For countries in Asia and the Pacific – home to over 60 percent of the world’s population and some of the most climate-vulnerable communities, facing sea level rise, cyclones, storm surges, flooding, and drought – adapting to climate change is at the top of the agenda. From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to low-lying Pacific islands, the challenges are as varied as the landscapes themselves, requiring tailored adaptation strategies that address local risks, safeguard livelihoods, and build long-term resilience.

This year is pivotal for all countries as they chart the course of their future. There is a deadline approaching for countries to submit their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Together, these commitments will define national ambitions for tackling climate impacts and building a more sustainable, resilient future — grounded in practical and transformative solutions.

Last year, the international community came together at several critical conferences, including the NAP Expo, and three Conference of Parties (COPs), to discuss the intersecting crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and desertification.

Here are three major themes shaping the way forward.

1. The growing demand for climate adaptation, particularly for food security

When the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, “Every bit of preparation – every policy, every plan – is the difference between life and death for millions of people” at the High-Level Dialogue on National Adaptation Plans at COP29, it clearly highlighted the urgency for fully funded climate adaptation, especially food security.

Food security is inseparable from how we manage the entire agriculture value chain—from production and transformation to consumption and waste. One approach countries can take to strengthen food systems is to undertake system-level assessments (SLAs), which look at the entire journey from farm to market and identify where climate stressors are located to adapt transformative solutions. For instance, value chain analyses can inform a holistic approach addressing production, transformation, consumption and food waste in building resilient and sustainable agriculture.

We already see countries taking advantage of these tools. For example, last year, Nepal conducted a systems-level assessment of climate-smart rice and livestock farms to evaluate climate risks and their impacts on those working in these value chains. The findings will guide the development of climate-smart farming guidelines and be aligned with the country’s NDC Implementation Plan.

In Mongolia, an assessment looked at the adaptive potential of fruit and berry trees to natural and regional climate risk conditions. The assessment recommended training for berry growers, improving transportation and storage facilities, and investing in infrastructure for processing and production.

2. A strong signal on climate financing for agriculture

Following significant developments at COP29, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to deliver US$ 300 billion annually by 2035 in climate finance. A notable portion is expected to support agriculture and land use adaptation actions across developing regions, including Asia-Pacific.

However, this amount is only a fraction of what is needed. Executive Secretary Simon Stiell also pointed out that adaptation costs continue to skyrocket and could rise to US$340 billion annually by 2030. Countries recognize the need to look outside international climate financing and into innovative financial mechanisms to deliver climate action at the national level.

Countries like Thailand have proactively utilized new financing tools, such as revolving funds and credit guarantees, to advance climate goals and accelerate investment in the private sector. With SCALA support, the government is exploring carbon finance opportunities through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enabling the operationalization of carbon markets to incentivize forest conversation and sustainable land-use practices.

Meanwhile, Cambodia has set an ambitious target of expanding its forest cover to 60 percent by 2050. Part of this ‘greening’ growth will need an estimated investment of US$185.7 million in the forestry sector by 2031. UNDP, along with other development partners, has supported the government in developing and implementing Cambodia’s Action and Investment Plan for National REDD+ Strategy in mobilizing financing to achieve Cambodia’s green ambition. In joint support of FAO and UNDP, the partners have conducted a participatory SLA focusing on livestock to catalyze investment to build climate resilience for communities in wildlife sanctuaries.

This financing reality and gap clearly demonstrate that partnerships and innovative solutions to increase investment dramatically must be forged. By aligning public and private sector efforts in Thailand and Cambodia, these countries are moving to scaling up investment in agroforestry, offering mitigation and adaptation benefits.

3. Nature-based solutions coming to the forefront

Seeing the results of the three COPs on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, the common thread is that nature-based solutions are essential for countries to tackle not only the multifaceted issues that can be a vehicle for people to live in harmony with nature.

Tying back to the first point, following Mongolia’s systems-level assessment on carbon sequestration, the country has focused on protecting arable lands by introducing climate-smart technologies and planting forest strips around farmlands to reduce erosion and conserve soil moisture. These nature-based solutions provide co-benefits, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.