Regional
observatory
of adaptation
Latin America & The Caribbean
Observing the steps towards resilience
What is the Regional
Observatory of Adaptation?
A Climate Change Adaptation Observatory is a system of information designed to collect and analyze adaptation efforts in a specific geographic region. This observatory aims to foster collective reflection on the progress and obstacles related to adaptation in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Objectives
The main objective of the ROA is to facilitate decision-making aimed at advancing climate change adaptation processes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Systematize and analyze relevant information to observe progress in adaptation in the region.
Map indicators covering key aspects for observing progress in adaptation, including thematic dimensions such as water resources, agriculture, and health, among others, as well as aspects related to the adaptation policy cycle: risk assessments, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and adaptation financing.
Communicate effectively and promote dialogue on information related to gaps, progress, and action-taking in adaptation in the region.
The Global Goal on Adaptation as a framework for the ROA
What is the GGA
The Global Goal on Adaptation is a collective commitment under Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement aimed at “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to climate change globally.” The GGA is conceived as a unifying framework that can drive political action and financing for adaptation. This involves setting specific and measurable objectives and guidelines for adaptation, as well as improving financing and support for adaptation in developing countries.
Progress in the GGA framework
The establishment and implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) has faced complex challenges due to the localized nature of adaptation and the difficulty in reaching political consensus on issues like differentiated responsibility. While COP28 marked progress, significant gaps remain. The current framework lacks specific and measurable indicators to track progress toward global adaptation goals.
The work program from the United Arab Emirates (2023) to Belém (2025) aims to address these and other deficiencies and strengthen the GGA framework.
GGA Targets
The COP28 decision (7/CMA.3) establishes a total of 11 targets to frame the GGA and its assessment: seven based on key themes and four related to the adaptation process.
The seven thematic targets highlight global priorities for adaptation, namely in the sectors of water, food and agriculture, health, ecosystems and biodiversity, poverty and livelihoods, infrastructure, and cultural heritage. However, while these sectors are important globally, their relevance varies across the world. Countries need to contextualize how these themes apply in their geographies.
The four process targets reflect the four dimensions of the iterative adaptation cycle, which themselves are aligned with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process: conduct impact, vulnerability, and risk assessments; plan for adaptation; implement adaptation plans and actions; and establish MEL systems for adaptation.
The COP 28 decision also includes cross-cutting considerations to implement the framework, including gender-responsive, participatory, and fully transparent approaches.
Challenges
- Define concrete objectives without losing sight of inspiring narratives. It is necessary to avoid a purely theoretical framework and ensure a clear path to implementation.
- Develop comprehensive yet practical indicators to monitor adaptation actions, which are relevant in different contexts and regional scales.
- Address the limited availability of data, especially in resource-limited countries, through measures that facilitate the collection, analysis, and sharing of information.
- Adopt mixed approaches to create metrics and visualize solutions, combining bottom-up and top-down approaches. This will help countries develop robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems aligned with the GGA.
- Agree on financial structures with methodologies and metrics that allow tracking climate finance for adaptation and meeting financial commitments in a timely manner.
Axes of the ROA
The ROA integrates the targets set by the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience as thematic and structural axes. Additionally, it includes the crosscutting aspects of gender-responsiveness, participation and financing.
Thematic axes Estructural axes Cross-cutting axes
Thematic targets
Water
Water
Food systems
Food systems
Health
Health
Ecosystems and biodiversity
Ecosystems and biodiversity
Infrastructure and human settlements
Infrastructure and human settlements
Poverty and livelihoods
Poverty and livelihoods
Heritage
Heritage
Targets associated to the adaptation policy cycle
Impact, vulnerability and risk assessment
Impact, vulnerability and risk assessment
Planning
Planning
Implementation
Implementation
Monitoring, evaluation and learningdiversity
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Cross-cutting axes
Participation
Participation
Gender
Gender
Financing
Financing
The hybrid approach to observing adaptation progress
In the last decade, various methods and data sources have been utilized to track adaptation progress, including systematic reviews, formal UNFCCC communications, and project documents from international funding agencies. Novel approaches like big data tools are also being explored.
Each method offers unique insights but also has limitations, indicating that no single approach is sufficient on its own. There is a valuable to fully explore the strengths, weaknesses, and applicability of these different methods, as well as their potential synergies.
In response, the ROA employs complementary levels of observation that encompass global indicators, national indicators, and records of subnational action. By combining and triangulating these approaches, a more comprehensive understanding of regional adaptation efforts can be achieved than what is possible with individual methods alone.
Methodology
Phase 1
Mapping of global and national indicators
Pre-selection using criteria
Participatory workshops with stakeholders
Phase 2
Collection of information
Mapping of subnational action
Phase 3
Web Platform launch
Communication and dialogues
Sources of information
More than 200 sources of information were reviewed, which included:
- Systematic evaluation of adaptation responses reported in academic or grey literature.
- Existing global datasets of mostly quantitative indicators.
- Tracking of financial flows.
- Self-reported progress documents or platforms by countries.
- Project documents and evaluations.
- Records of subnational actions (surveys).
- Self-reported information from the private sector.
Disclaimer: Some original information sources used in the Regional Observatory of Adaptation indicators may use data that has not been validated. UNEP is not responsible for the use of such information. Please always refer to the original sources.
How can the ROA help you?
Government
National governments can benefit from using the ROA to make evidence-based decisions and report on the status of progress in meeting the Global Adaptation Goal within the framework of their national mandates (e.g. , National Adaptation Plans) and their international commitments (NDCs). Governements can also use the ROA as a guideline to align/design the MEL systems of ther national instruments.
Researchers
Researchers can use the ROA’s data to produce articles on adaptation and resilience, study the progress of adaptation in the region, build arguments for negotiations on international climate change policy, identify gaps and information needs for climate adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Practitioners
Climate adaptation practitioners will have access to up-to-date information on subnational action in climate adaptation to strengthen the design and implementation of their actions, generate new initiatives and mobilize targeted resources for better effective climate adaptation. Practitioners can also use the ROA as a guideline to align/design their MEL systems.
Civil Society
The Regional Observatory of Adaptation promotes the principles for locally led adaptation, therefore, Civil Society is a key group of users and providers of the information made available by the observatory.
Make Your Actions Count!
Survey 1:
Mapping of National Indicators
The ROA invites all national governments of the Latin America and Caribbean region to share information on their national and sectoral indicators that contribute to observing progress towards the GGA targets.
Survey 2:
Mapping of Subnational Adaptation Action
If you are involved in adaptation initiatives or projects at the national or subnational level, share your information with us. Help us recognize your contribution to the Global Goal on adaptation.
