CAN Intervention in the COP20 SBI Opening Plenary, 1 December 2014-not delivered

Thank you Co-Chairs,

I am Neoka Naidoo speaking on behalf of Climate Action Network.

IPCC AR5 highlights the urgent need to scale up adaptation and that limits are being surpassed. There has been notable progress related to the institutional set up for adaptation and loss and damage. The roadmap for developing countries to reduce vulnerability of their populations through the development of National Adaptation Plans is getting clearer. The recent pledges for the Green Climate Fund have provided a much needed boost, though the money must actually flow.

However, needs on the ground are much higher than what is currently on the table.  The expected 4 degree increase by the end of the century, according to the current emission reduction trajectory, paints a devastating picture for poor people and ecosystems. In Lima, Parties must ensure that adaptation becomes a central and integral element of the 2015 agreement including a link between expected levels of global temperature increase based on collective mitigation ambition and the support provided to poor countries and communities, recognizing human rights. We also expect progress with regard to support and guidelines for non-LDCs to prepare National Adaptation Plans.

Efforts to operationalize the loss and damage mechanism must be undertaken through the adoption of an ambitious 2 year work plan with both technical and financial capacity to address loss and damage affecting vulnerable populations, countries and ecosystems.

Thank you.