CLIMATE science can now forecast disaster days, sometimes even weeks in advance. Yet across Asia, climate finance still arrives largely after the damage is done. Closing that gap is no longer a theoretical exercise but an urgent leadership challenge to be addressed by the 2026 Asian Conference on Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (ACCCDR).
On April 30, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) will convene regional policymakers, development finance institutions, private sector leaders and local government executives at its Makati campus for a focused, high-level dialogue on anticipatory climate finance — mechanisms that release funding based on forecasts and risk data before the next disaster strikes. The participating people and institutions are best positioned to shift climate finance from reactive to proactive, ensuring resources reach vulnerable communities in time to reduce impact, and not just support recovery.
“Climate change is one of the greatest threats of our time, demanding urgent and coordinated action,” said AIM President and Dean Jikyeong Kang. “AIM believes the academe must go beyond observation by equipping leaders with the strategic vision needed to strengthen systems against rising climate risks. Through the ACCCDR, the institution highlights climate finance as a key driver of both mitigation and adaptation.”
Discussions will span the broader climate finance landscape, from global funding mechanisms and national investment strategies to private sector risk management and local implementation. Particular focus will be placed on “last-mile” delivery, highlighting practical cases where financing has successfully reached communities and identifying barriers that continue to limit access.
Prof. Chad Briggs, academic program director of the Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management at AIM, said that the conference will connect “global funding, leadership and expertise to local governments and communities, ensuring climate finance reaches the last mile and strengthens preparedness before disasters strike.”
