Media Advisory
Global Center on Adaptation Hosts Flagship Leaders’ Dialogue at UNGA80: Shaping Resilient Futures
What:
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), together with the Governments of Norway and Kenya, will convene the second edition of its flagship Leaders’ Dialogue on Global Climate Adaptation Action: Shaping Resilient Futures on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. The high-level event comes at a decisive moment on the road to COP30. With 2024 recorded as the hottest year in history and 2025 following closely, the need for accelerated adaptation has never been clearer. Yet, amid hotly contested fiscal and strategic priorities and acute budgetary pressures on public development and climate finance, an era of constrained international support for climate adaptation is emerging. Discussions will grapple with the challenge of mobilizing USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate action in-line with COP29 in Baku decisions and will focus on maintaining high prioritisation of adaptation and resilience. The meeting will also take stock of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)—the world’s largest adaptation initiative—and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in its next phase, including opportunities for regional replication and expansion.
When: Thursday, 25 September 2025 at 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. EDT
Where: United Nations Headquarters, West Terrace Room, New York
Who:
The Dialogue will be co-chaired by:
H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Honorary Chair of the GCA Supervisory Board
H.E. Macky Sall, 4th President of Senegal and Chair of the GCA Supervisory Board
H.E. Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, Hon. Minister for International Development of Norway
Moderated by:
Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation
Confirmed Participants include Heads of State and Government, Ministers and senior leaders from across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside key international institutions. Expected interventions include:
Opening Keynotes
Presentation on the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) 2.0 by
H.E. William Ruto, Hon. President of Kenya and Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change
Presentation on advancing climate resilience and prosperity through investment in agricultural
innovation by Mr. Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation
H.E. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group
Advance presentation on the new State and Trends in Adaptation report on Small Island Developing States by H.E. Hilda Heine, Hon. President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Hon. Chairperson of the African Union Commission
H.E. Ana Toni, Executive Director of COP30 Presidency
(Full list of participants available on request)
Contact
For further information please contact:
Alexandra Gee, Head of Communications Alex.gee@gca.org
