Advancing Climate Adaptation in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0): Progress, Challenges, and the Way Forward for Asia and the Pacific

<jats:p>Climate adaptation is an urgent development priority for Asia and the Pacific as governments seek to reduce growing climate-related losses and damages, strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors and communities, and align national planning and investment with long-term climate risk management. Based on 21 NDC 3.0 submissions from ADB developing member countries, with a cutoff date of 14 November 2025, this paper finds encouraging progress in adaptation ambition but uneven implementation readiness. It identifies seven priority areas for translating ambition into effective, inclusive, and scalable action.</jats:p>