UNEP’s 2025 Adaptation Gap Report: Urgent Warnings as Jamaica Struggles with Hurricane Melissa Aftermath

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently released its Adaptation Gap Report 2025: Running on Empty, coinciding with the devastation left by Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Jamaica. This situation underlines the urgency of the report, which reveals the struggles faced by countries vulnerable to climate change.

According to the report, developing nations will require between $310 billion and $365 billion each year by 2035 to adapt to climate impacts. These impacts include more frequent extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, intense storms, and prolonged droughts. Additionally, rising sea levels and melting ice continue to threaten these countries.

The lower estimate of $310 billion is based on current data, while the higher figure of $365 billion considers broader adaptation needs. Alarmingly, international public adaptation finance has fallen to $26 billion in 2023, down from $28 billion in 2022. This creates a significant adaptation finance gap of roughly $284 billion to $339 billion.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of adaptation, stating, “It is not a cost — it is a lifeline.” He called for immediate action to close the adaptation gap and protect vulnerable populations globally.

Despite commitments like the Glasgow Climate Pact to increase adaptation funding to $40 billion by 2025, current trends suggest we won’t reach that goal. Meanwhile, at the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29), developed nations agreed to provide developing countries with $300 billion annually for climate action by 2035, but this amount is still insufficient.

The report also highlights that if inflation continues as it has over the past decade, the required adaptation funds could rise to between $440 billion and $520 billion, further widening the gap.

On the positive side, adaptation planning is gaining traction. About 172 countries now have national adaptation policies or strategies, although many are outdated. Support for adaptation projects increased to nearly $920 million in 2024, but this may be a temporary spike amid financial constraints.

To close the adaptation finance gap, countries should implement stronger measures to limit climate change’s worst effects and avoid actions that waste resources. Engaging private sector finance is crucial. However, its potential contribution is currently limited, estimated at around $50 billion annually—up from just $5 billion.

“Increasing adaptation finance from public and private sources is essential, but we must do this without adding to the debt burdens of vulnerable nations,” said Inger Anderson, UNEP’s executive director.

The climate crisis is urgent, and investing in adaptation now will help prevent escalating costs in the future. For further insights, refer to the UNEP report here.

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