When people think of climate action, they often think of mitigation. These measures – like reducing emissions, transitioning to clean energy and capturing carbon – slow the climate crisis and prevent worst-case scenarios. Currently, most climate funds go towards mitigation efforts.
But mitigation does not address the tangible and destructive climate impacts already happening around the world. For the rural communities whose lives are being upended by the climate crisis, measures to respond and adapt to climate change are equally critical and urgent.
Since 2012, IFAD’s flagship climate finance fund has been bridging the gap.
The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) has invested in climate adaptation projects in more than 40 countries around the world. These have increased climate resilience for nearly seven million small-scale farmers and brought 1.6 million hectares of land under sustainable practices.
Through innovative financing mechanisms and an inclusive, cross-sectoral approach, ASAP has been successful in creating a lifeline for rural communities. Let’s take a look at some of the critical lessons our experience holds for climate adaptation around the world.