Climate Change

Governments recognize the importance of coordinating their climate change adaptation plans with disaster risk reduction measures. They also recognize that these policies should be incorporated into their development and poverty eradication programmes.

Recognizing the links between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has undertaken a Special Report on "Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)." This report, due out in 2011, will help policy-makers evaluate options for reducing disaster risks related to climate change. The Special Report will also be included in the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report.

UNISDR advocates for a synergy between disaster risk reduction and climate change.

UNISDR supports these efforts at the highest levels by developing specific policies at the international level on the linkages between reducing disaster risk and responding to climate change, guiding national and regional action to integrate policies and practices, and strengthening capacities to support the integration of disaster reduction and climate change by all actors.

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The inter-agency Working Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction was established in 2004.

The Working Group supported by UNISDR was established to share information between the disaster risk reduction and climate change communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the support of UNISDR, developed the terms of reference and the first meeting of the group was held on 6 October 2004.

During the first Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in June 2007, the Working Group agreed on three priority areas: gathering and sharing good practices in climate risk-reduction; providing policy guidance to UNFCCC processes on the post-2012 climate change regime; and developing methods for reducing the carbon footprint disaster risk reduction activities.

This Working Group, co-chaired by UNDP and WMO produced the following products:

• Climate Change and Disaster Risks, ISDR Recommendations for Action Now and Post-Kyoto
• Disaster Risk Reduction Tools and Methods for Climate Change Adaptation
• On Better Terms: A Glance at Key Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Concepts