Confronting the rising threat of climate disasters

Background

Recent devastating floods and storms in Asia and the Pacific—notably in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan and Australia—have vividly highlighted how severe and frequent climate-related natural disasters are wreaking havoc on lives, livelihoods and property. The increased frequency of intense floods and storms has been observed amid the spectre of climate change. Confronting the many development and policy challenges of climate impacts is an immediate concern and not one for the distant future.

Evidence is accumulating that the risks from weather-related disasters are the result of a confluence of three factors:

• the changing nature of such hazards
• the rising exposure of populations
• the limited adaptive capacity of many countries—especially developing countries.

The rising incidence and severity of climate-related disasters are eroding progress on poverty reduction and other development gains in the region. These empirical findings point to the urgent need for action by national and local governments and communities to strengthen their preparation and resilience to natural disasters, improve adaptive capacities, and implement climate mitigation measures. To achieve this, disaster management needs to be viewed not as a cost, but as a necessary investment for saving lives and livelihoods, reducing disaster threats to critical infrastructure, and promoting sustainable and inclusive development.