The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) aims to enhance climate resilience by promoting a shift in how climate responses are prioritised, financed, coordinated and evaluated.
The LDC-led, LDC-owned initiative is a pathway to realising the LDC 2050 Vision for a climate-resilient future. It is in line with LDC needs and priorities and in support of the Paris Agreement.
Responses to climate change do not meet the needs of the LDCs
Climate change poses an urgent and unique threat to the LDCs. While they emit low levels of carbon dioxide, LDCs are already experiencing devastating impacts , such as erratic rainfall, flooding, drought and crop failure, affecting the daily lives of millions of people. To adapt requires local capacities, a long-term approach and financial support. This is, however, still lacking.
Studies show that between 2016-2021 less than 5% of total public adaptation finance reached the LDCs. And when adaptation finance is available, it is often short-term, top-down and project or sector-specific.
In addition, climate responses are typically defined and led externally and not by LDCs themselves, limiting opportunities for long-term capacity building and the development of sustainable systems.
