By Dickens Okinyi
As climate impacts intensify across continents, the United Nations has cautioned that the world is not adapting fast enough to cope with the accelerating consequences of global warming.
This urgent call came during the launch of the Adaptation Gap Report 2025 at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, where experts painted a sobering picture of the widening gulf between growing climate risks and the pace of global adaptation efforts.
The report, presented by Henry Neufeldt, Head of the Section for Impact and Adaptation Analysis at UNEP, revealed that adaptation finance remains dangerously off-track. While the cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries could reach hundreds of billions of dollars annually by 2030, available funding is less than half of what is needed.
“We are seeing the adaptation finance gap widening, not shrinking,” Neufeldt said. “The reality is that the needs of developing nations continue to grow, but the resources committed by the global community are not keeping pace.”
He explained that although progress has been made in developing national adaptation plans and resilience frameworks, implementation remains slow and fragmented.
“Adaptation is no longer just about climate-proofing projects,” Neufeldt emphasized. “It’s about rethinking how societies prepare for and respond to shocks — from heatwaves and floods to droughts and rising seas. We must treat adaptation as a long-term investment in stability and human security.”
Inger Andersen, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, echoed the concern, calling for a renewed sense of global solidarity and urgency.
“The message from this year’s report could not be clearer,” Andersen said. “Climate impacts are outpacing our ability to adapt, and every delay in action translates into higher costs and greater human suffering. We cannot keep pushing adaptation to the sidelines while focusing solely on emissions reductions.”
Andersen emphasized that while mitigation remains essential, the world must balance it with strong adaptation measures to safeguard lives and livelihoods. “Adaptation is not a luxury — it is a lifeline,” she declared. “It is the foundation of resilience for the billions who are already living on the frontlines of the climate crisis.”
The Adaptation Gap Report 2025 comes at a critical moment as countries prepare for the next phase of global climate talks. It highlights how extreme weather events have become more frequent and devastating, particularly in Africa and Asia, where communities with limited resources are facing unprecedented losses. According to UNEP, over 100 developing nations have identified adaptation as a top priority, yet most still lack the financial and technical capacity to scale up action.
Neufeldt noted that despite global economic pressures, investing in adaptation yields long-term dividends. “Every dollar spent on adaptation can save multiple dollars in avoided damages,” he said. “It’s a matter of foresight and political will. We need to see adaptation finance as smart economics, not charity.”
Andersen reinforced that sentiment, pointing out that adaptation is integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “You cannot end poverty or ensure food security if communities are losing crops every season to floods and droughts,” she said. “Adaptation connects directly to development, equality, and peace. This is why we must integrate it into every national policy and budget.”
Neufeldt said that UNEP is working with partners to improve data and transparency on adaptation progress. “We want to help countries measure what works,” he said. “By tracking adaptation indicators, we can identify gaps early and target support where it’s most needed.”
With the planet already warming beyond 1.2°C and millions exposed to worsening heat, floods, and food insecurity, UNEP’s message resonated clearly: adaptation cannot wait. As Andersen concluded, “We are out of time for half measures. The window to secure a livable future is narrowing fast — but it’s still open, if we act together.”
