Increasing temperatures and storm frequency from climate change, coupled with rising seas, are driving important changes in risk profiles in Asia and across the world. In response to these critical impacts of climate change, the world is coming together in Paris to formalize a new climate treaty – both to mitigate the causes of climate change and also to help countries adapt to the consequences of a warmer future.

This is not an idle discussion, as a new GFDRR-supported report “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty” from the World Bank lays out. In the very near term, development that is rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed can blunt most of the force that climate change will have on poverty. Without an approach of this type, climate change could be a factor bringing an additional 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

The “Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Developing Countries” is connecting GFDRR and World Bank team leaders with the financial and technical support they need to build climate resilience into development. 

Through over US$32.6 million in 22 projects to support to date in 30 countries, the program, which is managed by GFDRR at the DRM Hub, Tokyo, is helping shape development that takes on the challenges of natural hazards, including those driven by hydro-meteorological phenomena.

In the Philippines, the World Bank is working with the government to ensure the resilience of key public buildings and infrastructure by strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks for risk management, the availability of financial protection tools, including a climate and disaster resilience fund, and the capacity for resilient reconstruction practices in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The Japan-World Bank Program’s support is helping leverage over $500 million in additional finance to secure and expand these gains.

The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI), supported by the Japan-World Bank Program, offers fast-disbursing coverage against tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and drought. In March 2015, Vanuatu rapidly received $1.9 million to respond to damage caused by Cyclone Pam. This seemingly modest payout was eight times the annual emergency relief provision held by the government, and seven times the annual insurance premium paid by the government of Vanuatu. The DRM Hub, Tokyo also sent technical staff to support the internationally recognized Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, which the government is using to inform its recovery.

The DRM Hub, Tokyo is also playing a critical role engaging Japanese expertise in important areas for adapting to climate change and hydro-meteorological hazards. Through a strategic knowledge engagement on hydro-meteorological services in Japan, key experts at the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are helping interpret and share the lessons learned from Japan’s experience building a solid business case for quality services and adapt this to developing world contexts. Other engagements on business continuity planning at water and wastewater utilities have brought out key lessons from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which were shared with clients in Bangladesh and the Philippines.

The GFDRR-supported program will continue to support both tested and innovative approaches to preparing countries for the effects of climate change.