In collaboration with UNU-EHS and MCII, the ECA Network hosted the “Together for Adaptation” exhibit, which showcased the contributions of several of our members, discussing the importance of collaborative approaches to understand, address, and finance climate risk reduction. Over 25 sessions took place in the virtual and at-location booth on subjects ranging from diversity and inclusion in DRR leadership, climate risk finance and investments, adaptive social protection, and nature-based solutions. Below we present some of the highlights of both the GP and the exhibit.

The Bali Agenda for Resilience is the name of the outcome document from the GP. Some relevant messages for the ECA Network include:

1. On the stocktaking of progress of the Sendai Framework:

• While there has been some progress, such as developing new financing mechanisms and better linkages with climate action, the data still points to insufficient investment in disaster risk reduction in most countries, especially in investing in prevention.
• Risk understanding remains limited, in particular, of risk from emerging and future hazards, with government policies remaining largely reactive. Less than half of the countries reporting against Sendai Framework targets indicate having fit-for-purpose, accessible and actionable disaster risk information. Effective disaster risk management is often hindered by siloed and limited intersectoral and transboundary approaches.

2. On taking the Sendai Framework implementation forward:

• Collaboration with the private sector, such as telecommunication and insurance, and the scientific community, opens opportunities to access, utilize, and disseminate risk data and early warning and open data sources. Collaboration with civil society and media enables translating scientific information into action.
• Scaling up a comprehensive disaster and climate risk management, especially in fragile and highly vulnerable contexts, is beyond the remit of a single organization and requires broad partnerships.
• Incentivizing investment in disaster risk reduction requires accounting for how investments impact exposure and vulnerability across systems and incorporating projected impacts into investment decisions. Current and projected risks need to be internalized into public and private sector financing.
• Pre-disaster planning and Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNAs) should include wider socio-economic impacts beyond damage and loss. This approach is more effective in ensuring socially transformative outcomes with long-term benefits for reducing poverty and inequality.

3. On the Final Considerations and The Way Forward:

• People are affected differently by disasters. This fact calls for a participatory and human rights-based approach to include all under a principle of “nothing about us without us” in disaster risk reduction planning and implementation. Therefore, investments in youth and young professionals should be enhanced to stimulate innovation and creative solutions. There should be a recommitment to community engagement and disaster risk reduction that is community-driven and child-centric and supports existing local structures and resilience building.

From our discussions at the exhibit, our three summary messages are:

1. In a context of increasing and cascading crises, including global conflicts, the ongoing COVID pandemic, and climate change, siloed solutions have limited impacts and a high potential for work duplication.

2. Collaboration is not always easy and relies on individual compromises to achieve a shared vision. Bringing comprehensive and meaningful climate risk analytics to the most vulnerable requires questioning our current methods, acknowledging our limitations, and leveraging the strengths of often-overlooked groups.

3. In combination with capacity building, transparency and open access are our best chance to empower local communities and risk managers with the knowledge and tools needed to develop effective strategies to enhance resilience.

If you missed one of our sessions from the exhibit, you can find the related videos at this link directing to the UNU-EHS website or check out our Material section on this website.

At the ECA Network, we believe that closing the gap in access to climate risk analytics is essential to close the adaptation gap. We also believe that we all have a role in empowering those at the forefront of climate change with the needed tools to address climate risk on their terms. We want to thank all who lend their voice and knowledge for the success of the Together for Adaptation exhibit at the GPDRR2022, and we look forward to future opportunities to bring these important messages higher on the priorities of the global adaptation agenda.
Until the next time!

On behalf of the ECA-Network