Memo on H.R. 2454: International Climate Change Adaptation Program

Nicholas Institute Discussion Memo on H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Author(s): Kathleen Lawlor and Heather Hosterman,

Published: August 2009

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There is an enormous and immediate need for international adaptation funding, but the exact need is hard to determine. While estimates of the costs needed to help developing countries adapt to a changing climate vary and the uncertainty of these estimates is high, a growing consensus points to a number reaching into the several tens of billions of dollars per year within just the next few years. The estimates of what's needed for adaptation are huge and the amounts currently pledged and allocated are small: The UNDP estimates that developing countries will need $86 billion in 2015 for adaptation needs;  the UNFCCC estimates that $49–$171 billion will be needed in 2030, with a significant share needed in non-Annex I Parties ($28–$55 billion) (Tables 1 and 2). Yet to date, only about $2 billion has been pledged by developed countries through 2012 ($1 billion of this is from Japan) and only about $208 million allocated (Table 3).