. The authors emphasize the need for operational alignment through cross-referencing priorities, harmonizing indicators, and coordinating reporting structures to maximize resources and political support.

• The relationship between NDC adaptation components and NAP processes is mutually reinforcing: NDC adaptation components set the high-level vision and needs, while NAPs provide the country-driven, national-level process to integrate and implement those priorities.
• Countries can be categorized into four quadrants based on whether they have an adaptation component in their NDC and whether a NAP process is underway, which determines their starting point for alignment. For example, Cambodia uses its NAP process to strengthen cross-sectoral programming to implement its NDC adaptation component, while Peru uses its NDC priorities to guide its NAP process.
• The NAP process serves as an operational bridge to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as its objectives are synonymous with SDG target 13.1 (strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity) and target 13.2 (integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning).
• Climate-sensitive sectors prioritized in NAPs directly support specific SDGs: adaptive agricultural practices support SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), climate-proofing infrastructure supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and strengthening the resilience of marine resources supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• Operational alignment between NDCs, NAPs, and SDGs requires establishing crosswalks for priority identification, harmonizing tracking indicators, and coordinating reporting timelines to reduce the information management burden on countries.
• Uganda demonstrates a multi-agenda alignment where integrating adaptation into catchment management planning simultaneously advances its NAP process, its NDC-A commitments, and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) via its Second National Development Plan (NDPII).

APA

Hammill, A., & Price-Kelly, H. (2017). Using NDCs, NAPs and the SDGs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/napgn-en-2017-using-ndcs-nap-and-the-sdgs-to-advance-climate-resilient-development.pdf

Chicago

Hammill, Anne, and Hayley Price-Kelly. Using NDCs, NAPs and the SDGs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development. NAP Global Network, 2017. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/napgn-en-2017-using-ndcs-nap-and-the-sdgs-to-advance-climate-resilient-development.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hammill |first1=Anne |last2=Price-Kelly |first2=Hayley |title=Using NDCs, NAPs and the SDGs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=April 2017 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/napgn-en-2017-using-ndcs-nap-and-the-sdgs-to-advance-climate-resilient-development.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hammill2017using, author = {Hammill, Anne and Price-Kelly, Hayley}, title = {{Using NDCs, NAPs and the SDGs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/napgn-en-2017-using-ndcs-nap-and-the-sdgs-to-advance-climate-resilient-development.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }