Climate change is increasing natural disasters and exacerbating vulnerability around the world. Governments, the private sector, scientists, and civil society are working to build resilience through partnerships focused on climate information, integrating climate risks into finance, risk financing, and making cities resilient. The document outlines specific initiatives to give farmers climate data, integrate disaster risk into financial systems, expand risk funds, and support resilient cities through tools and services. Leaders are invited to commit to bold climate action at the UN Climate Summit on September 23rd.

1. The Issue
Climate change is increasing the incidence, frequency and magnitude of natural disasters and exacerbating the vulnerability of many countries and communities around the world. Climate- related hazards – whether drought, powerful typhoons or sea level rise – can have dire consequences on people, property, business, financial systems and state institutions. It is therefore essential to enhance their respective capacity to adapt and be resilient to a changing climate.
Action Plan
Both national and local Governments, the private sector, the scientific community and civil society have been working to mitigate the exposure of people and economic assets, build the resilience of communities and nations, and accelerate action on the ground. Partnerships are being built in this Action Area around four objectives:
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strengthening the access and use of climate information
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integrating the costs of climate-related risks into the finance and development sectors
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risk financing
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making cities resilient
Climate-related hazards ... can have dire consequences on people, property, business, financial systems and state institutions.
Action Area: RESILIENCE
Evaluation Shagra, North Darfur, Sudanr – UNEP

2. For more information on contributing to this Action Area contact:
Glenn Dolcemascolo
Climate Change Coordinator
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
dolcemascolo@un.org
Rajeev Issar
UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team
Office of the Assistant Secretary- General for Strategic Planning
issar@un.org
Deliverables
Climate Information
This initiative will give farmers, policymakers and other decision- makers affected by climate change and potential impacts of extreme weather events the ability to access, interpret and then make essential decisions based on seasonal climate data and related information.
Integrating Disaster Risk and Resilience into the Financial System
This initiative aims to build a consortium of major financial institutions, regulatory, accounting and scientific institutions to help recognize the costs of disaster risk and the absence of resilience plans. For example, members of this consortium would commit to test the portion of their investments and assets that are at risk when a climate-related disaster with a 1-in-100-year magnitude occurs. They would then account for the risk in their investment portfolios and integrate incentives into resilience-building programs.
Innovation in Disaster and Climate Risk Funds
The scope, capabilities and coverage of existing facilities, such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and Africa Risk Capacity, are being expanded to meet the needs of countries vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.
Making Cities Resilient Acceleration Initiative
More than 1,800 cities are already committed to making their cities resilient. A consortia of national Governments, private sector and partner institutions are seeking to provide cities and local Governments worldwide with additional support, tools and services to carry out their commitments to building resilience.
The United Nations Secretary-General has invited leaders from Government, business, finance and civil society to come to the Climate Summit on 23 September and make bold commitments to action in areas that are critical for keeping global temperature increases to less than two degrees Celsius.
Find out more at:
www.un.org/climatechange/summit