The phrase “climate resilient development” has been a continual feature throughout my IPCC blog post series, as it’s a key strategy in fighting climate change. The first post of the series discussed how integral adaptation strategies are, even with the barriers of insufficient climate finance and lack of adequate global contribution. The second, focused on the vulnerability of cities, highlighting how efficient climate action can allow cities to combat climatic challenges. And this last post examines climate resilient development: What is it, and how to achieve it?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s second installment evaluates climate resilient development as a method to adapt to climate change impacts and reduce its harm. Climate Resilient Development is a solutions framework, suggested by the IPCC, that integrates unique strategies to adapt to climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that support sustainable development. Sustainable development is “… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” as stated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Implementation of successful climate resilient development means reducing exposure and vulnerability to a variety of climate hazards, especially in lower-income countries. By reducing these hazards, global communities safely protect and enhance natural and human systems, including urban development, infrastructure, health care systems, and more.
A single actor or action can not achieve climate resilient development. Collective decision making that integrates climate risk reduction, emission reductions, and sustainable development, however, can. Strategies that help achieve successful climate resilient development are the collaboration of diverse leaders and voices working alongside governmental bodies, civil society, and private industries to achieve said resiliency. It’s also necessary to emphasize the inclusion of local and Indigenous knowledge. The combination of their cultural information and experience provides a sharp insight into land conservation and environmental management.
The report also focuses on transformational adaptation – as a component of climate resilient development that shifts away from unsustainable trajectories. This concept combines adaptation, mitigation, and development strategies, working to achieve just transitions. A just transition is a unifying framework that includes every stakeholder, such as workers, employers, governments, communities, and civil society. While specifically uplifting Indigenous and Local knowledge that was left out of the conversation. Just transitions ensure that no part of society is left behind, demanding equitable climate action that secures human wellbeing, climate resilience, and economic stability for all.
However, there is no single way to conduct climate resilient development. There’s no preferred pathway or the best combination of adaptation and mitigation methodologies. Although this can be a challenge, climate resilient development has the powerful benefit of functioning uniquely in each country. The flexibility of this framework allows for implementing individual strategies that work best in that specific region based on environmental, financial, and resource factors.
Unfortunately, there are some limitations to climate resilient development, such as financial limitations, political barriers, and untimely action. These barriers hinder successful climate action. Untimely climate action, for example, allows the planet to continue warming where future climate resilient development will be more difficult. The IPCC states that there is a narrowing window for climate resilient development, as mitigation and adaptation strategies are already a difficult feat at current warming levels. If the planet exceeds 1.5℃ (2.7℉) development of resiliency will be more limited beyond 2℃ (3.6℉). And exceeding 2°C of warming will cause climate resilient development to become impossible in certain highly vulnerable regions, such as Small Island Nations.
Despite climate resilient development’s limitations and implementation difficulties, it’s a unique strategy that can be molded to function in various regions. Fair transitions created by proper climate resilient development are integral to achieving successful climate action that secures a livable future for everyone.
“The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner.