Global Network News
How countries can beat the growing threat of extreme heat – A new study reveals that July’s deadly European heatwave, which killed over 2,300 people, was made far more likely by climate change. As extreme heat becomes more frequent, experts warn that current cooling methods are worsening the crisis. The UN is calling for urgent action: sustainable cooling, green urban planning, early warning systems, and passive solutions like tree planting. Read more.
National Adaptation Plan Expo 2025 – Join us for NAP Expo 2025 from 12–15 August in Lusaka, Zambia! The full programme is now live, featuring keynotes, technical sessions, workshops, and events under the theme Innovations in the NAP Process. Engage with experts and country delegates on advancing national adaptation plans. Explore the agenda here. UNEP will be hosting a series of event of key topics, from climate risk mapping to strategies for mobilizing finance.
Practical Guidance on Implementing Adaptation and Resilience for Banks – The UNEP Finance Initiative has launched the Principles for Responsible Banking’s Practical Guidance on Implementing Adaptation and Resilience for Banks—a new resource designed specifically for banking professionals to help integrate climate adaptation and resilience into risk frameworks and business strategies. The guidance covers practical steps banks can take on adaptation across three interconnected cornerstones: Assessment, Strategy and Action.
Newsletter: The World Adaptation Science Programme – The World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP) is a global partnership and knowledge hub supported by nine agencies and involves over 40 core specialists and members from around the globe. WASP’s core mission is to ensure that climate adaptation knowledge gaps are filled to inform evidence-based policies, solutions and actions for successful adaptation to new climate conditions.
EPIC Model boosts climate resilience around the world – Across Africa and Asia, student-led innovation is advancing urban climate resilience through the EPIC model. In Lusaka, Harare, and Durban, university partnerships supported city planning, flood adaptation, and sustainable water management. In Bangkok and Bandung, students tackled emissions and food security through urban freight solutions and community farming. These initiatives link academic research with local needs to drive climate-resilient development.
SCALA programme strengthens biodiversity-friendly adaptation – The FAO-UNDP SCALA programme, funded by the International Climate Initiative, is helping countries draft and update National Adaptation Plans, strengthen the adaptation component ofNDCs, and achieve greater alignment with national biodiversity strategies and action plans. Through its Private Sector Engagement Facility, it has supported a 11 affiliate countries with seed funding for investment-ready climate and biodiversity solutions in the agrifood sector.
How global finance undermines climate adaptation and resilience – Despite record global climate finance reaching $1.9 trillion in 2023, only 10% goes to adaptation—leaving vulnerable countries dangerously underfunded. While mitigation attracts private investment due to measurable returns, adaptation suffers from invisibility in financial models. Experts warn that without systemic reform, the current climate finance system will continue to fail those who need it most.
Unlocking private sector potential for climate-resilient agriculture – How can businesses help build a climate-resilient future for agriculture? This photo story article captures how countries like Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire and Costa Rica are partnering with the private sector to protect ecosystems, improve livelihoods and grow sustainable value chains through the FAO-UNDP SCALA programme.
News From The Regions
Africa
Gambia confronts climate change in a bid to slow youth exodus – Gambia has one of Africa’s highest rates of irregular migration to Europe. A UNEP-backed project is helping communities cope with a changing climate by creating economic opportunities and restoring degraded ecosystems back home. Teams provided equipment, training and business development coaching. This helped more than 200 people across the country establish ecologically sustainable businesses, which in total have generated US$2.46 million in income.
Madagascar launches $7 million initiative to protect coasts from climate change - Madagascar has officially launched a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience by restoring critical coastal ecosystems and improving livelihoods across vulnerable regions. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to benefit directly across four key coastal regions—Boeny, Menabe, Diana, and Atsimo Atsinanana. The project is funded by a $7.1 million grant from the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund.
Scaling up agroecological techniques in Senegal’s Groundnut Basin and Niayes Region - In Senegal, climate change is placing pressure on vital agricultural value chains—especially millet, groundnut and vegetables. This brief, developed under the FAO-UNDP SCALA programme, explores how agroecological practices can strengthen resilience in the Groundnut Basin and Niayes Region, supporting climate adaptation, food security, and low-emission development.
Towards implementing urban Nature-based Solutions in Zambia and Mauritius – Climate change and rapid urbanization threaten sustainable development in low- and middle-income cities. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can complement traditional infrastructure while delivering environmental and social benefits, yet adoption remains limited due to financial and policy barriers. This technical report reviews scientific and grey literature to assess climate risks in Zambia and Mauritius.
News from the Regions
Asia Pacific
9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum – The 9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum will take place from 29 September to 3 October 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The APAN Forum is the primary region-wide platform for adaptation practitioners to meet, share their learning and experiences, and work together towards pertinent outcomes and practical solutions needed to address the challenges of climate change.
As fires blaze, Laotian officials look to gauge their impact on climate change – Forest fires in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, largely driven by slash-and-burn agriculture, are worsening with rising temperatures. Until recently, the country lacked tools to track emissions, hindering its climate goals. Now, thanks to a UNEP-GEF project, Laos has launched a national greenhouse gas inventory system using satellite and AI data. This transparency is critical to meet its climate targets, attract finance, and inform action.
Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia – Southeast Asia faces escalating social, economic and environmental pressures from climate change. The urgency to adapt to these hazards has never been greater, yet efforts in the region remain fragmented and siloed. Water – which underpins the climate vulnerabilities of multiple systems from agriculture to urban communities, finance to infrastructure – can provide a tangible, investible and unified narrative for climate adaptation.
News from the Regions
Latin America & the Caribbean
Brazil, Italy announce new push and funding on cooling action ahead of COP30 – At the Global Cooling Pledge meeting in Bonn, Brazil and UNEP launched a new initiative called Beat the Heat in Cities to tackle extreme heat through sustainable urban cooling, with Italy pledging €2 million to support implementation. As the world faces its third year of record-breaking temperatures, COP30 in Brazil will make cooling a top priority.
Facing climate storms, one town turns to mangroves for protection – Ecuador’s Guayas River delta, home to the country’s largest mangrove forest and major urban areas, is under pressure from development. A UNEP-backed project in Samborondón is restoring mangroves to protect against extreme weather, enhance biodiversity, and inspire wider replication. The initiative combines restoration with education, involving students, volunteers, and local government to show that urban development and ecosystem protection can coexist.
How we bridge the gap in climate innovation and investment in Latin America – Latin America’s startup scene is thriving with climate-focused innovation, despite attracting just 2% of global venture capital. Argentina and Chile lead the way, showing resilience and creativity amid economic and political instability. The region’s rich natural resources and purpose-driven entrepreneurs offer a unique edge in developing climate tech.
Upcoming Events
August 12-15
NAP Expo 2025
October 7-8
Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Coastal Resilience
October 13
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
October 22
Webinar: Synergies for Ecosystem Restoration
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