Early this week, your devoted chronicler spoke of the virtue of patience, a virtue that has been the constant companion of those awaiting the fruition of the Global Goal on Adaptation. But alas, even the saintliest of souls find their patience tested when faced with the slow machinations of this boring political dance. Now, let us not be mistaken, the crafting of a comprehensive GGA framework is no frivolous matter.
Until now, the urgency of adaptation action and finance has fallen off the radar. Just like the snail pace of negotiations, adaptation planning, implementation, and finance has stalled. Yet, the question remains: where is adaptation hiding at COP and why must such a crucial matter be shrouded in complexity and delay?
ECO challenges you to ponder this – is adaptation’s complexity truly insurmountable, or is it a convenient excuse for those who wish to delay progress? ECO has been anticipating a result after two years of discussions & workshops on GGA and if COP28 doesn’t deliver on adaptation, it will be a significant global failure.
During Wednesday’s tense sessions punctuated by points of order, ECO watched in horror as the adaptation negotiations collapsed in front of our eyes. The spirit of collaboration, discovered by Parties as late as the 7th workshop, vanished into thin air. A closer glance at all the adaptation negotiation rooms reveals a concerning dynamic. Certain countries – seemingly committed to derailing the adaptation agenda – effectively hijacked the negotiation process not just in relation to the GGA, but across the entire spectrum of the adaptation negotiations. Starting from hardly any adaptation pledges at this COP, to contradictory stances taken during consultations on National Adaptation Plans, and arguing over text formatting in the Adaptation Committee room, they also refused to engage on substance on the GGA text.
Watch your step, ECO’s eyes are on you.
Time has run out. With each passing day, the world is suffering from increasing climate extremes, and demanding strong adaptation action and support. The asks for GGA are clear – an ambitious overarching goal, a comprehensive GGA framework acknowledging the principle of CBCR-RC, and unambiguous language on Means of Implementation. Such demands are not just reasonable; they are imperative in our collective quest to deliver on climate justice.