Asia and the Pacific face an urgent disaster emergency due to climate change-induced disasters. With the frequency and intensity of these disasters on the rise, the region’s poorest and least developed countries are the most vulnerable. If we don’t change our approach to building resilience, the threat of disasters will soon outpace our ability to adapt.
The consequences of inaction are grave. The number of disaster-related deaths will increase, along with the annual cost of losses. By 2023, these losses could reach almost $1 trillion, equivalent to 3% of the region’s GDP. Disasters and extreme weather events will undermine productivity and sustainable development. Inequality will skyrocket, particularly in the Pacific small island developing states. The agriculture and energy sectors will suffer, disrupting food systems, endangering food security, and jeopardizing energy supply.
To avoid this disastrous future, we must act now to increase resilience and protect our hard-won development gains. To do this, bold decisions must be made to implement transformative adaptation. We need to prioritize investments in early warning systems, especially in the least developed countries. Expanding coverage of such systems can significantly reduce the number of deaths and provide a tenfold return on investment. We also need to invest in improving communities’ response to early warning alerts, utilizing global satellite data, and embedding comprehensive risk management policies.
Adaptation strategies should focus on nature-based solutions, which support the sustainable management, protection, and restoration of degraded environments. Preserving functional ecosystems, such as wetlands, flood plains, and forests, can strengthen disaster risk reduction. Additionally, investing in forest restoration, sustainable agriculture, and nature-based solutions in urban centers can mitigate the impact of disasters and contribute to future resilience.
Transformative adaptation requires systemic change across various policy areas. It involves aligning social protection and climate change interventions to help vulnerable households adapt and protect their assets and livelihoods. We need to make food and energy systems more resilient, especially in disaster-prone areas. The use of technologies like the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence can also enhance real-time weather predictions and disaster communication.
However, implementing transformative adaptation requires increased disaster risk financing and scaling up financing mechanisms. The current level of adaptation finance falls far short of what is needed. We must explore innovative financing mechanisms such as thematic bonds, debt for adaptation, and ecosystem adaptation finance to attract private investment and close the funding gap. Digital technologies can improve the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of adaptation financing.
Now is the time for concerted action. We must build on innovation and scientific breakthroughs to accelerate transformative adaptation across the region. A regional strategy that supports early warnings for all is crucial, and cooperation through United Nations mechanisms and subregional intergovernmental organizations is essential. By sharing best practices and pooling resources, we can enhance the collective resilience and response to climate-related hazards in Asia and the Pacific.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can only be achieved if the resilience of our communities is not outpaced by disaster risk. Let us seize this moment to protect our future in the face of climate challenges.
