Closing the gaps: Disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change in developing countries

The Commission on climate change and development was launched in 2007 by the Swedish government. The Commission examined adaptation to climate change and its links with development and disaster risk reduction and was asked to issue policy recommendations.

The first chapter of this report is a cogent argument on the need to move rapidly to a low-carbon world economy. Next the authors study the different dimensions to be considered in this adaptation process. The responses of local communities must be emphasised rather than just global issues, governance at all levels must include a concern for climate change and financial instruments and public development aid must innovate to participate in the adaptation of economies and societies. One of the appendices is given over to the links between adaptation to climate change and food security.

Commission on climate change and development - 2009