Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) was founded on 18 September 2018.[1] Hosted by the Netherlands, GCA engages in policy activities, research, communications, and technical assistance to government and the private sector, policy development, research, advocacy, communications, and partnerships.[2] GCA's floating headquarters is hosted by the Netherlands in Rotterdam,[3] with regional offices in Africa,[2] South Asia,[4] and Asia Pacific.[5]
GCA is led by CEO Patrick V. Verkooijen,[1] and Co-Chairs Ban Ki-moon and Feike Sijbesma.
GCA's flagship program, co-designed in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and endorsed by the African Union, is the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).[6] President Uhuru Kenyatta was inaugurated as Global Champion for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program on 7 July 2022.[7] On 5 September 2022, GCA hosted the Africa Adaptation Summit to ramp up solutions and funding for climate adaptation in the African continent.[8] The summit was attended by global leaders including Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.[9]
GCA Floating Office Rotterdam[edit]
GCA's headquarters is in the largest floating office in the world, moored in the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.[10][11][12] The office is off-grid, carbon neutral, self-sufficient, and an example of existing adaptation to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels.[13][14] The floating office was inaugurated on 6 September 2021 by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.[15]
History[edit]
The Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation (GCECA) was founded by the Government of the Netherlands with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), NIES Japan[20][21][22] and the Philippines.[23] GCECA, hosted in Groningen and Rotterdam,[24] was launched at UN Climate Summit COP 23 on 14 November 2017.[25][26][27] During COP 23, the Centre organised a side event, "What is Excellence in Climate Adaptation?"[28] and supported the launch of the UN Environment Adaptation Gap Report 2017: Towards Global Assessment[29][30][31]
The Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation became the Global Center on Adaptation on 18 September 2018.[1]