Managing climate risks through social protection

Abstract

This report shows that managing climate risks through social protection is a valid and effective investment to safeguard the livelihoods of small-scale producers and strengthen their essential role in ensuring food security across the globe. Climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of extreme natural hazards and those living in rural areas are disproportionately affected. Life in high-risk geographical locations, heavy reliance on agriculture and natural resources, limited coping capacity as a result of low incomes, lack of savings, weak social networks, and low asset bases are all contributing factors. This paper argues that, given the imminent challenges climate change poses for poverty reduction and sustainable development, the need for coherent and integrated climate risk management approaches addressing the underlying causes of vulnerability – as well as increasing the ability of the rural poor to adapt to and cope with natural hazards ? has never been more pressing.