Work programme

The ISDR secretariat's work programme for climate change is structured around three areas of action as follows:

(i) Achieve recognition, understanding and specific policies at the international level on the synergies between reducing disaster risk and responding to climate change.

The main thrust here is to promote disaster risk reduction as a principal adaptation policy, but there is also a need to advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to reduce future disaster risks. Several international processes allow major opportunities for intervention (COPs, negotiations on post-2012 process, Nairobi Work Programme, National Communications, collaboration with UNFCCC secretariat, funding for adaptation, IPCC processes, and ISDR system processes).

(ii) Mobilize, guide and facilitate action at national and regional levels to integrate disaster reduction and climate change policies and practice.

This area is addressed through close collaboration with national platforms for disaster risk reduction, regional platforms and networks. ISDR provides guidance material on climate risk, adaptation, National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), and early warning.

(iii) Strengthen the capacities of the ISDR system and secretariat to support the integration of disaster reduction and climate change by all actors.

The main role of ISDR in this area is to backstop the ISDR Working Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction to consistently advocate for the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction agendas. This includes the preparation of talking points, key messages, presentations, and press releases as well as the collection of good practices.