Foreword

The quick pace of climate change today is altering and intensifying existing risks with destructive consequences for society, the economy and the environment. Changes in temperature and precipitation are leading to more frequent extreme weather events, wildfires, floods and rising sea levels. Public expectations for governments to act have never been higher.

Interventions to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risks share common objectives, but too often they are developed and deployed through administrative silos. The wide range of institutions and government officials responsible for managing climate hazard exposures and reducing vulnerability often miss potential synergies and duplicate efforts.

Common ground between the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework: Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction examines the potential for a more coherent approach to the reduction and management of weather- and climate-related disasters and change. The report highlights the benefits of increased coherence between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through comprehensive and co-ordinated action across public administrations. Informed by the national approaches of Ghana, Peru and the Philippines, it points to the role of both government officials and development co-operation in bridging existing gaps between the two policy areas, highlighting examples of good practice and persistent challenges.

This report will be of interest to government officials with responsibility for the design, coordination or implementation of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies and programmes. It will inform their efforts to build more coherent approaches across the two policy areas. It will also be of interest to countries that seek to adhere to OECD standards such as the Council Recommendation on Governance of Critical Risks and their commitments under international agreements, including the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.