Climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) have similar aims and mutual benefits. Climate change is modifying the frequency and intensity of hazards (heavy rainfall, droughts, high sea levels, cyclones, etc.) with direct implications for disaster risks.

However, to date disaster risk reduction is still considered to be a humanitarian issue, whereas climate change adaptation is regarded a development issue. Both communities had operated largely in isolation from each other for a number of reasons. However, the overlap of the two topics is considerable as illustrated in the figure below:

Overlap between DRR and Climate Change Adaptation

Source: DFID: Convergence of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (2008)

The main overlap between the two topics is the management of hydro-meteorological hazards, where DRR needs to take into account the changing hazards, and adaptation needs to build resilience to their impacts.

The two key distinctions are:

1. DRR tackles the risks of geophysical hazards (volcanoes, earthquakes), whereas adaptation does not.

2. Adaptation also considers the long-term adjustment to changes in mean climatic condition, whereas DRR is predominantly interested in extremes.¹

Recently the convergence is discussed in several institutions:

• A new OECD-DAC guidance on climate change adaptation "Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation – Policy Guidance" makes reference to numerous DRR approaches.

• Climate change adaptation plays a vital role within the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). Since its inception in 2006, about two-thirds of GFDRR’s assistance has had a primary focus on climate change adaptation (CCA) — this represents more than US$ 27 million in nearly 90 countries across the world.

• SDC elaborated a Climate Change & DRR Check with a screening tool and a handbook (soon available in the library).

Within SDC, the Global Programme for Climate Change (GPCC) is active in the areas of political dialogue and negotiation processes, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The Climate Change & Environment Network promotes the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches into the programmes and activities of SDC by offering training, sharing knowledge & information, supporting SDC staff in climate change related issues and playing a pro-active role in SDC's Corporate Communications on Climate Change.
 

¹ Adapted from DFID: Convergence of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (2008)