How does Europe link DRR and CCA?

This report examines key findings of a survey carried out among European countries on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in order to get an overview to which extent, and how, member countries of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR) link these two issues. It examines key findings of the survey, and provides the basis for policy discussions and suggestions to the EFDRR towards its work on climate change adaptation. Furthermore, it provides relevant scientific background information to be taken in consideration by practitioners when implementing DRR and CCA projects.

The initial findings of the survey were presented at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the EFDRR in Dubrovnik, Croatia, October 2012, and the discussion confirmed the interest of the participants to go beyond a simple survey. The report shows that, in spite of those gaps, strong links have already been established in many countries not only as principles in policy development but also in actual implementation of DRR efforts at various levels. That convergence is in particular illustrated through examples from Poland, Norway and France on how to link in practical terms efforts in DRR with CCA, a need that is highlighted by the EU Adaption Strategy, adopted by the European Commission on April 2013.

The report is intended to be used to promote stronger links between CCA and DRR not only through integration of CCA components in regional and national strategies for disaster risk reduction but also through integration of DRR measures into climate change adaptation strategies, and to be considered as a contribution to the post 2015 of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA2) on-going discussions and as useful background information for other regional or global initiatives on linking disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.