MALÉ, MALDIVES, May 1, 2024 – The Republic of the Maldives today inaugurates a 3-day peer-to-peer learning workshop for the Coalition of Low-Lying Atoll Nations on Climate Change (CANCC). This is the first such event Maldives hosts after it took the Chairmanship of the CANCC in December last year.
The peer learning workshop will focus on how atoll nations are building resilience to climate change through national adaptation plan (NAP) processes, with a focus on scaling up coastal adaptation and building resilience. It will take place from 1-3 May in Bandos Maldives with study visits to the capital Male’, Hulhumale’ and Maafushi, and is held with support from the NAP Global Network.
Maldives is the current Chair of CANCC, a coalition uniting five low-lying atoll nations—the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and the Maldives— who stand together to raise to the forefront their unique vulnerabilities due to their particular geographic nature.
“A world beyond 1.5 degrees of warming will be devastating to our atoll nations, making timely and effective adaptation actions critical to the wellbeing of our environment, economies and people. A well-rounded national adaptation planning process allows us to identify climate risks, prioritize actions, and allocate our finite resources where they would be most impactful,” said Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, and Chair of CANCC, H.E. Thoriq Ibrahim, during his opening remarks at the workshop.
Atoll nations face extreme vulnerability to the impacts of climate change impacts, including sea level rise, coastal erosion and groundwater salinisation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 2023 synthesis report warned that “sea level rise is unavoidable for centuries” even if ambitious global greenhouse gas emissions targets under the Paris Agreement are met.
CANCC members are taking a variety of measures to reduce their vulnerabilities and increase adaptation actions, including developing national adaptation plans and integrating climate change into their national planning processes.
All CANCC countries are in varying stages in advancing their national adaptation planning processes. Maldives and Tuvalu launched their respective NAP processes in 2023. Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have developed NAP documents that have been submitted to the UNFCCC’s NAP Central. Tokelau has a 2017 national strategy for enhancing resilience to climate change accompanied by an implementation plan.
Through the National Adaptation Planning process, the members also set to prioritize adaptation actions, mobilize finance and address capacity constraints, and coordinate and track progress toward national adaptation goals.
” Low-lying atoll nations, predominantly in the Pacific Ocean, are on the frontlines of climate change. The NAP Global Network is proud to support the CANCC countries as a technical ally for this landmark event to share knowledge and experiences on national adaptation planning, with an emphasis on coastal adaptation, to help deliver support to the people and places it is most needed,” said Orville Grey, Head of the Secretariat for the NAP Global Network.”
The NAP Global Network supports developing countries NAP processes to accelerate adaptation action around the world. Peer learning is one of the Network’s pillars of support, convening decision makers to share lessons and approaches for effective, inclusive NAP processes. Since 2014, the NAP Global Network has convened more than 600 government representatives from over 70 countries for peer learning on NAP processes. This CANCC event is taking place with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
“This week’s CANCC peer learning event will provide an important foundation for strengthening adaptation which, paired with urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is essential to protect atoll nations’ communities and ecosystems.” Said Mr. Ahmed Waheed, Director of the Climate Change Department.
A total number of 35 representatives from CANCC members are participating in the 3-day event. During this peer-to-peer learning event, the Maldives is also sharing some of its experiences and case studies on coastal protection measures being implemented in parts of the country.
About the Coalition of Low-Lying Atoll Nations on Climate Change (CANCC)
CANCC unites the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and the Maldives—five low-lying atoll nations in efforts to strengthen responses to common climate change vulnerabilities and risks. The Coalition creates a forum for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and exchange of experience and best practices on the strategic adaptation planning, policy priorities, and other solutions among its members. CANCC nations work together to enhance capacity and resilience against climate change risks while also amplifying the presence of atoll nations in international advocacy. The Republic of the Maldives currently serves as the Chair of CANCC.
About the NAP Global Network
The NAP Global Network was created in 2014 to support developing countries in advancing their NAP processes, and help accelerate adaptation efforts around the world. To achieve this, the Network facilitates South-South peer learning and exchange, supports national-level action on NAP formulation and implementation, and generates, synthesizes, and shares knowledge. The Network’s members include individual participants from more than 155 countries involved in developing and implementing National Adaptation Plans. Financial support for the Network has been provided by Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Green Climate Fund. The Secretariat is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). For more information, visit www.napglobalnetwork.org.
