Background Papers

The Global Commission on Adaptation commissioned a series of background papers to inform the Commission's flagship Adapt Now report. These papers are intended to produce a concise yet comprehensive assessment of adaptation in a key system or cross-cutting issue. Below are links to download the papers. 

Finance 

• Driving Finance for the Climate Resilience Society of Tomorrow – UNEP Finance Initiative; Climate Finance Advisors 

• Insurance for Climate Adaptation: Opportunities and Limitations – Cass Business School, City University of London 

• Broken Connections and Systemic Barriers: Overcoming The Challenge Of The "Missing Middle" In Adaptation Finance – Heinrich Stiftung; South African National Biodiversity Initiative; Africa Adaptation Initiative 

• The Role of Domestic Budgets in Financing Climate Change Adaptation – Oxford Policy Management 

• A Snapshot of Global Adaptation Investment and Tracking Methods 

Agriculture & Food Security 

• Rural Livelihoods, Food Security and Rural Transformation under Climate Change – CGIAR 

• Adapting the Global Food System to New Climate Realities: Guiding Principles and Priorities – International Food Policy Research Institute 

• The Contributions of Agroecological Approaches to Realizing Climate-Resilient Agriculture – World Agroforestry; Bangor University; CGIAR 

• Achieving Climate Change Adaptation Through Integrated Landscape Management – Ecoagriculture Partners 

Natural Environment 

• The Role of the Natural Environment in Adaptation – UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre 

Water 

• Adaptation's Thirst: Accelerating the Convergence of Water and Climate Action – International Water Management Institute; Alliance for Global Water Adaptation 

Cities & Urban Areas 

• Unlocking the Potential for Transformative Climate Adaptation in Cities – WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities 

Infrastructure 

• Adaptation of Infrastructure Systems – Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford 

Private Sector 

• Business Adaptation to Climate Change and Global Supply Chains – Edward Cameron 

• All Is Not Green: Climate Change Adaptation and Small Business Resilience in Low- and Middle-Income Countries – Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies 

Social Equity and Protection 

• Climate Resilience through Social Protection – International Institute for Environment and Development 

• Gender-Transformative Climate Change Adaptation: Advancing Social Equity – Stockholm Environment Institute 

Cross-Cutting Issues 

• Scaling Local and Community-Based Adaptation – David Mfitumukiza, Makerere University 

• Making Peace with Climate Adaptation – Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael 

• Scaling Climate Services to Enable Effective Adaptation Action – Columbia University International Research Institute for Climate and Society; CGIAR 

• Adapt for our Future: Youth and Climate Change Adaptation – Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC (YOUNGO) 

• Adaptation Metrics: Current Landscape and Evolving Practices – UN Environment Programme DTU Partnership 

• Climate Change Adaptation by Individuals and Households: A Psychological Perspective – University of Groningen 

• Health System Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change – University of Washington 

Discussion Papers 

• Integrating Adaptation into Social and Economic Development: Insights from Early Movers – Kathleen Mogelgaard et al. 

• The Economics of (and Obstacles to) Aligning Development and Climate Change Adaptation – Stephane Hallegatte (World Bank Group) et al. 

• Feeding the World in a Changing Climate: An Adaptation Roadmap for Agriculture – Ana Maria Loboguerrero (CGIAR) et al.