Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Commission (DG CLIMA) and Adaptation Without Borders partners, with senior officials from around the world (see list of speakers and organisation logos below)

WHEN: Tuesday, 9 November, 10:00–11:00 am Glasgow time (GMT+1)

WHAT: High-level event to launch Adaptation Without Borders, in person and broadcast live online

WHERE: EU Pavilion at COP26, and streaming online: [https://www.cop26eusideevents.eu/]

GLASGOW – In our globalised economy, the impacts of climate change can reverberate across borders and even continents, transmitted through trade, finance, the movement of people, and shared resources. It is crucial for wealthier countries not only to support local efforts that enable vulnerable people to adapt, but also to work collaboratively with other governments to understand and address transboundary climate risks.

As the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change notes, “the impacts of climate change have knock-on impacts across borders and continents”, so building resilience internationally is “not only a matter of solidarity, but also of open strategic autonomy and self-interest”.

This is why at COP26, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action is launching a collaboration with Adaptation Without Borders (AWB), a global partnership working to improve and accelerate international action on adaptation. Together, the partners will foster dialogue on risks of common concern, identify effective strategies to manage them; form new alliances that deliver co-benefits through adaptation; and promote multilateral action under processes such as the UNFCCC.

“Adaptation needs in developing countries are enormous, and we need to provide robust support for local communities so that they can face the impact of the climate crisis. But to meet this global challenge, we also need to understand better how trade, finance, migration, and shared natural resources link us all together,” said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the EU Green Deal, who will kick off the event. “Adaptation truly is a shared challenge. If we work together on tackling climate risks across borders, we can build true partnerships across regions, among developed and developing countries alike.”

Confirmed speakers also include Ayman Cherkaoui, Adaptation Without Borders Ambassador; Teresa Ribera, Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge; Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission; John Haley, Chief Executive Officer of Willis Towers Watson; and Abdoulaye Dia, Executive Secretary of the Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Seating is extremely limited, so journalists are encouraged to attend virtually. The speakers will make themselves available for brief interviews after they complete their remarks shortly after 11:00 am. To request an interview in advance, please contact Andrea Lindblom, [email protected].

About Adaptation Without Borders:
AWB brings together the convening power and analytical capacities of globally recognised experts and institutes across four continents, led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Our growing number of partners combine region-specific expertise; engagement with the private sector; hands-on experience in policy engagement, programme implementation and capacity-building; and facilitation expertise. To learn more, visit https://www.adaptationwithoutborders.org