ADAPTACIÓN Policy Brief

The document argues that Latin America and the Caribbean are among the most climate-vulnerable regions globally, facing severe economic losses and ecosystem degradation. It highlights the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) as a strategic opportunity for the region to secure quantitative financing and integrate nature-based solutions. The brief recommends aligning national adaptation plans with human rights, indigenous knowledge, and regional cooperation to ensure a just and measurable transition.

• Latin America and the Caribbean are highly exposed to climate change, with eight countries ranked among the 30% most vulnerable globally. The region experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with temperatures 0.9 °C above the 1991-2020 average, leading to the total loss of glaciers in Venezuela.
• Between 1970 and 2024, the accumulated economic cost of disasters in the region exceeded 365 billion USD. Meteorological disasters accounted for the largest share at 53.3%, followed by geophysical (20.3%), hydrological (17.3%), and climatological (9.1%) events.
• There is a significant gap and uncertainty regarding adaptation financing. Annual needs for the region are estimated between 14 billion USD and 21 billion USD by 2030, while total climate finance (including mitigation) is estimated at up to 885 billion USD annually.
• Despite 17 countries in the region adopting National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and 16 submitting Adaptation Communications, implementation is slow. This is attributed to the long-term nature of adaptation and a historical preference for mitigation projects, which offer more visible short-term impacts and higher investment appeal.
• Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is presented as a critical tool for resilience. Examples include the 'Manglar Vivo' project in Cuba to reduce coastal vulnerability, the 'Lomas' and 'Montaña' projects in Peru for water and soil management, and the 'Adaptación basada en ecosistemas en la Cuenca del río Paz' between El Salvador and Guatemala.
• Recent advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) establish that climate inaction can be a violation of international law. They assert that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are obligations of result, not just means, and emphasize reinforced protection for indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, women, and children.

APA

Galvis, Á. R., Buitrago, M. F., Carbajal, A. L., Rivadeneira, M. I., & Chabaneix, N. (2024). ADAPTACIÓN Policy Brief. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-Brief_Adaptacion_Transforma_WWF_2025.pdf

Chicago

Galvis, Ángela Rivera, Maritza Florián Buitrago, Alejandra López Carbajal, María Inés Rivadeneira, and Nicole Chabaneix. ADAPTACIÓN Policy Brief. Transforma, 2024. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-Brief_Adaptacion_Transforma_WWF_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Galvis |first1=Ángela Rivera |last2=Buitrago |first2=Maritza Florián |last3=Carbajal |first3=Alejandra López |last4=Rivadeneira |first4=María Inés |last5=Chabaneix |first5=Nicole |title=ADAPTACIÓN Policy Brief |publisher=Transforma |date=2024 |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-Brief_Adaptacion_Transforma_WWF_2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{galvis2024adaptacin, author = {Galvis, Ángela Rivera and Buitrago, Maritza Florián and Carbajal, Alejandra López and Rivadeneira, María Inés and Chabaneix, Nicole}, title = {{ADAPTACIÓN Policy Brief}}, institution = {Transforma}, year = {2024}, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-Brief_Adaptacion_Transforma_WWF_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }