As the impacts of climate change intensify, various sectors, including agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture, are experiencing decreased productivity, disruptions in supply chains, and heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events. Further increases in temperature are set to exacerbate these issues, rendering current agricultural methods unsustainable and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as women, Indigenous Peoples, and small-scale food producers.
While institutional structures like Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are in place, their effective implementation, particularly in developing nations, is hampered by obstacles like limited resources and technical expertise.
Therefore, there’s an urgent need for practical “Tool Car” – in the sense of effective instruments – to bridge the divide between policy goals and tangible actions on the ground. These tools are essential for empowering stakeholders to enact meaningful adaptation measures and tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
Enter the Climate Action Review (CAR) Tool, a solution developed by FAO and UNDP as part of the SCALA program. This tool effectively integrates practical strategies with long-term planning and execution through NDCs, NAPs, and other climate commitments.
Click here to access the web CAR Tool interface
Click here to watch a short video about the CAR Tool
What is the Purpose of the CAR Tool?
The CAR Tool is designed to equip national adaptation planners and practitioners with actionable guidance. Its primary aim is to facilitate the transition from high-level NDC and NAP planning to the concrete implementation of locally relevant adaptation actions within the agriculture and land-use sectors. This transition is crucial for fostering transformative, system-wide change.
The tool provides a pragmatic, step-by-step methodology for pinpointing key entry points for transformative change. It draws upon adaptation actions already outlined in NDCs and NAPs. Adaptable to diverse country contexts and strategic priorities, the CAR tool promotes evidence-based adaptation planning through inclusive participatory methods.
Furthermore, the CAR tool functions in a “planning capacity,” offering valuable insights into the strategic interventions necessary for future adaptation initiatives. It also aligns with international guidelines for the formulation and implementation of NAPs, ensuring a coherent and globally recognized approach to climate action.
Who is the CAR Tool For?
The Climate Action Review (CAR) Tool is specifically designed to support a range of stakeholders, including:
- NDC and NAP planners and focal points within government bodies.
- Senior policy advisors or technical units in relevant ministries, departments, or agencies involved in climate change initiatives and/or agricultural sector projects.
- Multilateral or bilateral organizations, civil society groups, or financial institutions that support country-led climate action and the implementation of NDCs/NAPs in the agriculture and land-use sectors.
How Does the CAR Tool Work?
A core function of the CAR tool is to evaluate the potential impact of planned adaptation measures on strengthening the resilience of agrifood systems in the face of climate variability. This evaluation employs six key elements and twenty indicators of transformative climate action. By utilizing both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the tool facilitates a comparison between current and planned adaptation actions, providing a comprehensive understanding of progress and areas for improvement.
The CAR tool is structured around a clear five-step process:
- Preparation for the consultative assessment: Setting the stage for effective engagement and data collection.
- Short-listing adaptation priorities: Selecting key adaptation priorities from NDCs and NAPs for focused evaluation.
- Mapping stakeholders for consultation: Identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders for a participatory assessment process.
- Assessing transformative potential: Evaluating the transformative potential of the selected adaptation priorities using the tool’s framework.
- Developing an actionable roadmap: Creating a practical roadmap for implementing transformative climate actions within the agriculture and land-use sectors, based on the assessment findings.
The CAR Tool Handbook
To enhance user understanding and application, a detailed handbook is available for the CAR Tool.
Click here to access the CAR Tool handbook
The handbook is designed to:
- Offer insights into the underlying principles and rationale for transforming agricultural and land-use systems within the context of a changing climate.
- Provide step-by-step instructions on how to effectively use the CAR Tool and interpret the results for evidence-driven adaptation planning through participatory approaches.
- Guide users in developing actionable roadmaps for locally relevant NDC/NAP adaptation action programming and resource mobilization. This support aims to accelerate transformative climate action within the agriculture and land-use sectors, ensuring effective and sustainable outcomes.
