The UAE-BELEM work programme on indicators, established under the Paris Agreement, represents a historic step forward in tracking global progress on climate adaptation. It aims to support the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) by identifying a coherent, robust, and inclusive set of indicators. This unprecedented process mapped over 9,000 indicators sourced from Parties’ submissions, national adaptation plans (NAPs), nationally determined contributions (NDCs), international organizations, and academic research. Within this context, the Water Thematic Expert Group identified 649 indicators linked to GGA Target 9a, which focuses on reducing climate-induced water scarcity and enhancing resilience to water-related hazards.
Preliminary analysis highlights critical gaps: a substantial portion of the submitted items do not qualify as genuine adaptation indicators, are inadequately formulated, or pose significant challenges in terms of data collection due to limited availability and resource constraints. In response, the programme developed prioritization criteria based on global relevance, adaptation specificity, measurability, alignment with existing frameworks (e.g., SDGs, GBF), and the ability to aggregate or disaggregate data by demographic and contextual variables (e.g., gender, age, Indigenous status).
In this Science Talk, Prof. Ousmane Seidou will explore the methodological challenges of this exercise, the approach taken to narrow the list to 100 core fit-for-purpose indicators, and the broader implications of indicator selection for developing countries. Special attention will be given to the representation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the challenge of aligning political and technical processes, and the historic opportunity this work presents to shape the global adaptation agenda ahead of COP30.
Lead, Hydrology and Climate Change Analytics in Africa
