World Bank urges collective action to reduce disaster risk through climate change adaptation
The World Bank Sector Director for Sustainable Development in the East Asia and Pacific region (EAP), John Roome, told the the 4th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction that Asia's poor will pay the highest cost of disasters sparked by climate change and rapid urbanisation, with the bulk going on improving and adapting infrastructure, coastal zones, and water supply and flood protection. He called for breaking the link between urban poverty, squatter areas and disaster risk reduction through community-driven development programmes, and promoting sound land-use, investing in early warning systems and making risk information widely available.