Climate and Development Knowledge Network

As a result of climate change, the frequency and severity of climatic hazards such as heat waves, droughts, floods and storms is increasing across the globe. Amplified by higher levels of exposure and persistent vulnerability, the increasing intensity and frequency of these hazards is generating higher human and economic losses from disaster events. Work is urgently needed to strengthen resilience to climate-related disasters and to scale up short- and longer-term disaster risk management (DRM) strategies. Our goal is to support developing countries to integrate DRM into all aspects of economic and development decision-making and practice and so reduce loss of lives and livelihoods from climate extremes and disasters. In support of this goal, CDKN funds a large body of work on different aspects of DRM, across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean to: 1. Increase the availability, accessibility and use of scientific information on disaster risks for a wide range of decision makers in developing countries. 2. Understand and shape how national systems for managing disaster risks are adapted to the impact of climate change. 3. Improve the integration of DRM in effective CCD at national level, especially within powerful parts of government. 4. Encourage more coherent climate-related disaster risk governance across ministries, civil societies and private sector bodies.