The COVID-19 pandemic had claimed well over two million lives at the time of writing. Countless millions of livelihoods have also been put on hold or permanently destroyed. For the first time since 1990, we have seen an increase in the number of people living in extreme poverty, amplifying already high levels of inequality. Despite many scientific warnings and earlier disease outbreaks, the level of preparedness for the pandemic was inadequate. This is a wake-up call to governments and others in positions of power on the urgent need to act also on the increasingly well-understood risks associated with climate change. The growing number of countries committing to net-zero emission targets by mid-century is encouraging. Even if achieved, these targets must be complemented by a focus on strengthened societal and economic resilience to the impacts of climate change that will occur, also if the global average temperature increase is limited to the goal of the Paris Agreement.

Strengthening Climate Resilience: Guidance for Governments and Development Co-operationaims to support governments of developing countries and providers of development co-operation in strengthening the resilience of human and natural systems to the impacts of climate change. It highlights actions to be considered by different stakeholders across levels of governance, including government officials at national and sub-national levels, and providers of development co-operation. It may also provide insights to other development partners, including civil society organisations (CSOs) and private-sector actors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of human systems and the fragility of society to systemic shocks, providing a stark reminder of the importance of building resilience into development pathways. Despite continuous warnings from scientists on the risk of a global pandemic, the level of preparedness for the COVID-19 crisis was inadequate. The same can hold true for the known risks associated with climate change.

This chapter positions the Guidance within the current development and climate context and outlines the objectives, target audience and structure. It introduces three overall aspirations for consideration when planning and implementing action on climate resilience; four mechanisms that can facilitate a focus on climate resilience in national and sub-national policy processes; and three enablers for strengthening climate resilience.

This chapter first situates the discussion on climate resilience within broader sustainable development. It then positions the discussion within the broader notion of resilience of systems to cope with hazardous events, trends or disturbances. It identifies global commitments including the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, that recognise the importance of enhanced resilience across sectors and scales. Finally, it highlights three aspirations that governments and providers of development co-operation should consider when developing and implementing climate resilience measures: i) country ownership; ii) inclusive approaches; and iii) environmental and social sustainability.

This chapter presents four mechanisms that provide opportunities for governments and development co-operation providers to integrate climate resilience considerations into their decision making and implementation of actions. These mechanisms are: i) multi-level governance and policy cycles; ii) sector-level approaches; iii) financial management and instruments; and iv) monitoring, evaluation and learning. Each mechanism provides a checklist for action, rationale for the importance of the mechanism, recommended actions and references to tools and guides.

This chapter explores three enablers that play a critical role in strengthening climate resilience through checklists, tools and guidance. It begins with data and information, examining the role of regional and international weather and climate service initiatives, as well as National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. It moves on to the need for greater awareness and capacity at both individual, organisational and systemic levels. Several examples highlight the role of different stakeholders in strengthening capacity, as well as pilot projects by development co‑operation providers that focus on long-term sustainability. The final enabler of technology highlights the different steps to develop and disseminate technology to strengthen climate resilience; the economic and non-economic barriers that prevent these steps; and the institutional arrangements and networks that could help overcome obstacles.