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Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Fundamentals, Synergies and Mismatches

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Adapting to Climate Change

Part of the book series: Environmental Hazards ((ENHA))

Abstract

The IPCC special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (see IPCC, A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012a, p. 582) underscores the importance of linking disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. However, in reality, practical approaches in adaptation and risk reduction have primarily been developed in isolation, rather than as a part of a parallel and intertwined process. This chapter examines the options and concepts that allow for the strengthening of the link between Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). In addition, barriers and mismatches between the two communities will be addressed. The chapter also discusses how limited cooperation between different institutions and ministries has hampered effective synergies between CCA and DRR in praxis. Finally, the chapter outlines recommendations and measures that need to be adopted in order to overcome existing barriers. In this regard criteria are formulated that should be applied in order to constantly monitor and evaluate adaptation strategies designed to simultaneously meet disaster risk reduction requirements.

The paper is based on key findings of the IPCC Special Report SREX and a study conducted by Birkmann and Teichmann for the DKKV which was also published in a peer-reviewed paper (see Birkmann and von Teichmann 2010).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The process of the development of NAPAs was initiated during the UNFCCC COP 7 conference in Marrakesh in 2001 and is funded by the least developed countries fund, which is based on voluntary contributions from developed countries and managed through the Global Environmental Facility.

  2. 2.

    The following sections are based on the paper of Birkmann and von Teichman 2010 and complemented with additional findings of more recent reports.

  3. 3.

    Institutions refer to rules, norms and rights as well as the organisations that enforce them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan

    Jörn Birkmann & Joanna Pardoe

Authors
  1. Jörn Birkmann
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  2. Joanna Pardoe
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Correspondence to Jörn Birkmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Resource & Environm Planning Program, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Bruce C. Glavovic

  2. Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel H, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Gavin P. Smith

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Birkmann, J., Pardoe, J. (2014). Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Fundamentals, Synergies and Mismatches. In: Glavovic, B., Smith, G. (eds) Adapting to Climate Change. Environmental Hazards. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8631-7_2

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