From Africa to the world

AAI urges leaders at the IUCN Congress to elevate adaptation as a global public good and a pillar of sustainable development.  AAI’s message is clear: we must act on everything, everywhere, all at once together!

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) reiterated today that investing in climate adaptation is a shared global responsibility—not a regional burden.

Speaking at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which opened today in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, under the theme “Powering Transformative Conservation,” AAI Coordinator Ambassador Seyni Nafo urged the international community to treat adaptation as a global public good and a central pillar of development.

“Adaptation has too often been left as the orphan of climate action,” he said. “At AAI, we see adaptation as a global public good which must be integrated into national development planning as it is context-specific and local in nature. As GCF Co-Chair, I am pleased to mention that we are providing grant-based and highly concessional financing, as well as de-risking investment and new business models—all in support of the most vulnerable and decent livelihoods.”

Amb. Nafo called for renewed global solidarity to close the adaptation gap and ensure climate and nature efforts advance hand in hand, emphasizing that tackling these intertwined crises must happen “everything, everywhere, all at once together.”