‘The world is not ready’: Climate adaptation cash falls far short as warming heads past 1.5°C

A UN report warns that climate adaptation funding falls far short of what vulnerable countries need as global warming passes 1.5°C.

The 2026 Adaptation Gap Report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), published on Wednesday, finds that developing countries will need roughly $305 billion a year by 2035 to build resilience. International public adaptation finance reached only $28.2 to $31.7 billion in 2024, and even a tripling would cover at most 29 per cent of needs. UNEP's Executive Director, Inger Andersen, said "the world is not ready to adapt to current climactic conditions."

The report was released ahead of COP31, which opens next week in Antalya, Türkiye. The tripling target comes from the Global Mutirão agreed at last year's conference in Brazil. Countries could still meet the earlier goal of $40 billion by 2025 set under the Glasgow Climate Pact, and development banks and developing-country flows have grown, but UNEP says finance alone is not enough.

Separately, the World Health Organization urged governments to adopt six climate-resilience measures that it says could save 1.6 million lives a year. They include heatwave early warning systems, climate-resilient water and sanitation, and cleaner household cooking and heating fuels. WHO also called for fossil fuel prices to reflect their health damage.

Key points

• Developing countries need about $305 billion a year by 2035 for climate adaptation.
• Adaptation finance was $28.2 to $31.7 billion in 2024, barely above the previous year.
• Tripling finance would cover at most 29 per cent of needs; the private sector's needs are not included.
• The $40 billion Glasgow goal for 2025 remains achievable, according to the report.
• WHO says six measures could save 1.6 million lives a year and reduce air pollution.