Climate adaptation funding: Getting the money to those who need it

In an era when climate records are continually being broken, climate change adaptation is becoming relevant for communities around the globe, particularly the most vulnerable and poor communities. Governments around the world collectively agreed in Paris in 2015 to combat the threats and challenges posed by climate change, yet the matter of how to finance adaptation for those in need remains unsettled. There are two major issues related to the future of adaptation funding: where the funds will flow from, and how to ensure the appropriate distribution and allocation of the available funds. This paper discusses political economy factors at the global, national, and local levels that affect the distribution and allocation of available funds. It argues that appropriate consideration of political economy factors is needed in designing future finance programs, to ensure that funds reach those who need them most.