Progress in Disaster Science (Dec 2021)
Assessing contribution to the Sendai Framework: Case study of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects across sectors in Asia-Pacific (2015–2020)
Abstract
Asia-Pacific is one of the most highly vulnerable regions facing harsher impacts of climate change and related disasters due to its rapidly growing population, extensive use of resources for economic growth, diverse geological and topographical features, and other factors that include social and institutional drivers, political and governance-related drivers, and poverty, among others. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) should be integrated as priority in the agendas of local authorities and it is important that scientists help bring to the attention of decision-makers the science-based solutions that can be employed before a disaster happens. Supporting generation of evidence-based data and facilitating research activities that contribute to existing knowledge on climate, risks and disasters is embedded in the vision and mission of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the network has been supporting research and capacity development activities through its Climate Adaptation Framework (CAF) and under the thematic area of Risk Reduction and Resilience (RRR) that encompasses climate change adaptation (CCA) and DRR. This study revisited and assessed a variety of disaster risks addressed in regional projects and characterized the type of DRR and CCA measures proposed and/or utilized. Informed by project implementation experiences of 24 expert practitioners, the study examined the conceptual understanding of DRR and CCA and explored the potential contribution of the project outcomes to the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and its linkage with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results present regional characteristics of risks, DRR-CCA measures and approaches, and lessons learned on integrating and mainstreaming DRR and CCA within and across sectors relevant to the SFDRR Target E on increasing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020.
