ISLAMABAD: As the impact of climate change will be severe worldwide, a study commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) suggests transition to the new climate economy will have to be just and apply nature-based solutions.

“Even though many of the more severe impacts of climate change appear to be a long time away, many critical actions have to be taken urgently, rather than being deferred to an uncertain future date,” cautions the study, titled ‘Supporting Regional Actions to Address Climate Change’.

Climate change has raised many complex issues for policymakers, both in mitigation and adaptation, that are closely interrelated and, hence, require a systemic perspective, and in this regard, the ADB study identified and explored 43 climate change issues to be considered by policymakers in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (Carec) region.

A strong message of the study was that the systemic nature of climate change and of the response to it requires an “all-of-government” and an “all-of-country” approach with the development and implementation of a national climate change strategy.

ADB study calls for transition to be just, with nature-based solutions

A national climate strategy typically needs to be developed, which incorporates the nationally-determined contributions (NDCs), mostly relating to mitigation and, where contained in a separate document, the planned national adaptation actions, the ADB study states. All countries in the Carec region have prepared NDCs, some have climate change strategies, and others have adaptation plans. Monitoring is an essential complement to implementation to ensure intended results are achieved.

Describing financing as a critical ingredient which is often a severe constraint at the country level, the study emphasised that climate change action and financing has to be actively planned and accounted for.

Climate strategies will need credible financing plans, which include domestic public and private resources, as well as international public and private resources. Macroeconomic constraints, and especially the sustainability of external debt, have to be respected and addressed.

The implementation of these strategies needs the support of international development partners — an “all-of-partners” approach will be needed to complement an “all-of-government” and “all-of-country” approach.

The ADB study says climate change affects weather and climate conditions regionally and, therefore, requires regional weather and climate observations and prediction and based on those, regional or regionally coordinated planning and action — an ‘all-countries’ approach that covers all relevant countries.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2023