No corner of the globe is immune from the devastating consequences of climate change. From rising sea levels that threaten coastal communities to extreme weather events that devastate entire regions, the impacts of climate change around the world are profound and far-reaching. The changes we are experiencing are fundamentally altering the way we live, work, and interact with our planet and each other.

The rising costs of climate change

Humans, as we know, are responsible for the major part of global heating over the past 200 years leading to a current temperature rise of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels which is likely to further increase. As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the trend of increasing risks and related losses and damages from climate change is predicted to get worse with every increment of global warming. 

The picture of what is to come sees extreme weather events being more common and more severe, causing widespread destruction, loss of life, and economic hardship. The related disasters disrupt development; destroy infrastructure, shatter agricultural systems, and displace communities. In developing countries, where resources are scarce and infrastructure is often fragile, the impacts are particularly devastating, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. The cycle of poverty is perpetuated as communities struggle to rebuild, often without the necessary resources or support. 

As we confront these challenges, it is essential to recognize that disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development are not separate issues. Rather, they are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

At the nexus of risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals together provide us with a powerful and forward-looking agenda for a people-centered approach to resilience building. But we need to do better to accelerate their implementation. We need more coherence and more joined-up efforts across these three strands of policy frameworks. The integration of risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable development has practical, real-world benefits. By understanding the risks posed by climate change and disasters, policymakers can make informed decisions about where to invest in infrastructure, how to allocate resources, and how to design policies that enhance community resilience.

In recent years, UNDP has issued several innovative policy guidance, such as The UNDP Approach to Risk-Informed Development and the UNDP Strategy Tool on Integrating DRR and CCA into Development. They assist countries on their journey towards integrating both disaster and climate risks into development planning and budgeting with flexible tools and learning models. It is novel in offering an integrated approach to help overcome so far often parallel and siloed mainstreaming approaches.

Breaking silos with interactive learning 

To enhance the application of these tools, we have devised an interactive learning offer to help countries identify practical entry points for mainstreaming risks, breaking institutional silos, and fostering coherence and partnerships based on common and shared approaches. By working with National Disaster Management Authorities, Ministries of Environment, Planning, Finance, and select sectors, the learning offer has already benefitted over 15 countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, enabling stakeholders to design practical mainstreaming roadmaps that are inclusive and span from the national to the local level. 

In August, UNDP in collaboration with the Government hosted a learning event in the City of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia attended by around 30 officials from eight municipalities. Demand for the event was triggered by a regional learning experience conducted in 2023, which also led to offshoots in Costa Rica, Cuba and Ecuador.