Bridging the Adaptation Gap: Subnational Implementation of National Adaptation Plans
The policy brief examines why adaptation responsibilities assigned to regional and state governments are not consistently matched by the authority, capacity and funding needed to deliver them.
Developed by Regions4 with support from the European Climate Foundation (ECF), the brief draws on evidence from RegionsAdapt and UNEP, alongside experiences from São Paulo (Brazil), Paris Region (France), Gauteng (South Africa), and insights from Lombardy (Italy).
The adaptation implementation gap
88% of countries with National Adaptation Plans have established multilevel coordination mechanisms, yet implementation remains uneven. Only 29 of the 68 mechanisms identified include subnational-level coordination.
Regional governments often finance adaptation from their own budgets while international funding remains difficult to access. Sectors such as transport, housing and infrastructure, where subnational governments have significant responsibilities, are also only partially integrated into national adaptation priorities.
What the brief explores
Through three regional case studies, complemented by insights from Lombardy (Italy), the brief examines how legal mandates, institutional coordination and financial mechanisms shape the implementation of national adaptation priorities.
Key findings and recommendations
The brief identifies practical priorities for addressing these barriers: clarify mandates and accountability, strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination across government levels, and direct finance towards subnational investment plans and programmes aligned with national priorities.
Discover the evidence, regional experiences and recommendations for strengthening subnational implementation of National Adaptation Plans.
