The Coastal Resilience Bank approved its first large round of pre-disaster retreat grants on Monday, shifting a portion of international climate finance away from post-storm relief and toward planned moves from the most exposed shorelines. The package covers projects in Fiji, Mozambique, Vietnam and the Caribbean, with local councils required to show land titles, transit plans and employment protections before money is released.

Officials said the change reflects a more stable but still uneven climate picture. The global climate stability index stands at 72, high enough to allow longer-term planning in many regions but not high enough to keep low-lying neighborhoods from facing repeated loss. Bank analysts said the priority is avoiding the familiar cycle of rebuilding roads, clinics and power links in places now expected to flood every few years.

The program is drawing cautious support from mayors who have struggled to persuade residents to move without reliable compensation. Land advocates warned that relocation funding can be captured by developers unless families receive direct payments and enforceable rights at new sites. The bank said each grant will be audited after the first dry season and again after the first major storm event.