Making the Case for EbA

The Global Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Programme launched at COP21 in Paris a new document.

As weather extremes become more common, and increased climate variability increases risks to food, water, and energy security, harnessing the power of nature through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is gaining increasing recognition as a viable approach to help address these challenges.

During a side event at the COP21 in Paris, the Global Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation Programme was presented by distinguished representatives from the Programme partnership consisting of the Federal Ministry of Environment (BMUB), UNEP, UNDP and IUCN, together with the Governments of Nepal, Peru and Uganda. The objective of the Programme was to strengthen the capacities of these countries to promote EbA options by building ecosystem resilience and to reduce the vulnerability of communities, with particular emphasis on mountain ecosystems.

To set the stage, a new document, Making the Case for Ecosystem-based Adaptation: The Mountain EbA Programme in Nepal, Peru and Uganda, was launched. This report showcases and captures lessons learned on the process of making the case to government and other stakeholders for EbA to be included in broader adaptation strategies, and for the policy and finance shifts needed to bring this about.

Further presentations highlighted learning generated about how to enhance communities' adaptive capacity, influence global policy agendas and facilitate national policy and finance shifts to fully integrate EbA into broader climate adaptation planning and processes.