Climate-resilient development: Linking climate adaptation and economic development

In the heat of ongoing climate debates, the The Economics of Climate Resilient-Development is a timely and pragmatic read. The book, edited by Sam Frankhauser and Thomas McDermott, argues that climate adaptation, hitherto second fiddle to economic development priorities such as poverty alleviation, disaster management, or urban planning, deserves more explicit focus. The book develops the idea of ‘Climate-Resilient Development’—a form of economic development that incorporates climate threats at an early stage of economic strategizing rather than merely in terms of risk management. Under the umbrella of Climate-Resilient Development, the book chapters offer succinct analytical breakdowns of interlinkages between development interventions and climate risks.

The book not only clarifies the stakes in not linking climate adaptation to development planning, but also identifies low-hanging fruits. The latter contribution is particularly salient in a gridlocked policy environment.

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