Description/achievement of initiative
RegionsAdapt is the first global initiative for regional governments* to take concrete actions, cooperate and report efforts in climate adaptation.*Refers to the subnational level, in between national and municipal governments, as states, regions and provinces
By joining RegionsAdapt initiative, governments commit to:1. Adopt a strategic approach to adaptation and prioritize adaptation actions within two years of joining the initiative;2. Take concrete action on adaptation in at least one of the key priority areas identified by the regions; and3. Report data on the progress of the adaptation actions on an annual basis The 7 key-priority areas identified up to this moment are:- Water resources and management;
- Resilience and disaster risk reduction;
- Agriculture and zootechnics;
- Forestry, protected areas and biodiversity;
- Infrastructure (including transport and the energy sectors) and territorial planning;
- Economic impacts and opportunities;
- Social adaptation and impacts.Participant governments are invited to nominate technicians to compose a working group on each of the above thematic areas. The working groups decide how to develop their discussions, and one or more governments assume the coordination of each of the WGs.The result of their exchanges in frequent calls and webinars, will enable the exchange of best practices and the production of recommendations based on cutting edge-expertise.
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
The benefits of RegionsAdapt initiative for member governments are:1. Join an ambitious global group of subnational governments who are pioneer in climate change adaptation;
2. Have a platform to showcase their regional actions on adaptation;3. Establish an extensive communication with other governments, offering and learning best practices;
4. Become part of a global, standardized reporting system led by The Climate Group, R20, nrg4SD and CDP; 5. Take part in CDP’s global reporting system and join over 5,000 companies, 200 cities, and 44 states and regions that already measure, manage and report their vital environmental information.
Coordination mechanisms/governance structure
The RegionsAdapt initiative is open to all governments situated between the local and the national level from across the world, regardless of their size or the stage of implementation of their climate policy.Launched at the UN Climate Conference of the Parties in December 2015, RegionsAdapt was commissioned by the governments of Catalonia and Rio de Janeiro. The Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD) serves as its Secretariat; CDP and The Climate Group are endorsing partners.The initiative is organized in 7 different thematic working groups, on topics identified as crucial by the participant regions. Each group is coordinated by a volunteer region. In addition to the participant governments, each working group will, ideally, comprise a third party acting as a sponsor and another one as a technical expert.
NRG4SD, CDP, Cap-Net and the following regional governments: Amambay, Araucanía. Australian Capital Territory, Azuay, Basque Country, British Columbia, Caldas, California, Catalonia, Ceará, Cerro Largo, Central Departament, Chaco Tarijeño, Cordillera, Cusco, Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab, Fatick, Fès-Meknès, Goiás, Gossas, Jalisco, Kaffrine, KwaZulu-Natal, Lombardia, Parana, Morona Santiago, Napo, O’Higgins, Pastaza, Pichincha, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Risaralda, Roraima, Saint Louis, Santander, São Paulo, South Australia, Sud-Comoé, Tocantins, Tombouctou, Vermont, Wales, Western Province of Sri Lanka