Reframing transformational adaptation in the UNFCCC: lessons and pathways

This briefing examines the evolution of ‘transformational adaptation’ within the scientific community and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), highlighting its contentious reception among developing nations.

The concept of transformational adaptation has evolved from incremental and intermediary adaptation practices. By the 2010s, scholarly publications recognised that incremental changes would be insufficient to address deep-rooted vulnerabilities and high-end climate risks. Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s explicit reference to transformational adaptation and its subsequent inclusion in the Global Goal on Adaptation, the concept became recognised within global climate policy frameworks.

While most countries do not reject transformational adaptation outright, they challenge, among other things, its definition, financing, implementation, equity and power imbalances. Without addressing these concerns, transformational adaptation risks becoming another form of adaptation conditionality rather than a tool for resilience-building.

The authors explore both critiques and opportunities of transformational adaptation, advocating for a reframed approach that fosters global cooperation while addressing developing countries’ concerns.