United Nations calls for urgent climate financing acceleration as adaptation costs threaten economic stability across developing nations worldwide.
The 2025 NAP Expo in Lusaka, Zambia, highlighted the critical $300 billion annual investment requirement for climate adaptation by 2030, with UN officials warning that delayed funding will force governments to spend significantly more on disaster recovery and food imports. This financing gap particularly affects least developed countries facing severe climate vulnerabilities.
Director of Adaptation at UN Climate Change, Youssef Nassef, emphasized the economic imperative for proactive investment. “If we don’t fund adaptation, the poorest pay in lost harvests, poorer health, and with their lives. Governments will spend this amount rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by climate disasters,” he explained to delegates from 80 countries.
Zambia’s Minister of Green Economy Mike Elton Mposha stressed the need for transforming National Adaptation Plans into investable frameworks attractive to private sector participation. “We must enhance coordination to ensure effective participation of various stakeholders including women, children, youth, and local communities in NAP design and execution,” he stated.
The expo launched updated technical guidelines welcomed by least developed countries as essential tools for designing and implementing adaptation plans by 2025. These frameworks align with latest scientific evidence and the Global Goal on adaptation, providing standardized approaches for climate resilience planning.
Traditional leader Fumukazi Zilanie Kamgundanga Gondwe highlighted indigenous innovation contributions, noting that “what we refer to as innovation is often rooted in long-standing indigenous practices such as seed sovereignty, sacred forest protection, and cultural rituals for ecological balance.”
COP30 CEO Ana Toni called for transcending outdated approaches while preserving shared values. “COP30 will serve as a turning point for adaptation, and NAPs must lead the way, building capacity and securing funding to strengthen our efforts,” she announced, emphasizing adaptation’s elevation to equal importance with mitigation.
The 400 participants focused on mobilizing financing access for adaptation plans, recognizing their vital role in ensuring vulnerable communities receive necessary support for building resilience against worsening climate impacts.
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