ADB will Bolster Climate and Disaster Risk Management Support

Developing member countries (DMCs) in Asia and the Pacific face significant risks from natural hazards, making them more vulnerable than other regions. The impact of disasters extends beyond fatalities, affecting communities and livelihoods and causing substantial economic losses.

From 1970 to 2023, approximately 6.9 billion individuals were impacted by disasters in this region, a staggering figure nearly five times higher than that in the rest of the world. The total direct financial losses reached $2.50 trillion, representing 40% of global disaster-related losses, disproportionate to the region’s contribution to global GDP. Floods and earthquakes are the most destructive hazards, closely followed by storms.

Deaths from natural hazards and disasters are higher in least-developed countries and disaster-risk hot spots with high levels of poverty. Weather-related disasters were also responsible for the temporary and permanent displacement of hundreds of millions of people in the region.

The Asian Development Bank considers this increasing disaster risk in the Asia Pacific seriously. As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, ADB treats disaster risk management (DRM) as a critical component of working toward climate resilience.

To strengthen the region’s disaster resilience, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aims to redouble its efforts in Asia and the Pacific. The new action plan, the Disaster Risk Management Action Plan (DRMAP), 2024–2030, outlines how the ADB will accomplish this.

ADBs Disaster Risk Management Action Plan, 2024–2030, highlights the importance of embedding disaster risk reduction measures into development planning and sector projects to help minimise vulnerabilities. Key components of the action plan include:

1. Improve disaster risk knowledge and risk-informed planning tools. 
2. Increase investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR). 
3. Increase investments in disaster preparedness and mainstream disaster risk financing (DRF) into resilient development and recovery. 
4. Promote effective post-disaster recovery instruments and improve frameworks for resilient recovery in developing member countries (DMCs).

Convergence of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation

The report includes discussions where disaster risk management and climate change adaptation analysis, policies, and programmes merge.

It notes that rising air and sea temperatures increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like storms, heavy rains, floods, heat waves, and droughts. The accelerating melting of glaciers and sea ice worsens downstream floods and contributes to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities.

The resulting rise in extreme weather and disaster risks and the subsequent destruction and loss call for coordination between DRM and CCA for analysis and policymaking to ensure that financing and resourcing are practical and relevant in strengthening community resilience. While DRM focuses on near- to mid-term changes in weather-related hazards, climate change adaptation focuses on responding to long-term climate change and its impact on communities and their livelihoods.

The infographic from the report below shows where the two concepts – DRM and CCA- meet and differ.

“Disasters pose significant threats to sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific, which is the most disaster-prone region in the world,” said ADB Vice-President for Sectors and Themes Fatima Yasmin.

Yasmin said, “During my visits to our DMCs, I have seen the high toll disasters place on economies and the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable people. Our new action plan will assist countries in strengthening climate and disaster resilience, protecting lives and livelihoods, and fostering sustainable economic growth.”

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