Submission on ADP by Japan
Post-2020 Reporting/ Information Sharing on Adaptation
27 May 2015
This submission aims at sharing Japan’s views on post-2020 reporting/ information
sharing on adaptation in the 2015 agreement, without prejudice to Japan’s future position
on adaption in the 2015 agreement. More specifically, it does not prejudge at this point
how different elements are reported or how this reporting/ information sharing on
adaptation will be placed in the agreement.
The 2015 agreement should include a component to enhance each Party’s adaptation. It is
important for all Parties to share information on their respective knowledge, experiences
and lessons from adaptation planning and actions undertaken by each Party, and to learn
from each to enhance adaptation to the impacts of climate change. In this vein, Japan
believes that reporting and sharing information on adaptation under the 2015 agreement is
a cornerstone for this purpose, and would like to submit its views as follows.
Key Concept
1. Post-2020 reporting/ information sharing on adaptation will be built on Article 12,
subparagraphs 1 (b)1 and (c)2, of the UNFCCC. As stated in this Article, all Parties
should report and share information on the expected impacts of climate change and on
an outline of the actions taken to implement Article 4, subparagraphs 1 (b)3 and (e)4.
2.
It should be highlighted that this reporting/ information sharing on adaptation has
been implemented, in a reasonable and effective manner, through a periodical
reporting scheme such as national communications under the Convention. The 2015
agreement could also request all Parties to include information on adaptation in a
periodical reporting scheme, such as national communications under the Convention,
in light of the expected impacts of climate change and each Party’s national planning
on adaptation.
3.
The main purpose of this reporting/ information sharing on adaptation is to share,
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A general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention
Any other information that the Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and
suitable for inclusion in its communication, including, if feasible, material relevant for calculations of global emissions
trends
3 … measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change
4 Cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change; develop and elaborate appropriate and
integrated plans for coastal zone management, water resources and agriculture, and for the protection and
rehabilitation of areas, particularly in Africa, affected by drought and desertification, as well as floods
2
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among all Parties, relevant information including lessons learned by each Party.
Therefore, the reported information should not be subject to technical review and/or
multilateral periodical consultation as proposed for mitigation. If Parties desire any
opportunities to enhance mutual learning face-to-face, the governing body of the 2015
agreement could organize some workshops based on discussions among Parties after
COP21.
4.
The details of the reporting/ information sharing scheme on adaptation including
frequency of reporting and information to be reported should be stated in a new
guideline on post-2020 reporting on adaptation applicable to all Parties. The new
guideline is to be developed after COP21 but not later than 2020, pending for
adoption by the governing body of the 2015 agreement. In COP21, it is also important
to decide a work plan for developing this new guideline. Taking into account the
limited capacity of developing countries, we may need to consider setting a
transitional period in order for them to be able to shift to the post-2020 reporting/
information sharing scheme on adaptation.
5.
Regarding monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on adaptation, it should be a
country-driven and country-specific process in which each Party takes into
consideration progress, experiences, good practices, and lessons from its policies,
plans and actions on adaptation. It is useful for all Parties to share information of the
result of each Party’s M&E through post-2020 reporting/ information sharing on
adaptation.
Possible elements of the new post-2020 reporting guideline for information sharing
6. In considering the new guideline, two existing reporting guidelines for national
communications (included in Annex of this paper) will provide a good basis. Based on
the these two existing guidelines, the new guideline may include such elements as
follows:
- information on the scope of climate change impact and vulnerability assessment;
- a description of approaches, methodologies and tools;
- information on impacts and vulnerability of, and their adaptation to, climate change
in key vulnerable areas;
- information on and, to the extent possible, domestic monitoring and evaluation of,
strategies and measures for adapting to climate change, in key areas, including
those which are of the highest priority;
- information on policy frameworks, such as national adaptation programmes, plans
and policies for developing and implementing adaptation strategies and measures;
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information on actions to adapt to climate change at sub-national level;
information on observing systems for climate change and its impacts; and
information on compiling and providing data and information on climate change
impacts to those who take actions for adaptation.
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Annex: Relevant descriptions of reporting guidelines for National Communications (NCs) for the
Annex I parties and Non-Annex I
<Existing reporting guideline for NCs for the Annex I parties>
VII. VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION
MEASURES5
49.
A national communication shall include information on the expected impacts of climate change and an outline
of the action taken to implement Article 4.1(b) and (e) with regard to adaptation. Parties are encouraged to use the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts
and Adaptations and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Handbook on Methods for Climate
Change Impacts Assessment and Adaptation Strategies. Parties may refer, inter alia, to integrated plans for coastal
zone management, water resources and agriculture. Parties may also report on specific results of scientific research in
the field of vulnerability assessment and adaptation.
52.
Parties shall provide detailed information on the assistance provided for the purpose of assisting developing
country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting the costs of
adaptation to those adverse effects, in textual format and with reference to table 5.
5
FCCC/CP/1999/7 Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention
4
<Existing reporting guideline for NCs for the Non-Annex I>
A. Programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change6
28.
Each Party shall, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1 (b) and (c), of the Convention, provide to the
COP information on the general descriptions of steps taken or envisaged towards formulating, implementing,
publishing and regularly updating national and, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to
facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change, and any other information they consider to be relevant to the
achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion in their communications.
29.
In doing so, non-Annex I Parties should provide information on their vulnerability to the adverse effects of
climate change, and on adaptation measures being taken to meet their specific needs and concerns arising from these
adverse effects.
1. Methodological approaches
30.
Non-Annex I Parties may use appropriate methodologies and guidelines7 they consider better able to reflect
their national situation for assessing their vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, provided that these
methodologies and guidelines are consistent, transparent and well documented.
31.
Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to use, for the evaluation of adaptation strategies and measures,8
appropriate methodologies they consider better able to reflect their national situation, provided that these
methodologies are consistent, transparent and well documented.
2. Reporting
32.
Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on the scope of their vulnerability and adaptation
assessment, including identification of vulnerable areas that are most critical.
33.
Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to include a description of approaches, methodologies and tools used,
including scenarios for the assessment of impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change, as well as
any uncertainties inherent in these methodologies.
34.
Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on their vulnerability to the impacts of, and their
adaptation to, climate change in key vulnerable areas. Information should include key findings, and direct and
indirect effects arising from climate change, allowing for an integrated analysis of the country’s vulnerability to
climate change.
35.
Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on and, to the extent possible, an evaluation of,
strategies and measures for adapting to climate change, in key areas, including those which are of the highest
priority.
36.
Where relevant, Parties may report on the use of policy frameworks, such as national adaptation programmes,9
plans and policies for developing and implementing adaptation strategies and measures.
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FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.2 Guidelines for the preparation of national communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention
7 Such as the IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations (Carter, T.R., M.L. Parry, H.
Harasawa, S. Nishioka, 1994), the UNEP Handbook on Methods for Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation
Strategies (Feenstra, J.F., I. Burton, J.B. Smith, R.S.J. Tol, 1998), and the International Handbook on Vulnerability and Adaptation
Assessments (Benioff, R., S. Guill, J. Lee, 1996).
8
Such as those contained in the Compendium of Decision Tools to Evaluate Strategies for Adaptation to Climate Change which is
available from the UNFCCC web site, www.unfccc.int/issues/meth_tools.html
9
For example, national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) for least developed countries.
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