Why Infrastructure Must Shift from Disaster Recovery to Resilience in a High-Risk World
Asia and the Pacific face over US $170 billion in annual disaster losses as infrastructure built for past climates fails under modern risks. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) calls for a shift from post‑disaster rebuilding to proactive, climate‑resilient infrastructure. ADB urges governments to integrate climate risk into infrastructure policy and financing while expanding resilience bonds, blended finance, and adopting nature‑based solutions. It argues that resilient, risk‑informed design protects growth and stability, making infrastructure safer and more sustainable.
Malawi mobilizes government and community commitment to early warnings
Malawi is emerging as a model for climate‑vulnerable nations by uniting political leadership, communities, and international partners to strengthen early warning systems under the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative.
During a high‑level four‑day mission, officials launched the national Early Warnings for All Roadmap, aimed at improving coordination, sustainable financing, and community‑focused early action. Backed by a new US $3.84 million project with UNDP and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility, Malawi will expand its capacity to generate and share high‑quality weather data, closing long‑standing gaps in observation networks. Field visits in Zomba showcased how better forecasts, inclusive planning, and indigenous knowledge are already saving lives. Partners praised Malawi’s proactive approach as an example of progress toward universal, people‑centred early warning coverage.
Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu are among the Pacific countries most exposed to natural hazards, facing recurring climate-related and geophysical risks that threaten not only lives and infrastructure, but also the transmission and viability of living heritage. At the same time, the potential of intangible cultural heritage as a resource for education and resilience has remained largely underutilized in formal learning environments.
The joint UNESCO–ICHCAP project “Integration and Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Disaster Risk Reduction in Educational Approaches in the Pacific” was designed to respond to these challenges. The initiative aimed to bridge cultural safeguarding with education and disaster risk reduction frameworks, placing traditional knowledge and community practices at the centre of resilience-building.
Empowering a resilient future through innovative climate financing
As climate‑related disasters become more frequent and severe, developing countries are increasingly at risk of losing the development gains they have worked so hard to achieve. In this article, Dr Bapon Fakhruddin highlights how innovative financial instruments can shift disaster management from reactive response to proactive risk management.
The Green Climate Fund’s blended finance model — combining grants, low‑interest loans, guarantees, insurance, and equity — helps make resilience projects viable and appealing to private investors. Tools like parametric insurance and catastrophe bonds provide quick funding after disasters, easing fiscal pressure. By linking early warning systems, risk‑reduction measures, and financial protection, innovative climate finance helps countries save lives, keep essential services running, and support sustainable development in an increasingly fragile climate.
From coverage to protection: Putting a risk diagnostic to work in The Gambia
The Gambia is facing mounting risks from droughts and flash floods that threaten food security and displace communities. A new disaster risk diagnostic, developed with the Centre for Disaster Protection, is helping the government map financial vulnerabilities and link insurance payouts directly to community support. This work has already unlocked a USD 10 million World Bank grant to expand protection against floods and windstorms. This marks a major step toward shifting The Gambia from reactive disaster response to proactive, risk‑layered financial resilience.
Prepare or Repair: How climate-proofing public infrastructure pays off
As climate hazards intensify, Canada faces a critical choice: invest now in climate‑resilient infrastructure or pay far more later in damage and repair costs.
This landmark report quantifies how proactive adaptation—such as strengthening flood defences, retrofitting essential assets, and modernizing design standards—delivers major long‑term savings while safeguarding communities and economic stability. Through national data modelling and scenario analysis, it reveals that early investments of roughly $2.5 billion annually could prevent over $3 billion in damage each year by mid‑century. Beyond economics, the report underscores how climate‑proofed infrastructure strengthens public safety, reduces inequality in disaster impacts, and improves household well‑being.
Prepare or Repair argues that adapting early saves money later—making resilience a sound financial choice, not just an environmental one.
This study presents an innovative, data‑driven framework to help Malaysia’s coastal cities adapt to intensifying climate hazards such as erosion, flooding, & sea‑level rise.
Focusing on Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus, the study introduces the Coastal City Spatial Master Plan (CCSMP)—a tool that uses deep learning, GIS modelling, and multi‑criteria analysis to identify suitable areas for sustainable urban growth and reduce exposure to risk. The researchers found that nearly half of the region’s southern zones are low‑hazard and ideal for urban growth, whereas parts of the northern coastline face severe erosion and future inundation threats. By merging advanced modelling techniques with participatory planning, the study provides policymakers and planners with a repeatable methodology for designing climate‑resilient coastal cities and balancing urban expansion with environmental protection.
Beyond warnings and shelters: Local institutions and trust build cyclone resilience in Bangladesh
Tropical cyclones severely threaten coastal Bangladesh, making it crucial to understand how communities respond to preparedness and warning systems and how effectively local institutions reduce risk and support recovery.
