'If disasters are changing, why aren't we?' asks new disaster guide

If development, disaster risk and climate change adaptation practitioners don’t start coordinating their actions in a ‘climate smart’ way, natural hazards will continue to devastate vulnerable people in developing countries. That’s the message from the authors of a new guide, Changing climate, changing disasters: pathways to integration, launched today for disaster risk practitioners in NGOs and governments.

The guide is from the Strengthening Climate Resilience (SCR) project, a consortium of IDS, Plan and Christian Aid. It is appearing shortly before the release of the IPCC Special Report on Extreme Events, which assesses how climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of weather-related hazards, such as floods, droughts and tropical cyclones.

Terry Cannon, IDS Fellow and SCR director, points out that Changing climate, changing disasters is aimed at preparing for both slow-onset and sudden hazards. He points out: ‘it’s vital that we integrate disaster preparedness with knowledge of climate change, and with development goals that tackle the root causes of poverty that lead to people’s vulnerability. Natural hazards are inevitable, but the scale of deaths and destruction isn’t.’

Dr. Cannon adds: ‘for too long, development, disaster risk and climate change have been dealt with separately. With this guide, we hope to offer all three sectors a shared language; a way to assess their organisations and partner networks; indicators to measure their progress; and real examples of using the climate smart disaster risk management approach in different contexts (including conflict affected places)’.