Abstract:

Mitigation and adaptation are complementary strategies in response to climate change. However, adaptation had long been subordinate to mitigation in the negotiation process under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Generally, the adaptation negotiation under UNFCCC over the past more than 20 years could be divided into five stages: early slow progress, science and technical discussion, parity with mitigation, enhanced adaptation action and full-scale adaptation action. The adaptation-related agenda items and their importance have been increased under the UNFCCC negotiation regime over the past decade, which reflects the deepening understanding of the significance of climate change impacts and adaptation of human society as well as increasing challenges for climate change adaptation globally. Future adaptation will focus on how to enhance global, regional and national adaptation actions through existing UNFCCC mechanisms, and how to mobilize adaptation finance to meet the increasing adaptation needs of developing countries.

Key words: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Cancun Adaptation Framework, Paris Agreement, Climate negotiation, Adaptation