Global Goal on Adaptation

The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) is the Paris Agreement’s shared goal for helping people, economies and ecosystems cope with climate change. Established under Article 7.1, it seeks to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, while contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the Agreement’s temperature goal.

Purpose and guiding principles

Adaptation addresses climate impacts, while mitigation addresses their causes by reducing emissions or enhancing sinks. The GGA gives adaptation a collective international objective alongside efforts to limit warming.

• Under Article 7.2, adaptation is a global challenge with local, subnational, national, regional and international dimensions.
• Adaptation action should follow a country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and transparent approach, taking vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems into consideration.
• Action should be guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional knowledge, Indigenous peoples’ knowledge and local knowledge systems.

How countries implement the goal

The goal is implemented through national adaptation planning and action, shaped by each country’s circumstances and climate risks.

• Under Article 7.9, each Party shall, as appropriate, undertake adaptation planning processes and implement actions, including relevant plans, policies or contributions.
• These processes can include assessing climate impacts and vulnerability, formulating national adaptation plans, and monitoring, evaluating and learning from adaptation actions.
• Each Party should, as appropriate, periodically submit and update an adaptation communication covering priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions.
• International cooperation and support help developing countries strengthen their capacity to plan and implement adaptation.

Framework for assessing progress

At COP28 in 2023, Parties adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience to guide achievement of the GGA and review of overall progress.

• The framework identifies thematic targets covering water, food and agriculture, health, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure and settlements, poverty eradication and livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
• It also sets targets across the adaptation cycle: risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• The global stocktake, conducted every five years under the Paris Agreement, reviews overall progress towards the GGA, alongside other aspects of collective climate action.