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 World Bank report “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty” 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 World Bank team leaders with the financial and technical support they need to build climate resilience into development.
Through over US$32.6 million supporting 22 projects in 30 countries, the program, which is managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (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.
Japan-World Bank Program Support for Climate Resilience
As of November 18, 2015
Combining Quality Infrastructure with Financial Protection in the Philippines
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.
Innovative Insurance Pooling and Recovery in the Pacific
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.
Capturing Japanese Knowledge for Impact
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 Japan-World Bank Program will continue to support both tested and innovative approaches to preparing countries for the effects of climate change.
