NU Online News Service, Sept. 20, 2:25 p.m.EDT

NEW YORK—With the global climate expected to rise 4degrees Celsius rather than the projected 2, adaptation andresiliency are mandatory for the survival of vulnerablepopulations, according to experts here.

Without resiliency, the most vulnerable populations are subjectto loss of crops and any assets accumulated with each and everydisaster, say panelists at “Rethinking Resiliency: InnovativeSolutions For Climate Adaptation,” part of Climate Week NYC.

Keynote speaker, Rebeca Grynspan, associate administrator,United Nations Development Program notes that while the initialestimate of a rise in temperature was 2 degrees, without areduction in greenhouse gasses, temperatures could rise 4 degreesCelsius.

“We may have 150 months to dramatically change,” she says. “Buteven if the world stopped emissions, it would be unavoidable.”

Such a change in climate would impact food security, especiallyfor lower latitude regions, she says, observing that the planetwill see more extreme weather events.

What's more, developing countries will sufferdisproportionately, she says, with countries in Africa and smallislands especially at risk. The result would be famine, with cropsdamaged by drought and storms.

Micro-insurance is one strategy that could help populations indeveloping countries cope.

Anne Hastings, chief executive officer of Fonkoze FinancialServices, says she has lived in Haiti for many years and has seenpeople facing significant, ongoing setbacks brought on by floods,earthquakes and other catastrophes.

“There is a chance they can climb out of poverty with the righttools,” Hastings says, giving the example of one woman, whom shewitnessed three separate times climb out of poverty with the helpof micro loans. When disaster hit, however, the most recent beingthe earthquake in Haiti, she again lost everything.

“I couldn't keep doing my work without a solution to help themprotect their assets that they struggled so hard to accumulate inthe first place,” she tells NU Online News Service.

After meeting with Swiss Re, she says, a system was put in placefor those who had taken out micro loans—now 56,000 clients—toinsure them in case of a disaster. Swiss Re, the reinsurer, payswhen triggers such as so many inches of rain, or the wind blowing acertain speed, take place.

Hastings says those who receive a loan are required to pay asmall amount, 3 percent of the loan value, for insurance.

She says that in June, Haiti had 10 days of rain which causedlosses to homes or businesses of about 4,000 clients. Swiss Re,however, sent a check within 10 days and claims were paid. Becauseof this, she says, “We were able to get out there and get them backon the path.”

Anyone who had previously pushed back on having to buy insurancenow saw the real value, she says.

The idea is to get people back on their feet as quickly aspossible, Hastings says. Before the insurance plan was in place, ittook months for donors to made decisions about reimbursing peopleand by then it was too late, she explains.

Michel Liès, chairman, Global Partnerships, with Swiss Re, alsoa panel member, tells NU Online News Service that there is stronginterest in the insurance industry for such ventures. Microinsurance, he says, is an area with much potential.

He says that some governments also need to add insurance “totheir toolkit, because very often they don't consider thatinsurance can be a solution.”

Liès notes that to be successful, a program like the oneimplemented in Haiti needs “government and people like Anne to makeit happen.”