Time: 11:00-12:30
NAP Expo venue: Lusaka, Zambia (in-person)
This NAP Expo session is co-organized by UNCCD, UNU-EHS, UNEP, and UNDP. The session facilitators are Olga Andreeva (UNCCD), Johns Muleso Kharika (UNCCD), Fabian Rackelmann (UNU-EHS), Lou Perpes (UNEP), Liam Fee (UNDP).
Context
The launch session will focus on fostering dialogue and sharing insights from the UNCCD-UNU report, offering countries practical guidance on how to integrate LDN with climate change adaptation into formulation and implementation of their NAPs and related policies. The session will:
Highlight the critical role of sustainable land management and restoration in achieving climate resilience, enhancing sustainable livelihoods, and combating desertification and land degradation.
Facilitate an exchange of experiences on integrating LDN and CCA into adaptation strategies at the national level.
Identify tools, methodologies, and best practices that countries can use to align land-based adaptation initiatives with their NAPs.
Promote collaboration between governments, stakeholders, and international organizations to accelerate the implementation of synergies between LDN and CCA.
Contribution to formulating or updating NAPs:
The session will provide a platform for countries to explore actionable steps for including LDN in the NAP process. By emphasizing the co-benefits of land restoration and climate adaptation, the session will support countries in:
Integrating Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) into NAPs: Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how land degradation neutrality and climate change adaptation efforts can be aligned within the context of NAPs. This alignment will be pivotal in improving national climate resilience while addressing issues such as soil fertility, water availability, and biodiversity loss.
Strengthening Adaptation Priorities: The session will present tools and frameworks that countries can use to identify land-based adaptation priorities within their NAPs. This will facilitate more comprehensive and effective adaptation strategies, ensuring that land degradation challenges are addressed holistically.
Targeted Guidance for NAP Updates: Countries that are in the process of formulating or updating their NAPs will be equipped with actionable insights on incorporating land degradation and climate adaptation synergies into their climate and development agendas.
Concrete engagement and collaboration with countries:
The session will actively engage countries by:
Interactive Panel Discussions and Workshops: These will provide participants with practical knowledge and skills on how to apply the findings of the UNCCD-UNU report in their national context. Experts from countries already implementing synergies between LDN and CCA will share their experiences.
Tailored Technical Support: Experts will offer tailored advice to participating countries on how to integrate the concepts from the report into their national adaptation strategies. This support will focus on developing specific LDN-related adaptation priorities and outcomes linked to NAPs.
Incorporation of Feedback: Countries will have the opportunity to provide input on the proposed tools and approaches, allowing for a bottom-up, context-sensitive approach to adapting the findings of the report. This ensures that the recommendations are relevant to the needs and realities of each country.
Collaboration with National and Local Stakeholders: Collaboration with local governments, civil society, and community-based organizations will be emphasized to ensure that NAPs are not only formulated but also implemented effectively, focusing on local land use management practices that contribute to climate resilience.