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The United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank and the World Resources Institute have released the World Resources Report 2010–2011: «Decision Making in a Changing Climate». The publication explores challenges and offers recommendations for national-level government officials to make informed and effective decisions to respond to the changing climate.

Executive summary

World Resources Report 2010–2011 «Decision Making in a Changing Climate»

Recent extreme weather events including floods, heat waves, and droughts present a vivid image of the direction the world is heading. As climate change intensifies, more events like these, combined with longer-term changes in the climate’s average state – including rising seas, melting glaciers, and shifting precipitation patterns – will have profound impacts on people, ecosystems and infrastructure. Together, these changes call for different approaches to planning and policymaking, enabling societies to adapt effectively to a much hotter tomorrow.

The World Resources Report 2010–2011: Decision Making in a Changing Climate is a major resource to help developing country national-level officials make decisions that support communities and economic sectors to become more climate resilient. Based on input from more than 100 experts in 36 countries, the report offers specific, practical strategies and innovative case studies to inform how to integrate climate change risks into national policies and planning. It also provides recommendations in five key public policy areas for developing country government officials and donor agencies: public engagement , decision-relevant information, institutional design, tools for planning and policymaking, and resources.

Produced by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank, and the World Resources Institute, WRR 2010–2011 is essential reading for policy makers, donors, and decision makers who must start now to prepare for a changing world.

According to the World Resources Institute, to build climate resilience, developing country national decision makers are required to integrate climate change risks into planning and policies in various sectors, including agriculture, electricity production, forestry and water management. Based on research and analysis, the World Resources Report focuses on climate change adaptation and decisions by national leaders with a focus on developing countries. It includes case studies from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mali, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa and Viet Nam.