While broad international consensus has supported this view,16 the challenge going forward is nevertheless centred around the adoption of national policies which will, within each country’s context and constraints, drive efforts towards poverty eradication, human development and climate resilience. However, there is less experience with and less recognition of the challenges posed by both slow setting events and the accumulation of weather-related hazards, which can have devastating consequences on livelihoods. In the absence of government support, even small changes in temperature or rain and wind patterns can push people into poverty traps (Olsson and others, 2014). Those who are the most exposed and vulnerable are also the ones who are already economically and socially disadvantaged and the least likely to have access to support systems.