By Abbas Nazil
Developing countries are receiving less than 10 per cent of the funds they need to adapt to the worsening impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report released on Wednesday.
The report revealed that by 2035, developing nations will require over $310 billion annually to cope with extreme weather, rising temperatures, and other climate-related challenges.
However, only about $26 billion was provided in 2023, leaving a massive shortfall that threatens lives, livelihoods, and economies across vulnerable regions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the adaptation gap as a deadly injustice, warning that failure to close it exposes millions to rising seas, deadly storms, and extreme heat.
He emphasized that adaptation is not a financial burden but a “lifeline” essential for global climate justice and sustainability.
While some progress has been made—such as the development of national adaptation plans and a rise in project funding in 2024—the report warned that future financing remains uncertain.
The upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil, is expected to prioritize funding mechanisms, building on the $1.3 trillion “Baku to Belém Roadmap” launched at COP29 to finance both adaptation and clean energy transitions.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen urged global leaders to boost climate finance through grants rather than loans to avoid worsening debt in vulnerable countries.
She stressed that timely investments could prevent adaptation costs from skyrocketing in the future.
The World Health Organization added urgency, revealing that climate inaction now claims millions of lives annually, with heat-related deaths up 23 per cent since the 1990s and over 124 million people newly facing food insecurity.
Experts concluded that phasing out fossil fuels and adopting clean, renewable energy could save millions of lives while securing a safer, more sustainable planet.
