Current efforts to reduce the impact of disasters are falling short of the mark. The climate is changing and weather patterns are becoming increasingly extreme and unpredictable (IPCC, 2007). Coupled with other evolving threats to human development, rising disaster risks look set to outpace any progress achieved in promoting resilience under the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). This report presents a new approach to disaster risk managemen: ‘climate smart disaster risk management’ (CSDRM) approach. The report finds that successful application of the CSDRM approach will require systematic investment in people skills, new partnerships, technical collaboration and innovation to achieve the shift needed. A favourable environment for CSDRM will only occur when access to climate science, information and decision-making is transparent and democratic. Donors and governments must encourage flexibility and innovation; they need to demonstrate a commitment to their collaborative approach to the changing and increasing threat to human development that disasters represent.