How can countries prepare to manage the impact of climate-change induced natural disasters? How can countries ensure that they have the governmental institutions required to manage the challenge of adaptation to climate change? In this paper, a range of economic and institutional measures are tested for their potential effects on natural disaster resilience and the quality of environmental governance. The findings suggest an important role is played by social and political institutions in determining the success of adaptation and response to natural disasters, in particular in the degree to which countries have succeeded in gender empowerment and the development of a robust civil society and nonprofit sector.