A new report by ASCEND members Luckson Zvobgo, Portia Adade Williams, and Christopher Trisos argues that global indicators are essential to meaningfully track and accelerate progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). As part of the UNFCCC’s Expert Group on GGA Indicators, the authors contribute to global conversations on how to ensure that adaptation efforts are effectively monitored and supported at all scales.
The central message of the report is clear: the global nature of the GGA demands a global approach to measuring its progress. While adaptation remains a local and context-specific challenge, the current landscape is marked by fragmented and uneven efforts. Without a globally coherent set of indicators, it will be difficult to assess whether the world is moving closer to closing the adaptation gap, particularly for the most vulnerable populations and sectors.
Key Takeaways
Global targets require global tracking: GGA targets span both thematic areas (like health, food, water, and biodiversity) and structural dimensions (such as planning and implementation). Indicators need to be aligned with both to assess real progress.
Closing the adaptation gap: Data show the adaptation gap is widening across regions and sectors. Global indicators can help evaluate how well GGA efforts are reducing inequalities in adaptation—particularly among low-income populations and in under-resourced sectors.
Improving global finance tracking: Adaptation finance remains insufficient, especially for countries most at risk. Indicators that track financial flows globally are necessary for holding actors accountable and scaling up funding.
Enabling ambition: Robust global indicators can help raise the level of ambition by providing a clearer picture of where adaptation is succeeding—and where it is falling behind.
The report makes the case that tracking adaptation only at the national level will not capture the full picture of global progress, particularly when current efforts are so uneven. It recommends developing ambitious global indicators to provide a comprehensive understanding of adaptation efforts, inform decision-making, and strengthen accountability.
