Submission to the Third Dialogue of the UAE Just Transition Work Programme: approaches to enhance adaptation and climate resilience in the context of just transitions

This submission responds to a call for views on the dialogues under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP). Specifically, it refers to the message by the Chairs of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) that the topic of the third dialogue which will be held on 22–23 May 2025 is: “Approaches to enhancing adaptation and climate resilience in the context of just transitions.” This submission aims to inform the dialogue and subsequent work on this topic under the JTWP.

The submission draws on work produced across the Grantham Research Institute, including the adaptation and resilience team, the Climate Change Laws of the World project, and the Just Transition Finance Lab.

Key messages

1. Justice and equity have long been recognised as important pillars of adaptation. The coverage of adaptation by the JTWP should explore how social justice and equity considerations can be further strengthened where transition processes respond to experienced and expected climate risks.

2. Complement rather than duplicate existing adaptation processes. Matters of adaptation that are specific to just transitions should be integrated into the comprehensive existing institutional network on adaptation. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process should include all relevant topics, including adaptation in transition processes.

3. Enhancing social protection for adaptation. Social protection systems have to be designed or adjusted in a way that accounts for climate risks alongside other risks faced by poor and marginalised population groups.

4. Enhancing access to and uptake of climate information to facilitate a just transition. The context of a just transition, which emphasises fairness and equity in addressing climate challenges and ensures that vulnerable populations are not left behind, is inextricably linked to conditions which enhance the gathering, dissemination, access, use and uptake of climate information.

5. Supporting domestic institutions and processes to implement NAPs. There is increasing evidence that at the domestic level, climate framework legislation can help facilitate a whole-of-society approach. Giving public bodies a clear mandate to operate in a way that is aligned not only with broad-based climate goals but also specific climate plans and policies can have positive benefits for climate action.

6. Inclusive and gender responsive climate adaptation to maximise adaptation among — and through — small businesses. Gender-inclusive business policies could be a game-changer for climate resilience and one of the most efficient ways to scale up adaptation to climate change.

7. Adaptation and resilience as a core pillar of financing just transitions. For adaptation and resilience to be a core anchor of the just transition agenda, finance must be needs-based, grant-based, and publicly accountable to the most vulnerable communities. Embedding interconnected justice into the core architecture of financing just transitions in the context of adaptation means that resilience in one region should not come at the expense of communities elsewhere.