Conor Meenan, Head of Labs at the Centre for Disaster Protection, discusses how innovation can help governments move from reacting to disasters to preparing for them before they strike. The cost, complexity, and frequency of climate and disaster impacts are on the rise. But the systems that many countries’ governments rely on were not built for planning and responding to these, or are struggling to keep up. The gap is widening fastest where risks are highest. Despite being able to anticipate future shocks, disaster planning and financing systems still too often treat disasters like surprises. Most money is arranged in the heat of the crisis – emergency budget allocations, borrowing, and unpredictable support from the international system. These responses are not only unreliable and inefficient, they can also be harmful. Funds raided from health, education, and social protection budgets carry consequences that extend well beyond the disaster itself. The case for pre-arranging financing Some countries are starting to choose a different path. By arranging financing in advance of a storm on the horizon, they can …