Strategies that use natural solutions to counter the effects of climate change are known as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). Despite their benefits, these approaches are not widely used due to a variety of barriers, including a lack of awareness. To help address that, UNEP has released the Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based Adaptation into National Adaptation Plans.
The document aims to show national and local officials around the world how to integrate EbA into national plans designed to counter the effects of climate change. The guidelines detail the benefits as well as the challenges of adopting ecosystem-based approaches, such as EbA, to climate change adaptation. They also cover what information planners should collect, what expertise is needed and which stakeholders they should engage to successfully integrate ecosystem-based adaptation into national adaptation plans.
The Guidelines have been developed under the National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), implemented jointly by UNDP and UNEP, which supports the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify technical, institutional and financial needs to integrate climate change adaptation into medium- and long-term national planning.
The Guidelines can be accessed and downloaded here:
wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500...
To support the guidelines, UNEP, UNITAR and partners are developing an e-course Building Climate Resilience through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Planning:
unccelearn.org/course/view.ph...
Links:
Eba: www.unep.org/explore-topics/c...
Guidelines, download: wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500...
National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP): www.globalsupportprogramme.or...