KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Experts during a panel discussion organized at the World Social Forum on Saturday emphasized the importance of integrating anticipatory disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) approaches with climate science to protect more lives from climatic disasters.

The event, organized in Kathmandu by Pakistan’s leading think tank, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), and Pakistan’s Oxfam, brought together speakers who highlighted the increasing incidence of climatic hazards and disasters, leading communities into vulnerability and causing losses and damages.

Climate justice expert Harjeet Singh, renowned globally, emphasized that temperatures play a crucial role in climate change. He called for a comprehensive analysis of climate science to better adapt and prepare communities against climatic hazards and disasters. Singh urged the humanitarian sector to consider future warming levels and slow-onset disasters when designing programs.

While communities are aware of the impacts of climate change, such as glacier melting, change in cropping patterns, and water availability, they often lack an understanding of why these changes are happening. Singh stressed that science provides the answer – 'why'. As climate change creates new pockets of poverty with increased marginalization, he advocated for nature-based solutions for adaptation and urged the integration of humanitarian approaches with science.

Dr. Shafqat Munir, deputy executive director of SDPI, emphasized the increasing risk posed to cities and towns by climatic hazards. He called for risk-sensitive urban planning, incorporating both Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) strategies. Munir highlighted the importance of preparedness and anticipatory DRR approaches to better equip vulnerable communities at the local level, urging the localization of DRR-CCA strategies for enhanced life-saving capabilities. He also stressed the need for urgent collective action to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for DRR.

Jermaine, Oxfam’s regional humanitarian coordinator from the Philippines, emphasized the need for a balanced approach in effective climate action, considering both adaptation and mitigation efforts. He called for equity, rights, and justice in line with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework, prioritizing fairness and equitable adaptation strategies. Referring to Cyclone Hayan in 2013, Jermaine highlighted the importance of clear early warning messaging and community training on DRR to enhance preparedness.

Saira Falak, programme manager at ARTS Foundation in Pakistan, shared insights into the losses and damages experienced during the 2022 floods. She particularly highlighted the plight of women and girls, emphasizing the loss of livelihoods during emergencies, leading to increased poverty. Falak stressed the importance of building women's capacity on disaster risks and preparedness, addressing non-traditional losses that impact both people and the economy significantly.

 
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