This year’s AGR updates and expands the analysis begun in the 2020 edition of the report by providing information of direct relevance to the UNFCCC Global Stocktake: ▶ Consolidated criteria for assessment of adaptation progress, gaps and contextual elements. Building on the work initiated in 2020, this year’s report consolidates a methodological framework for assessing progress, gaps and contextual elements in global adaptation. It also expands and strengthens its approach to the assessment of adaptation outcomes, notably through the inclusion of qualitative expert assessments of future outcomes (a topic with only very limited coverage in the 2020 AGR). ▶ Updated and expanded assessment of progress in adaptation planning. The analysis in the planning chapter (chapter 3) is updated based on 107 new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), 14 National Communications and three National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which have been submitted since October 2020. ▶ Updated assessments of financial needs for adaptation. Many countries have updated their adaptation priorities and associated financing needs in recent NDCs submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat. This enables the 2021 AGR report to provide an updated view on adaptation financing from the perspectives of individual countries. It provides key information on how such estimates have changed over time. ▶ Expanded data sets for assessing progress in the implementation of adaptation. ▶ A first look at how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the global adaptation process. The 2021 edition of the report provides a first assessment of the impact of the pandemic on the national adaptation planning process and the availability of financing for adaptation. It also points to some important lessons from fighting the COVID-19 pandemic that can be applied to improve future climate adaptation planning and financing processes and steps.