This was a supporting detail page of the main policy document.
The world’s climate and weather patterns are changing. Global temperatures are rising, contributing to more extreme weather events, like flooding and heatwaves. ‘Adaptation’ involves changing the way we do things to prepare for the potential impacts of climate change. This means we will be better protected against negative impacts like flooding. It also means we’ll be better prepared for new opportunities, like the chance to grow different crops. The earlier we adapt, the less it will cost and the better equipped we will be to cope with potential changes in our climate. Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme We are providing up to £150 million to the International Fund for Agriculture Development’s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP). ASAP will work in approximately 40 developing countries, investing in practices and knowledge sharing to support smallholder farmers adapt, for example, through small scale water-harvesting and storage, flood protection, irrigation systems, agroforestry, and conservation agriculture. The UK’s support is expected to directly benefit 6 million smallholder farmers cope with the impacts of climate change and at the same time increase their incomes. South Asia Water Governance Programme We’re providing £23.5 million from 2012 to 2017 to the South Asia Water Governance Programme. The programme is jointly funded by the UK, Australia, Norway, the World Bank, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. It’s helping countries work together to manage the Himalayan rivers for the benefit of 500 million people who live in the river basins. Chars Livelihoods Programme In Bangladesh, we’re investing £73 million in the Chars Livelihoods Programme between 2009 and 2016. The programme is working to help the extreme poor – especially women – build livelihoods that are more resilient to climate change. Between 2009 and 2013, the programme has helped to raise 67,000 homes onto earth platforms, protecting hundreds of thousands of people and their possessions from severe monsoon floods.