Thought Leadership Course - Synergizing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are synergistic, given the common risk-reduction and vulnerability-reduction objectives of both actions. However, the governance of the two has evolved in parallel at both global and national levels. National DRR strategies and National Adaptation Plans are often developed in isolation from each other, resulting in a suboptimal utilization of resources.

Conversely, synergy in risk reduction and adaptation can yield considerable gains. Global multilateral processes have evolved to encourage and facilitate these synergies. The Paris Agreement recognizes the need to reduce risk (including through sustainable development) and enhance understanding, action and support on the loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction seeks to strengthen alignment through national and local DRR strategies wherein coherence in policy is a stated objective, as well as through an understanding of disaster risk that integrates climate change.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also support this approach in various SDGs, including through Goal 13 on Climate Action wherein DRR is addressed. Hence, the alignment of national adaptation plans and disaster risk reduction plans is a key enabler for the implementation of these important frameworks.

Target Audience

The module is targeted at decision-makers and -shapers, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation focal points, who are directly involved in developing national Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and National Adaptation Plans at the local, subnational, national, regional, and international levels.

Other officials and stakeholders that can contribute to advancing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation synergies can also make use of the course.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants should:

Have a clear understanding of the synergies between DRR and CCA.
Be able to define integration between DRR and CCA .
Identify good practices on DRR-CCA integration and implementation
Facilitate further changes in attitudes and behaviours towards the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.