Water is the primary medium through which climate change influences the Earth’s ecosystems and therefore people’s livelihoods and wellbeing. Besides climatic change, current demographic trends, economic development and related land use changes have direct impact on increasing demand for freshwater resources. Taken together, the net effect of...

The Asia‐Pacific is the world’s most vulnerable region when it comes to natural disasters, and yet scant information exists about how regional Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) are carried out. This report focuses on DRR and CCA efforts undertaken at the...

Based on strategic research carried out at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), this paper is a summary of current climate change policies in Asia-Pacific. It explains why it is necessary to integrate climate change and sustainable development in Asia and how this might...

Global scientific consensus indicates that all of Asia is very likely to warm during this century and it is here that the human drama of climate change will largely be played out. This report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development describes in...

This report is based on the second round of ‘The Asia-Pacific Consultations on Climate Regime Beyond 2012’ in 2006 on specific issues of high priority to the region. These include energy security and development; clean development mechanisms; technology development and transfer, and adaptation to climate...

With a focus on Asia, this paper looks at climate change, particularly in terms of pro-poor adaptation, risk management, and mitigation strategies. It also discusses what can be done from an international perspective in moving forward the fight against climate change.  Developing countries, such as...

This report is organized into three themes. Within each theme, the risks and key challenges are identified, as are adaptation actions that have been initiated. It summarizes those activities, and highlights opportunities to further enhance the Australian urban water industries’ preparedness for both current and...

A new report from the Institute of Development Studies and ActionAid provides practical tips, advice and guidance on the process of mainstreaming climate change adaptation (CCA) into disaster risk reduction (DRR). Written primarily for practitioners, policymakers, programme staff and management working in the DRR sector, Harnessing Synergies draws on...

An aim of government and the international community is to respond to global processes and crises through a range of policy and practical approaches that help limit damage from shocks and stresses. Three approaches to vulnerability reduction that have become particularly prominent in recent years...

Projections suggest that, by the end of the 21st century, climate change could have had substantial impact on agricultural production and thence on the scope for reducing poverty. This paper seeks to trace the likely impacts through changes in the quality of the physical asset...