The Economics of Climate-Resilient Development

'An extremely timely book. The Paris Climate Agreement establishes a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. The book addresses the key question of how such a goal could be achieved by arguing that adaptation and resilience cannot be separated from ongoing and dynamic development processes. Its central theme is that more climate-resilient development pathways will only occur if climate risks are embedded into wider development, spatial planning, investment and poverty alleviation strategies. Although written from an economics perspective it draws on a wide range of literatures and experiences and is eminently readable. Indeed, it should be read not only by students of development and planning but also by practitioners, in both the public and private sectors, whose development choices will affect future vulnerabilities to climate change.'

- Dame Judith Rees, London School of Economics, UK

'The impacts of climate change can appear remote when compared with such immediate problems as poverty, disease and economic stagnation. Yet, climate change can directly affect the achievement of many development objectives. How development occurs also has implications for the vulnerability of societies to the impacts of climate change. In providing a ''deep dive'' into the nexus between adaptation to climate change and economic development this volume makes a valuable contribution to the literature. Furthermore, it also provides timely guidance to policy practitioners on how to make climate resilient development a reality.'

- Shardul Agrawala, OECD, France

Some climate change is now inevitable and strategies to adapt to these changes are quickly developing. The question is particularly paramount for low-income countries, which are likely to be most affected. This timely and unique book takes an integrated look at the twin challenges of climate change and development.

The book treats adaptation to climate change as an issue of climate-resilient development, rather than as a bespoke set of activities (flood defences, drought plans, and so on), combining climate and development challenges into a single strategy. It asks how the standard approaches to development need to change, and what socio-economic trends and urbanisation mean for the vulnerability of developing countries to climate risks. Combining conceptual thinking with practical policy prescriptions and experience the contributors argue that, to address these questions, climate risk has to be embedded fully into wider development strategies. This point of view is gaining in prominence in the development community; however, the contributors assert that a comprehensive analytical treatment is so far lacking.

This unique and innovative book will appeal to the development community, such as think tanks and aid agencies, as well as academics and those involved in climate change policy and development.

Contributors include: M. Bangalore, M. Bezabih, L. Bonzanigo, D. Castells-Quintana, H. Costa, M. del Pilar Lopez-Uribe, S. Dietz, C. Dixon, S. Fankhauser, M. Fay, J. Finnegan, G. Floater, S. Hallegatte, A. Hunt, T. Kane, S. Lovo, T. McDermott, C. McLaren, U. Narloch, J. Rozenberg, S. Surminski, D. Treguer, A. Vogt-Schilb, G. Singer, M. Waldinger, J. Ward, P. Watkiss