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Legend: Evacuation drills are crucial for testing early warning systems. In October 2023, UNDRR supported the Government of Tonga in conducting a tsunami drill with the Legend: UNDRR consultation with community members in Fiji in 2023 to develop an inclusive early warning systems checklist, ensuring that disaster risk reduction efforts
participation of several schools in Nuku’alofa. © UNDRR are gender-responsive and disability-inclusive.

Building Resilience Together: Climate and strengthen governance and institutional frameworks that benefit Catalyzing Technical Assistance
over a million people.
The Santiago Network for Loss and Damage, hosted by
Crucially, early warnings must lead to early action. Anticipatory
Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific action frameworks, which pre-arrange financing and plans UNDRR and UNOPS, is poised to play a critical role in helping
developing countries reduce climate and disaster risks. Its
triggered by specific hazard forecasts, are increasingly being
adopted in the Pacific, supported by UNDRR and its partners. operational guidelines, introduced in the Pacific in 2024, provide
As global debates on climate finance, loss and damage and disaster risk reduction, especially across sectors. At the Pacific Countries like Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands are a roadmap for accessing technical assistance to avert, minimize,
urgent climate action continued at the COP29 Climate Talks, the Resilience Week 2024, government officials identified gaps in advancing and institutionalizing these frameworks to ensure and address loss and damage.
Pacific region remains on the frontlines of climate change. For data availability and accessibility, particularly on slow-onset timely, lifesaving interventions before disasters strike. As the Network becomes fully operational, Pacific governments
Pacific communities, climate change is not a distant threat — it events and non-economic losses, overlapping mandates, and will have greater opportunities to access expertise and resources
is a daily reality. fragmented financing as barriers to implementation. UNDRR is Challenges and Opportunities of Financing Resilience tailored to their specific challenges, further strengthening
With the world off course to meet resilience targets by 2030, the committed to addressing these issues by supporting countries in Effective financing is the linchpin of resilience and at the same resilience at all levels.
stakes are high. Between 2014 and 2023, disasters claimed an strengthening disaster loss and damage tracking, improving risk time one of the major shortcomings identified in the midterm
average of 41,000 lives annually, with 125 million people affected governance frameworks and developing integrated NAPs and review of the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction, the A Call to Action
each year — a 71% increase from the previous decade. Economic disaster risk reduction strategies. Sendai Framework. The Pacific is more than a region on the frontlines of climate
cost of disasters also remained stubbornly high with $131 billion “The Pacific’s leadership on coherent planning is widely Access to the global climate financing architecture has not been change. From pioneering integrated risk management to
annually, or 0.3% of global GDP, with small island developing acclaimed globally,” said Gabrielle Emery, Head of the UNDRR fit for purpose for the Pacific, and while changes are happening advancing early warning systems and anticipatory action, and
states like those in the Pacific bearing a disproportionate share. Pacific Office. “The region now has an opportunity to build on this slowly, it is a good sign that the region is finding its own locally creating locally led financing mechanisms, Pacific countries are
Yet, hope lies in action — and the Pacific has solutions. The to make the best use of scarce resources and ensure long-term led solutions. The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), endorsed in leading by example.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) resilience.” 2023, exemplifies Pacific ingenuity. As the first financial institution The urgency of strengthening disaster resilience in the Pacific
continues to support governments in the Pacific to accelerate owned by Pacific governments, the PRF is designed to fund cannot be overstated. As we confront the escalating impacts of
both climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, Strengthening Early Warning Systems as a Lifeline for community-level resilience projects. By 2026, it aims to become a climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of
addressing challenges while leveraging local strengths. Resilience sustainable mechanism for addressing the region’s unique needs. disasters, the time to act is now.
As Pacific countries strive for comprehensive risk reduction, In addition to innovative financing instruments like the PRF, “Investing in resilience is an investment in the safety,
Integrated Solutions Linking Climate Action, Disaster Risk one critical element consistently emerges as a key tool for optimizing domestic resources and ensuring dedicated funding sustainability and future prosperity of the Pacific. By focusing on
Reduction and Development adapting to climate change: early warning systems. They save within national and sub-national budgets are essential for climate inclusive, locally led approaches and ensuring that resources
Climate and disaster risks are diverse but closely linked, and lives, ensure that communities are better prepared to act before and disaster risk reduction investments. The private sector can — both financial and technical — are mobilized efficiently, the
effective risk management requires a comprehensive approach. hazards escalate into disasters and can yield up to a 20 times also play a pivotal role, not only by securing business continuity region can build a future that is better prepared, more resilient,
In the Pacific, this approach is not just theory but practice. return on investment through avoided losses. but also by fostering innovation and investing in climate change and capable of weathering the challenges ahead,” said Gabrielle
Integrated planning is embodied in frameworks such as the In the Pacific, initiatives like Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) adaptation and resilient supply chains. Emery of UNDRR.
Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) and exemplify regional leadership in preparing for extreme weather As financing mechanisms evolve to support resilience in the UNDRR remains a steadfast partner, supporting governments
the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. At the national events. UNDRR supports WRP through the UN Secretary- Pacific, it is equally important to ensure that countries have the with expertise, tools and advocacy to build a safer and more
level, countries like Kiribati and Tonga have embraced this vision General’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, with a focus technical expertise and support needed to effectively implement resilient future. As we navigate the challenges of climate change
by developing integrated National Adaptation Plans (NAP), which to ensure that its scope covers all components of a multi-hazard these investments. This is where the role of targeted technical together, the Pacific’s voice must continue to be heard loud and
identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs under the early warning system and warning messages reach everyone assistance becomes critical. clear.
UNFCCC adaptation agenda. across all Pacific Islands. This includes prioritizing gender
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said equality, disability inclusion, and women’s leadership to ensure

during his visit to the Pacific in 2024, “The world has much to that early warning systems are inclusive and accessible, leaving The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has a sub-regional office for the

learn from the Pacific, and the world must step up to support your no one behind. Pacific in Suva, Fiji. For further information, please contact undrr-ap@un.org. Find out more about the
initiatives.” UNDRR has also been supporting countries in the Pacific work of UNDRR at www.undrr.org.
Despite progress, significant challenges persist in through the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS)
implementing holistic approaches linking climate change and financial mechanism to build early warning system capacity and

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