Progress and Challenges Toward Coherence Among Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Sustainable Development

In 2023, which marked the midpoint of the post-2015 global agendas, the findings of midterm review process of the Sendai Framework (MTR SF) were presented. Various data demonstrate that hydro-meteorological disasters, presumably exacerbated by climate change, are increasing in frequency and intensity and causing widespread adverse impacts and associated losses, which calls for coherence among disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation, and sustainable development. This article provides findings and recommendations through an analysis of publicly available data and reports, including monitoring for the Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals as well as the MTR SF. The main findings in the MTR SF are that countries focus primarily on short- to mid-term adjustments rather than on long-term structural transformation and that policies and measures to reduce exposure are less well described. Recommendations include (i) the development of a national disaster loss database to collect data on both large- and small-scale and slow-onset disasters; (ii) the implementation of “custom indicators” to supplement the Sendai Framework Monitoring (SFM) by utilizing available loss data collection and exceptional governance measures in the case of high-impact disasters; (iii) the employment of common metrics with the SFM at the national level for climate change statistics and indicators to promote integrated data collection and coherence; (iv) the introduction of new indicators to measure and verify implementation; and (v) formulation and elaboration of a long-term comprehensive national strategy that goes beyond national DRR strategies to integrate DRR-related sectoral policies in support of relevant stakeholders, underpinned by secured resources and adaptive governance with monitoring and evaluation to enable a transformation toward more resilient and sustainable future.