Webinar outcome – Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance in the Asia-Pacific

Summary

In the global discourse on climate adaptation, the spotlight often falls on rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and large-scale national climate finance commitments. But what about the places and people on the margins of these narratives—small towns, sub-million cities, and urban settlements that are both expanding and straining under pressure?

To understand this, in collaboration with BORDA – South Asia, an online webinar was organised to amplify the voices of municipalities at the intersection of climate adaptation and basic infrastructure provision. This engagement significantly enriched the advocacy effort, especially by emphasising the often-overlooked role of municipal services as a critical component of climate change adaptation.

The idea for this focused discussion emerged through interactions with the BORDA South Asia team, who work closely with municipalities on infrastructure development, particularly in the WaSH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector.

Insights from the earlier workshop held in Sri Lanka had already highlighted the need to link local adaptation priorities with the global climate adaptation agenda. Including the perspectives of municipal government representatives was seen as essential to advancing this agenda meaningfully.