Day 3 of the NAP Expo 2026 focused on implementation readiness, data-driven adaptation planning and strengthening collaboration to support adaptation action by 2030.
The day opened with a keynote presentation by Prof. Fang Shibo of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences and the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), who showcased how satellite remote sensing and big data can support climate adaptation monitoring. Using examples from China, the Indochina Peninsula and North Africa, the presentation demonstrated how integrated satellite and meteorological data can be used for crop disaster monitoring, drought tracking, flood assessment and desert locust surveillance.
The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) then presented approaches for structuring national adaptation portfolios into clearer implementation pipelines linked to financing, monitoring and reporting systems.
Interactive breakout sessions throughout the morning focused on what a “well-adapting country” could look like by 2035 and how countries can strengthen readiness for scaled-up adaptation implementation. Discussions highlighted the importance of locally led adaptation, climate-resilient agriculture, integrated water resource management, early warning systems and nature-based solutions. Participants also explored practical examples of private sector engagement, decentralized adaptation financing and stronger collaboration between national and local actors.
Several discussions emphasized that adaptation implementation must be inclusive, with stronger engagement of civil society organizations, marginalized communities and local knowledge systems. Participants also highlighted the need to build local capacity to document hazards, loss and damage, helping communities better access adaptation finance and support.
In the afternoon, sessions under the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience explored lessons from country-led testing of Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) indicators. Participants highlighted that countries do not need to start from scratch, as existing datasets and reporting systems already provide strong foundations for adaptation monitoring. At the same time, discussions identified continuing challenges related to data gaps, indicator interpretation and technical capacity needs.
Meanwhile, countries without a NAP have been receiving one on one support with NAPX to use the NAP AI Studio to work on their draft NAPs. This work will continue on the last day of NAP Expo during the NAP Mutirao session.
The day concluded with a field visit to the restored Gikondo Wetland in Kigali, one of the city’s flagship flood management and climate adaptation projects. Participants observed how wetland restoration is being used as a nature-based solution to reduce flood risks and strengthen urban resilience.
All photos are courtesy of REMA and can be viewed on their online album here