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Adaptation to climate change is a complex topic that presents a number of challenges. Indeed, one important challenge lies in defining adaptation and understanding the full scope of its implications. Adaptation is currently the topic of numerous studies that offer a range of definitions. The IPCC offers a starting point by providing a broad definition of adaptation: adjustment in natural or human systems to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. However, adaptation is increasingly difficult define in practical and operational terms. To aid in this effort, some key points can be identified to provide a helpful framework for understanding the complex nature of adaptation.

The main purpose of this paper is to help policy makers, particularly those in developing countries, think about the national policy instruments needed to contribute to the fight against climate change, how such needs can be articulated in order to seek internal and external financial resources and how these needs may be reflected in negotiations of a future climate change agreement. This paper is an input to a series of workshops which the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will organize in developing countries with the aim of improv- ing their capacity to respond to climate change.

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our planet and its people. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) is called mitigation. Responding to the impacts of climate change is called adaptation. A certain amount of adaptation will be necessary, no matter what we do. But, there will come a point where it will not be possible to adapt our way out of the problem.

In 2007, the UNFCCC Secretariat prepared a report on "Investment and Financial Flows to Address Climate Change".11 The report covers mitigation and adaptation in various sectors over the period to 2030. The report defines an investment as the initial (capital) cost of a new physical asset with a life of more than one year, such as the capital cost of a gas-fired generating unit or a water supply system. A financial flow is an ongoing expenditure related to climate change mitigation or adaptation that docs not involve physical assets, such as research or health care. These investment and financial flows arc NOT the same as the cost of addressing climate change; changes to the operating costs of investments arc not considered nor arc damages due to climate change estimated.

The World's oceans play a crucial role for life on the planet. Healthy seas and the services they provide are key to the future development of mankind. Our seas are highly dynamic, structured and complex systems. The seafloor consists of vast shelves and plains with huge mountains, canyons and trenches which dwarf similar structures on land. Ocean currents transport water masses many times larger than all rivers on Earth combined.