COP26 OneUN Event (Blue Zone, Strangford Lough)

Extreme weather events have become more frequent and intense owing to climate change, and it has already caused more than 20 million people to leave their homes since 2008. Vulnerable communities and local stakeholders in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in particular, are bearing the worst consequences of climate variability and change, albeit they have contributed least to the crisis. Yet, if empowered and given a voice, they can be a decisive part of the solution.

To foster climate change adaptation and resilience, LDCs and SIDS need to mobilize and scale up finance and innovative solutions to implement their national development strategy and foster ambitious climate action. Satellite data and geospatial technology applications, combined with participatory planning tools, can help bolster evidence-based decision making and improve access to climate funds, at both national and subnational level, by providing sufficient evidence, justification and climate rationale for proposed interventions.

In addition, local authorities are in a unique position to identify comprehensive climate and disaster risk management solutions, including adaptation, that best meet local and community needs; typically have the mandate to undertake the small- to medium-sized adaptation investments required for building climate and disaster resilience; and have the legitimacy and convening power to coordinate, co-finance and interact with stakeholders. Yet they frequently lack the resources to do so (financial, organizational, technical) – particularly in a manner aligned with established local decision-making processes and planning, budgeting and budget execution cycles.