The Stimson Center Environmental Security program will conduct a climate risk assessment in Toamasina, Madagascar as part of a $1 million State Department financing package dedicated to increasing the climate resilience of coastal cities. The project was announced yesterday at COP27 by Monica Medina, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources at a Stimson-hosted event.
CORVI is a data-driven decision support tool for local leaders who need to make smart climate investments to improve the safety and security of coastal cities. The tool uses nearly 100 ecological, financial, and social risk indicators to produce a holistic coastal city risk profile with evidence-based local-level data and concrete recommendations for action. The Madagascar project is the 12th CORVI assessment to be completed since the tool was launched in 2018. It has been used in 11 countries on 4 continents to help coastal cities understand and address their climate risk.
Learn more about CORVI: https://www.stimson.org/project/corvi/
Madagascar is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing a high risk of extreme weather events, including cyclones, floods, and severe drought. The country has suffered 5 cyclones alone in the past year. Together these hazards have cost the country over $1 billion in damages in the last 20 years and undermined the country’s water supply, sanitary systems, health systems, food security, and infrastructure. Toamasina, Madagascar’s second-largest city with the country’s largest port, is heavily reliant on the blue economy and absorbs most of the country’s climate-related economic losses. In addition to declining water supply and a vulnerable waste and sanitation system, the city is vulnerable to increased flooding impacting the infrastructure, electricity, and health of a rapidly growing population.
“Small island states and coastal communities are on the front lines of the climate crisis, and there is much to be done to ensure that coastal and island communities have the tools they need to build climate resilience, including through expanded access to climate data and early warning systems,” said Assistant Secretary of State Medina. “The CORVI tool is an excellent example of how to bridge the gap between data and decision-making. Today at COP27, I was pleased to announce that the United States, through ORRAA, will support a full CORVI risk profile assessment in Toamasina, an important commercial hub that is vital to the economic security of Madagascar. The United States recognizes the importance of a global, coordinated approach to reckoning with the climate crisis, and we are going to meet the challenges before us to ensure that all communities have the resources, they need to adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
The Malagasy Government recently created a Ministry of Blue Economy and is developing a robust sustainable ocean policy, including improving the climate resilience of its blue economy sectors. The Ministry has welcomed CORVI and will support this project to adapt and strengthen the country’s climate resilience.
Director General of the Blue Economy of Madagascar, Rado Rakotosoa said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, we are pleased to collaborate with the Stimson Center to contribute to the promotion of the blue economy in Madagascar. Our Ministry looks forward to working with the Stimson Center on this very important CORVI project to help build the blue economy and increase coastal and climate resilience in Madagascar, more precisely in Toamasina and its surrounding area. We expect a fruitful and successful collaboration between our Ministry and your Center.
Director of the Environmental Security Program at the Stimson Center, Sally Yozell, said: “Small Island Developing States and coastal cities around the world face diverse and interlocking risks. Although they are the most affected by climate impacts, they are the least responsible for climate change. This crisis is happening now and will only worsen in the future. Building coastal climate resilience requires an integrated approach that looks from land to sea using locally specific information. I am thrilled that Stimson gets the opportunity to use CORVI to help Toamasina assess the risks it is facing and access the climate finance needed to protect its citizens and their livelihoods.”
This funding will also support work between the Stimson Center and the Commonwealth’s Blue Charter initiative to develop a standardized CORVI Rapid Assessment Protocol that will integrate feedback and experiences from previous assessments in Kiribati, Sri Lanka, and Barbados.
Background on Small Island States (SIDS):
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) emit less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions but climate impacts are already posing an urgent danger to the safety and security of their residents and businesses. Yet SIDS have had access to less than 2% of climate finance pledged to developing countries in 2019. The UN estimates $300 billion is needed for developing countries annually to meet adaptation needs, yet wealthy countries have fallen short of their 2009 pledge to commit $100 billion in annual climate finance, reaching just over $80 billion in 2020.
About ORRAA
ORRAA brings together the finance and insurance sectors, governments, non-profits, and stakeholders from the Global South to pioneer finance and insurance products that incentivize investment into nature-based solutions in coastal and ocean areas, with a focus on protecting the regions and communities that need it most. Its aim is to drive USD$500 million of investment into nature-based solutions and surface at least 50 novel finance products by 2030, positively impacting the resilience of at least 250 million climate-vulnerable people in coastal areas around the world. https://www.oceanriskalliance.org
The Stimson Center’s Environmental Security program explores the array of environmental threats, both human and natural, that have the potential to undermine national, regional, or global security.
The Stimson Center promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation.
For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.
More at www.stimson.org.
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