## CLIMATE CHANGE: RESILIENCE BUILDING

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [CLIMATE CHANGE: RESILIENCE BUILDING](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/resilience-building)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/topics/climate-change/resilience-building/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/topics/climate-change/resilience-building/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/topics/climate-change/resilience-building/bundle-manifest.json)

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### Overview
- IMF staff are integrating the risks of climate change damages and natural disasters, along with the finance needed for mitigation and adaptation strategies, into their work with countries.
- Analysis of appropriate adaptation policies must be inherently local and customized to the evolving climate impact on specific regions or sectors, including resilience-building strategies to help prepare for and rebound from disasters.
- Developing country governments can face very large adaptation costs; the need for growth-enhancing scaled up infrastructure provides an opportunity for climate-resilient, low-carbon infrastructure spending.
- Management of adaptation spending, and of financial assistance for it, should be undertaken within a medium-term financial framework consistent with available resources, macro-stability, and debt sustainability.

### Economic impacts and statistics
- In some countries, disaster-related economic losses have exceeded 200 percent of GDP (example cited when Hurricane Maria struck Dominica in 2017).
- The damage from the 2011 floods in Thailand amounted to around 10 percent of Thailand’s GDP.
- By some estimates, the total costs of the 2018 wildfires in California were up to $350 billion, or 1.7 percent of U.S. GDP.
- Over the past decade, direct damages from climatic disasters are estimated to add up to around US$ 1.3 trillion (or around 0.2% of world GDP on average, per year).

### Policy and fiscal frameworks
- Adaptation and resilience-building should be integrated into medium-term financial frameworks to ensure consistency with available resources, macro-stability, and debt sustainability.
- There is an opportunity to align growth-enhancing infrastructure investment with climate-resilient, low-carbon objectives.
- IMF engagement recognizes policy trade-offs in building resilience to natural disasters and the need to strengthen fiscal frameworks and improve the spending mix, particularly in small and vulnerable states.
- Enhancing financial safety nets and tailored IMF support mechanisms for developing countries vulnerable to large natural disasters are part of the institutional response.

### Assessment tools and institutional mechanisms
- The Climate-Climate Public Assessment (CCPA) is a joint IMF-World Bank assessment introduced on a pilot basis in 2017 that provides an overarching assessment of countries’ climate strategies as articulated in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other government documents.
- CCPAs are intended to help countries build coherent macro-frameworks for responding to climate change, which could improve prospects for attracting external finance and put future revisions to NDCs on a sound footing.

### Key messages and recommendations
- Adaptation policies must be locally customized to the evolving climate impacts on specific regions or sectors.
- Scale up climate-resilient, low-carbon infrastructure as part of growth-enhancing investment plans.
- Manage adaptation spending within medium-term financial frameworks that preserve macro-stability and debt sustainability.
- Use joint assessments like the CCPA to align national climate strategies with macro-fiscal planning and to improve prospects for external finance.

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Natural Disasters in Seychelles**
  - [Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Natural Disasters in Seychelles (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2017/cr17161.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Natural Disasters in Seychelles (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2017/cr17161.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Loss of Correspondent Banking Relationships in the Caribbean: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Options**
  - [Loss of Correspondent Banking Relationships in the Caribbean: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Options (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2017/wp17209.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Loss of Correspondent Banking Relationships in the Caribbean: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Options (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2017/wp17209.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Building Resilience to Natural Disasters: An Application to Small Developing States**
  - [Building Resilience to Natural Disasters: An Application to Small Developing States (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2017/wp17223.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Building Resilience to Natural Disasters: An Application to Small Developing States (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2017/wp17223.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Macro-fiscal Implications of Climate Change: The Case of Djibouti**
  - [Macro-fiscal Implications of Climate Change: The Case of Djibouti (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2018/wp18233.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Macro-fiscal Implications of Climate Change: The Case of Djibouti (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2018/wp18233.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- [Proposal to Enhance Fund Support for Low-Income Countries Hit by Public Health Disasters (PDF)](/external/np/pp/eng/2015/012215.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- [Macroeconomic Developments and Selected Issues in Small Developing States (PDF)](/external/np/pp/eng/2015/030915.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- [Small States’ Resilience Building to Natural Disasters and Climate Change—Role for the IMF (PDF)](/external/np/pp/eng/2016/110416.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

