Important Facts of the News
- The Adaptation Gap Report 2025 highlights rising climate impacts across all regions.
- Developing countries will need US$310 to US$365 billion annually for adaptation by 2035.
- Public adaptation finance from developed to developing countries dropped from US$28 billion in 2022 to US$26 billion in 2023.
- The Glasgow Climate Pact target of US$40 billion per year for adaptation in developing countries by 2025 is unlikely to be achieved.
- The New Collective Quantified Goal seeks at least US$300 billion per year for mitigation and adaptation by 2035.
- The private sector could raise up to US$50 billion per year for adaptation, ten times current levels.
- The Tropical Forest Forever Facility, to be launched at COP30, aims to mobilize large-scale public, private and philanthropic funds for forest protection.
- More than 70 developing countries with tropical forests are eligible for financing under the new facility.
- Baku to Belém Roadmap discussions at COP30 could unlock US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035.
Communities around the world continue to experience severe climate-related disasters including heatwaves, wildfires, floods and expanding desertification. As highlighted in the Adaptation Gap Report 2025, the consequences are hitting vulnerable populations the hardest, with loss of lives, damaged livelihoods and growing pressure on public health systems. Critical infrastructure such as power networks and transportation links is also increasingly at risk.
Developing Nations Face Rising Costs
The report notes that the costs of climate adaptation are escalating. It estimates that developing countries will require between US$310 and US$365 billion each year for adaptation efforts by 2035. However, current financial support is falling short. International public adaptation finance flowing from developed to developing countries declined from US$28 billion in 2022 to US$26 billion in 2023.
While other financial tracking frameworks record increases in adaptation funding, these calculations often include contributions from developing countries themselves or non-traditional financial instruments. The gap identified in the report is specifically between developed country commitments and actual support delivered.
Global Targets Risk Falling Behind
The Glasgow Climate Pact aimed to mobilize US$40 billion annually for adaptation finance in developing countries by 2025. Current trends indicate this target will not be met. Similarly, the goal of securing at least US$300 billion per year for combined mitigation and adaptation by 2035 remains distant. Even if achieved, these figures are still below what is required to effectively safeguard communities.
Opportunities for Scaled-Up Finance
The upcoming Baku to Belém Roadmap, which will be discussed at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, provides an opportunity to unlock up to US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035. Achieving this would require enhanced participation from new financial contributors, increased reliance on grants and concessional finance, and integration of resilience considerations across financial systems.
The private sector also has a critical role. Current estimates indicate that businesses could supply up to US$50 billion annually for adaptation, significantly more than their present contribution. Additionally, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, set to be introduced at COP30, seeks to direct combined public, private and philanthropic resources toward the protection and restoration of tropical forests. Over 70 developing countries stand to benefit from this mechanism.
Urgent Call Ahead of COP30
The message of the Adaptation Gap Report 2025 is clear: increasing adaptation finance now can prevent greater damage and economic loss in the future. Even in the context of limited budgets and competing priorities, timely investment in resilience measures remains a practical and cost-effective approach to protecting people, ecosystems and economies.