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Over the past few years, crippling drought has scorched Zambia’s farmlands, cutting crop production in half and threatening the livelihoods of millions. Now, the country is at the centre of the world’s largest climate adaptation meeting, as more than 450 delegates from across the globe gather in Lusaka for the National Adaptation Plans Expo, NAP Expo 2025 (12–15 August).

The question is, can the discussions, expo, and negotiations yield solutions for the most vulnerable communities, who are often at the frontline of the climate change impacts as shocks rock?

Zambia hosts the four-day event, organized by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which aims to accelerate National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The NAPS are the only blueprint countries use to protect communities from climate impacts that are growing in frequency and intensity.

Youssef Nassef, UN Climate Change’s Director of Adaptation, in urging governments to embrace innovation in financing, technology, governance, and community-led solutions: “Here in Lusaka, the politics of adaptation give way to what matters most: implementation, reducing vulnerabilities, saving lives.”

According to Youssef Nassef, the NAP Expo’s theme of innovation calls on us to harness technology, innovative sources of finance, new ways of planning, inclusive governance, and community wisdom, all to drive transformational adaptation and strengthen resilience and prosperity. 

Zambia’s Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, pressed for greater global support, calling on developed nations to triple annual climate finance for developing countries to USD 300 billion by 2035.

“Collaboration and partnerships are vital,” he said, highlighting Zambia’s NAP, which targets nine vulnerable sectors including water, agriculture, energy, and health.

Mposha issued an appeal to the Global North, in the spirit of climate justice and equity, to provide adaptation financing to least developed countries due to their historical contributions to climate change.

“This would be responding to the new collective quantified goal on climate finance for developed countries to triple finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of 100 billion USD annually to 300 billion USD annually by 2035,” said Mposha.

From Brazil, COP30 CEO Ana Toni warned that adaptation must be placed on equal footing with mitigation at the climate talks in Belém this November, with local communities who are most affected on the frontline.

“The impacts of climate change have already infiltrated our homes,” she said. “Together, we can safeguard our communities for a more resilient future.”

A Decade of Collaboration
Since its launch in 2013, the NAP Expo has grown into the leading global platform for advancing adaptation. Organized in collaboration with various bodies and organizations, to promote the exchange of experiences and foster partnerships between a wide range of actors and stakeholders on how to advance National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

The Expo aims to foster meaningful interactions between country adaptation teams and a wide range of supporters, including the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, the Adaptation Fund, UN organizations, development partners, the private sector, and academia, to boost access to financial and technical support for adaptation efforts. 

This 10th edition marks a decade of collaboration, bringing together governments, UN agencies, financiers, development partners, and private sector leaders.

This Year’s Focus
With the theme Innovations in the Process, the Expo will unveil updated technical guidelines for NAPs and explore topics such as:

• Regenerative futures and nature-based adaptation
• Indigenous leadership as Africa’s climate compass
• Financing resilient food systems
• Philanthropy’s role in adaptation
• Aligning NAPs with Africa’s Agenda 2063

Technical sessions will also spotlight AI tools for adaptation, gender-responsive planning, youth leadership, human mobility, and the climate–conflict nexus.

Full programme details, livestreams, and updates are available on the NAP Expo 2025 event page.