## References

- [Green Recovery](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/green-recovery)
- [Green Finance](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/green-finance)
- [Climate and the Economy](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/climate-and-the-economy)
- [Fossil Fuel Subsidies](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/energy-subsidies)
- [Mitigation](https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/climate-mitigation)
- [World Economic Outlook](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo)
- [Global Economy in Crosscurrents of War and Technology](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/07/08/world-economic-outlook-update-july-2026)
- [Global Financial Stability Report](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr)
- [Global Financial Markets Confront the War in the Middle East and Amplification Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr/issues/2026/04/14/global-financial-stability-report-april-2026)
- [Fiscal Monitor](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fm)
- [Fiscal Policy under Pressure: High Debt, Rising Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fm/issues/2026/04/15/fiscal-monitor-april-2026)
- [Regional Economic Outlook Reports, All Regions](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo)
- [Asia and Pacific](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/apac)
- [Europe](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/eu)
- [Middle East and Central Asia](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/meca)
- [Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/ssa)
- [Western Hemisphere](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/wh)
- [IMF Annual Report 2025](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/areb)
- [Getting to Growth in an Age of Uncertainty](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/areb/issues/2025/09/24/annual-report-2025)
- [More Publications](https://www.imf.org/en/publications)
- [Tonga](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2020/06/30/Tonga-Technical-Assistance-Report-Climate-Change-Policy-Assessment-49537)
- [Grenada](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/07/01/Grenada-Climate-Change-Policy-Assessment-47062)
- [Micronesia](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/09/06/Federated-States-of-Micronesia-Climate-Change-Policy-Assessment-48665)
- [St. Lucia](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/06/21/St-46007)
- [Belize](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/11/16/Belize-Climate-Change-Policy-Assessment-46372)
- [Seychelles](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2017/06/20/Seychelles-Climate-Change-Policy-Assessment-44997)
- [Building Resilience in Developing Countries Vulnerable to Large Natural Disasters (2019)](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2019/06/24/Building-Resilience-in-Developing-Countries-Vulnerable-to-Large-Natural-Disasters-47020)
- [Policy Trade-Offs in Building Resilience to Natural Disasters](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2019/03/08/Policy-Trade-Offs-in-Building-Resilience-to-Natural-Disasters-The-Case-of-St-46656)
- [The Economic Impact of Natural Disasters in Pacific Island Countries: Adaptation and Preparedness](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2018/05/10/The-Economic-Impact-of-Natural-Disasters-in-Pacific-Island-Countries-Adaptation-and-45826)
- [Self-insurance Against Natural Disasters: The Use of Pension Funds in Pacific Island Countries](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2018/07/06/Self-insurance-Against-Natural-Disasters-The-Use-of-Pension-Funds-in-Pacific-Island-Countries-45972)
- [Public investment in the face of natural disasters: a model application to Solomon Islands](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/03/08/Solomon-Islands-Selected-Issues-45710)
- [Policy Trade-Offs in Building Resilience to Natural Disasters](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/06/20/St-Lucia-2018-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-Statement-by-the-46003)
- [Staff Guidance Note on the Fund’s Engagement with Small Developing States](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2018/01/26/pp121117-2017-staff-guidance-note-on-the-funds-engagement-with-small-developing-states)
- [The Macro-Fiscal Aftermath of Weather-Related Disasters: Do Loss Dimensions Matter?](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2017/11/08/The-Macro-Fiscal-Aftermath-of-Weather-Related-Disasters-Do-Loss-Dimensions-Matter-45296)
- [Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? Issues in Managing Water Challenges and Policy Instruments](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Staff-Discussion-Notes/Issues/2016/12/31/Is-the-Glass-Half-Empty-Or-Half-Full-Issues-in-Managing-Water-Challenges-and-Policy-42938)
- [Enhancing Macroeconomic Resilience to Natural Disasters and Climate Change in Small States of the Pacific](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2016/12/31/Enhancing-Macroeconomic-Resilience-to-Natural-Disasters-and-Climate-Change-in-the-Small-43010)
- [2018-19 Review of Facilities for Low-Income Countries—reform Proposals](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2019/06/06/2018-19-Review-of-Facilities-for-Low-Income-Countries-Reform-Proposals-Supplementary-46970)
- [Managing Director Georgieva’s Closing Remarks EU Environment Ministers Videoconference](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/07/13/sp071320-managing-director-georgievas-closing-remarks-eu-environment-ministers-videoconference)
- [Introductory Remarks DMD Zhang—Virtual High-Level Dialogue of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC)](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/06/22/sp062220-introductory-remarks)
- [DMD Zhang Opening Remarks— COVID-19: Opportunities for a Green Recovery](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/05/22/sp052220-opening-remark-zhang)
- [A Delicate Moment for the Global Economy: Three Priority Areas for Action](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2019/03/29/sp040219-a-delicate-moment-for-the-global-economy)
- [Stress-Testing for the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy,](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2019/04/10/sp04102019-stress-testing-for-the-transition-to-a-low-carbon-economy)
- [Opening Remarks by Christine Lagarde at the 2018 High Leve Conference on Building Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/11/26/sp112618-opening-remarks-by-christine-lagarde)
- [Keynote Address at Secretary-General’s High-Level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/09/24/sp092418-keynote-address-at-secretary-general-s-high-level-meeting)
- [Adapting to Climate Change: Pricing Right, Taxing Smart, and Acting Now](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/01/31/sp013118-adapting-to-climate-change-pricing-right-taxing-smart-and-acting-now)
- [2017 High Level Caribbean Forum: Unleashing Growth and Strengthening Resilience](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2017/11/16/sp-111617-md-opening-remarks-at-the-2017-high-level-caribbean-forum)
- [Global and Regional Challenges to Caribbean Economic Development—2016 High Level Caribbean Forum on Shifting Tides: Challenges and Opportunities](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2016/11/02/sp110216-Global-and-Regional-Challenges-to-Caribbean-Economic-Development)
- [The Caribbean Response to the Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2016/10/28/SP102816-The-Caribbean-Response-to-the-Withdrawal-of-Correspondent-Banking)
- [Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on the Catastrophic Containment and Relief Trust](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2015/09/28/04/53/sp020515)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/resilience-building_