Advancing Adaptation Action

The document analyzes the synergy between NAPs and NDCs, proposing a continuum of alignment from 'no alignment' to 'full alignment'. It finds that while most countries exhibit partial alignment, the timing of document submission significantly impacts coherence. It urges countries to use the 2025 NDC update to integrate detailed NAP findings, including costs and capacity gaps, to improve adaptation ambition and attract international finance.

• A systematic review of 57 countries that submitted multisectoral NAPs to the UNFCCC shows that 68% exhibit "partial alignment" between their NAP and NDC, while 16% show "no alignment" and 16% achieve "full alignment".
• The timing of document submission is a critical factor in alignment; 96% of the 26 countries that submitted NAPs before or in the same year as their NDC referenced the NAP in the NDC, and none of these countries were categorized as having "no alignment".
• There is a strong correlation between the existence of a NAP process and the inclusion of adaptation in NDCs: all 57 reviewed countries with a submitted NAP included an adaptation component in their NDC, and 82% of these NDCs specifically referenced the NAP process or a commitment to develop one.
• Comparing adaptation priorities across documents is difficult because countries use inconsistent terminology, such as "strategic objectives," "programs," "sectoral adaptation priorities," or "thematic strategies," without dedicated guidance on NDC adaptation components.
• The 2025 NDC update is identified as a strategic opportunity to leverage the NAP process to communicate specific needs, including financial costs, capacity gaps (human resources, technology, data), and information on loss and damage.
• The document highlights Suriname and Chad as good practice examples: Suriname uses the NDC for strategic priorities and the NAP as a comprehensive implementation strategy, while Chad coordinated the development of its NAP and revised NDC to focus on investment portfolios for nature-based solutions.

APA

Terton, A., Qi, J., & Exell, G. (2024). Advancing Adaptation Action. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/napgn-en-2024-nap-ndc-alignment-v6.pdf

Chicago

Terton, Anika, Jeffrey Qi, and Georgia Exell. Advancing Adaptation Action. NAP Global Network, 2024. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/napgn-en-2024-nap-ndc-alignment-v6.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Terton |first1=Anika |last2=Qi |first2=Jeffrey |last3=Exell |first3=Georgia |title=Advancing Adaptation Action |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=December 2024 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/napgn-en-2024-nap-ndc-alignment-v6.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{terton2024advancing, author = {Terton, Anika and Qi, Jeffrey and Exell, Georgia}, title = {{Advancing Adaptation Action}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/napgn-en-2024-nap-ndc-alignment-v6.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }