19 March 2018: One element of successful SDG implementation is identifying and exploring workable synergies among global, regional and national environmental regimes. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has issued a public consultation version of an implementation guide for local resilience strategies, which also help implement the SDGs. The Global Resilience Partnership and research partners have published a policy brief on the role of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in building resilience to floods in Viet Nam. A report by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)-UK explores climate change impacts on biodiversity.

UNISDR “Words into Action Guidelines” titled, ‘Implementation guide for local disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies,’ seeks to contribute to implementation of target E of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which is to substantially increase the number of countries with national and local DRR strategies by 2020. Recognizing that DRR through disaster risk management (DRM) should be mainstreamed into sustainable development, the guide cautions that disaster risks increase due to lack of urban planning and land use management, environmental degradation, poverty, inequality, vulnerable livelihoods and fragile governance systems. According to the report, these underlying risk factors represent a challenge for achieving the SDGs. Those who wish to provide feedback on the implementation guide can complete a survey here. [Implementation Guide for Local DRR and Resilience Strategies] [Publication Landing Page] [UNISDR Press Release] [Sendai Framework for DRR]

The WWF-UK report calls for concerted global response to center on four things: cutting global GHG emissions; factoring climate change in conservation planning; further research; and awareness raising.

A policy brief titled, ‘Ecosystem-based adaptation to increase flood resilience of vulnerable people: Evidence from Central Vietnam,’ describes the use of EbA as a tool for strengthening flood resilience in Viet Nam. Using biodiversity and ecosystem services in an overall adaptation strategy, EbA “includes the sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that help people adapt to the adverse effects of natural disasters and climate change.” EbA measures outlined in the report will help achieve SDGs 5 (gender equality), 10 (reduced inequalities) and 13 (climate action). [EbA to Increase Flood Resilience of Vulnerable People: Evidence from Central Vietnam] [Publication Landing Page]

A WWF-UK report titled, ‘Wildlife in a Warming World: The Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity in WWF’s Priority Places,’ analyzes the projected impacts of warming scenarios on species groups in 35 “Priority Places” for conservation. It identifies several key themes, including that: today’s extremes are tomorrow’s new normal; stronger climate mitigation efforts are needed to avoid severe loss of biodiversity; even a 2°C rise will lead to widespread biodiversity losses; dispersal can make a massive difference; and conservation efforts are crucial. The report calls for concerted global response to center on four things: cutting global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; factoring climate change in conservation planning; further research; and awareness raising. [Wildlife in a Warming World: Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity in WWF’s Priority Places] [Publication Landing Page]

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The SDG Knowledge Hub publishes regular adaptation and loss and damage updates that can be found under the tag Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update.