Climate Change Resilience
20 November 2013, UNFCCC, Warsaw Poland - Samoa was featured during a special World Bank event at the UN Climate talks to launch their report called 'Building Resilience Integrating Climate and Disaster Risk Into Development' which describes how the costs and damages from more extreme weather are growing rapidly.
In 1999, a Category 5 cyclone devastated the state of Odisha in India, leaving 10,000 people dead and causing $4.5 billion in damages. Fourteen years later, Phailin, another monster storm almost as strong, hit the same stretch of the state – except this time with a very different outcome: Fewer than 40 people were killed and economic losses were about $700 million.
The reason for this dramatic turnaround was years of disaster risk prevention and preparedness resulting in a concerted effort by the state to build resilience against extreme weather. Early warning systems and annual storm drills in close cooperation with local communities were part of that effort.
As the world has witnessed in the last week, there is sometimes little any government can do to prepare for record storms such as the typhoon that devastated parts of the Philippines – short of trying to evacuate as many people as possible to safety.
We must, however, continue to share experiences from this and other tragedies in a warming world where storms are likely to become fiercer.
Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, Samoa
"Loss and Damage from Climate Change extreme weather events and slow onset events such as sea level rise is extremely important, not only for Samoa but for Small Island Developing States," said Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea.
"Thus we are hopeful for positive outcomes here in Warsaw."
A new report from the World Bank released this week shares experiences such as those from India. Titled Building Resilience: Integrating Climate and Disaster Risk into Development, the report highlights good practices and innovative solutions for protecting lives and livelihoods, and for decreasing losses and damages to private property and critical infrastructure.
According to the Munich Re insurance group, weather-related losses and damage have risen from an annual average of about $50 billion in the 1980s to close to $200 billion over the last decade.
The report also shows that weather-related disasters are most crippling for smaller and lower-income countries that are least able to cope.
Climate and disaster risks in Samoa are considered an intrinsic part of coastal and infrastructure management plans and are embedded into a "ridge-to-reef" approach.
Samoa presents an example where risks were considered part of integrated development (infrastructure) plans.
These "Coastal Infrastructure Management" plans were developed in 1999 for all districts and villages.
They assess the resilience of infrastructure to flooding, erosion and landslides; identify potential solutions; and assign responsibility for implementation amongst different stakeholders. They also take a ridge-to-reef or landscape approach that involves managing climate and disaster risks from the coastal zone to upper water catchment areas.
According to the Building Resilience: Integrating Climate and Disaster Risk into Development report, the implementation of the plans, using a participatory approach, is being supported by the PPCR, through the World Bank, and the Adaptation Fund, through UNDP.
"We feel building resilience from these climate impacts should be the global focus. While emphasis is on climate change impacts we feel the best way to deliver effective support to countries is to integrate climate change and disaster risk management in our development," said Mulipola.
Samoa was represented at this special event by Mulipola Titimaea in a lineup that included the Minister of Environment from Mexico, Ethiopia and the EU Commissioner for Climate Action. It took place on 20 November in the EU Pavilion. - World Bank Release/SPREP