Drawing on 279 household surveys, 28 focus group discussions, and 30 key informant interviews across seven coastal districts, the study finds traditional warning systems remain most effective, though digital and mass media show spatial gaps. Male-headed and farming households has 11-13 percentage points higher warning reach than female-headed and fishing households. Evacuation closely correlated with shelter quality, while fear, cost, and false-alarm fatigue deterred others. Damage was severe and uneven – crop losses 91% Barguna, fishing asset losses 95% in Patuakhali, housing damage 80% in Bhola.
The study calls for stronger infrastructure, inclusive communication, and accountable governance to build lasting resilience.
Germany – The Economic Case for Investing in Disaster Preparedness and Resilience : Summary Report
This report presents a compelling economic case for investing in disaster and emergency preparedness to strengthen Germany’s resilience against climate‑related and other future shocks. It helps policymakers identify and prioritize urgent, cost‑effective opportunities to enhance national preparedness and civil protection capacity.
The analysis highlights that resilience investments deliver strong economic and social benefits, even when disasters do not occur. As risks evolve, ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement of protection systems are essential. Evidence from across Europe shows that such investments consistently yield high returns, with benefit‑cost ratios (BCRs) of €2–10 per €1 invested.
In Germany, every €1 spent on preparedness and prevention generates a median economic return of €2–6, with some individual cases reaching as high as €500—making proactive resilience investment both a prudent and profitable strategy.
Glacier Adaptation and Financing Webinar
As the world marks 2025 as the “Year of the Glacier,” this webinar will explore how innovative financing and data‑driven strategies can accelerate global efforts to adapt to glacier retreat and protect vulnerable communities. Glaciers are vital for water security, ecosystems, and livelihoods, yet their rapid decline due to climate change is intensifying water scarcity risks and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The session will highlight the role of comprehensive climate data, cross‑border collaboration, and inclusive, community‑centred approaches in building long‑term resilience. Speakers will share diverse perspectives and experiences on financing mechanisms, policy innovation, and regional climate knowledge platforms that can help safeguard the cryosphere and strengthen adaptation capacity worldwide.
Date and time: 3 March 2026, 9:00 am – 9:45 am CEST
Urban Agglomerations: Presenting a New Prototype
This webinar will present a new prototype developed to create urban agglomerations using the degree of urbanisation. Urban agglomerations—cities or towns and their contiguous suburbs—provide a more accurate picture of labour and housing markets than single urban centres. They are also critical for tracking urban expansion, density changes, and shaping effective transport and land‑use policies.
Date and time: Friday, 27 February 2026, 13:00 – 14:30 (CET)
Humanitarian Finance Summit 2026 – Financing the Future of Humanitarian Action
Building on global discussions around climate resilience and innovative financing, the 2026 Humanitarian Finance Summit will convene in London to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time – the urgent reform of humanitarian financing. As traditional donor models falter and international cooperation faces new strains, the Summit will bring together leaders from across public, private, and philanthropic sectors to reimagine how humanitarian action can be sustained and scaled in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Under the theme “Financing the Future of Humanitarian Action,” the event will explore equitable partnerships, locally driven solutions, and new financial instruments that connect humanitarian aid to broader capital markets. Sessions will delve into pre‑arranged finance, insurance‑linked instruments, impact bonds, and catalytic donor capital—all aimed at translating innovative concepts into real, deployable resources for crisis response.
Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2026
Returning to Cape Town from 24 – 27 February 2026, Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) serves as the continent’s premier dealmaking platform connecting global capital with high‑impact, investment‑ready projects across the green and blue economy. Designed as a catalyst for sustainable growth, innovation, and inclusion, AGES 2026 will showcase opportunities spanning renewable energy, transport, water, waste, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, the blue economy, and climate technologies.
This year’s summit will feature 50+ investment‑ready projects presented across two dedicated pitch stages, alongside curated investor matchmaking, roundtables, and deal rooms engaging DFIs, venture capital, banks, and asset managers. With a strong focus on nature‑based finance and biodiversity markets, the event highlights Africa’s leadership in green solutions while offering immersive site visits and exclusive networking initiatives across Cape Town’s sustainability landscape.
Date and location: 24 – 27 February 2026, Cape Town, South Africa
WWRP Weather and Society Conference 2026
Extreme hydrometeorological events affect society, economies and the environment as never before in human history. Government agencies, science and decision makers face an unprecedented extreme event management challenge to reduce risks to citizens.
The World Weather Research Programme’s Working Group on Societal and Economic Research Applications (SERA) will host the 3rd “Weather and Society” Conference. The event brings together leading researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore the critical intersection of meteorological science and societal applications.
Date (Europe/ London): 23 Feb 2026 – 27 Feb 2026
Global Ocean Oxygen Network (GO2NE) 43rd webinar on ocean deoxygenation
Please join the Global Ocean Oxygen Network (IOC Expert Working Group GO2NE) on 18 February for the latest session of its webinar series on ocean deoxygenation.
The webinar will feature presentations by two ocean oxygen scientists, followed by moderated discussion sessions. Speakers will discuss the latest globally relevant ocean oxygen research in the context of their fields of research and expertise. The series is moderated by GO2NE working group members and guest experts.
Date and time: 18 February 2026, 15:00 – 16:00 UTC
