Lusaka hosts global push on climate adaptation

Over 450 participants from around the world are meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, for the NAP Expo 2025, the largest climate adaptation event in the United Nations climate change process.

The four-day meeting, from 12 to 15 August, is themed “Innovations in the Process” and will launch updated technical guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

The event comes amid worsening climate impacts. In Zambia, severe drought has cut agricultural output by half, while other regions face droughts, floods, heatwaves and wildfires affecting food security, health and economies. Organisers say adaptation is at a crossroads, with progress made but an urgent need to scale up.

“At this Expo, the international politics of adaptation will give way to what matters most: implementation, reducing vulnerabilities, saving lives,” said Director of Adaptation at UN Climate Change Youssef Nassef. “Innovation calls on us to harness technology, new finance, inclusive governance and community wisdom – all to drive transformational adaptation and strengthen resilience and prosperity.”

The annual flagship event, organised by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, aims to boost innovation, partnerships and financing for NAPs. Zambia’s Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha urged collaboration and appealed to developed nations to triple adaptation finance to developing countries by 2035, while calling on financial institutions to ease access to funds.

Marking its 10th edition since 2013, the NAP Expo has become a key platform for advancing adaptation plans, fostering interaction between country teams and supporters such as the Green Climate Fund, UN agencies, the private sector and academia.