SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | Ministry of Finance
The UNFCCC LDC Expert Group (LEG) has released its 2025 Progress Report on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), signaling a decisive global shift from conceptual planning to the consolidation of adaptation responses. As of September 30, 2025, 144 countries have initiated the NAP process, with 67 developing nations—including 23 Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—having officially submitted their plans to the UNFCCC. This transition is supported by USD 6.91 billion in financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for 116 adaptation projects. However, the report warns that while progress is measurable, implementation remains largely project-based and fragmented relative to escalating climate risks.
Core Progress and Institutional Milestones
Completion of Frameworks: Most developing countries have successfully created the technically demanding analytical and institutional frameworks needed for long-term adaptation.
Sectoral Priorities: Agriculture and food systems (67 NAPs), ecosystems and biodiversity (65 NAPs), and water and sanitation (62 NAPs) remain the most frequently addressed sectors.
Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups: NAPs are increasingly embedding principles of gender responsiveness, inclusivity, and whole-of-society approaches to engage women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples.
Early Warning Systems: A total of 119 countries now report having multi-hazard early warning systems in place, more than double the number reported in 2015.
India’s Strategic Presence and Implementation Milestones
Although India has not yet submitted its formal National Adaptation Plan to the UNFCCC as of late 2025, it is actively engaged in high-impact global adaptation initiatives:
Health and Disaster Resilience: India has received technical assistance from UNDRR to integrate climate adaptation into disaster risk reduction strategies.
Access to Adaptation Fund: India is among the nations that have accessed 51–75% of their allocated USD 40 million resource cap from the Adaptation Fund (AF).
Active Engagement in Global Adaptation Efforts: India is actively involved in efforts to enhance climate resilience in agriculture, water management, and disaster preparedness.
Focus on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Livelihoods: India is implementing projects that promote climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, such as the GCF-funded initiative to improve water-use efficiency in the agriculture sector, which supports adaptive capacity-building among agricultural communities.
What is the ‘NAP Process’ and why is it shifting toward implementation in 2025? The NAP process is an iterative framework designed to reduce vulnerability by building adaptive capacity and integrating climate considerations into development planning. It is shifting toward implementation because the foundational analytical work—building institutional coordination and conducting risk assessments—is largely complete for most developing nations. In 2025, the focus has moved to translating these established frameworks into financed project pipelines that deliver tangible resilience benefits for communities and ecosystems.
Policy Relevance
The report underscores the urgent need for India to transition from project-based interventions to sustained, programmatic financing to meet the targets of the Global Goal on Adaptation.
Strategic Impact for India:
Accelerating NAP Submission: Official submission of India’s comprehensive NAP is critical to aligning domestic priorities with global goals and unlocking more transformative international finance.
Bridging the Livelihood Gap: Initiatives in adaptive social protection and microinsurance are essential to shield India’s vast rural and coastal populations from climate-induced poverty.
Localizing Adaptation: Integrating climate risk into ward and district development plans, as seen in global best practices, ensures that resilience benefits reach the most vulnerable urban and rural clusters.
Leveraging Green Skills: Strengthening the institutional capacity to develop “bankable” projects will be key to mobilizing the private sector and fostering high-growth green jobs.
Follow the full report here: NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLANS 2025