APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group Meeting

Background:

The Asia-Pacific region comprises 52 percent of the earth's surface area and 40 percent of the world's population, and experiences over 70 percent of the world's natural disasters. Disturbingly, scientists warn that the intensity and frequency of disasters in the Asia-Pacific region will increase in the decades ahead, exacerbated by unplanned urbanisation, poor land-use management, and climate change.

Emergency preparedness is one of the key elements of APEC's human security agenda, along with countering terrorism and pandemics. Disasters that affect one member economy can have significant spill-over effects in other economies.

Catastrophes in the region - such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 2008 earthquake in China's Sichuan province, the 2010 earthquake in Chile, and the 2011 earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan - are critical reminders of the importance of APEC's emergency preparedness work.

APEC's Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) was first established as APEC's Task Force for Emergency Preparedness (TFEP) by APEC Senior Officials in 2005. Originally called the Virtual Task Force for Emergency Preparedness, the TFEP carried out much of its work via electronic communications.

In 2009 APEC Leaders reaffirmed the importance of enhancing human security and reducing the threat of disruptions to business and trade in the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing the importance of its work, in 2010 the TFEP was upgraded in status to a working group.

Now the EPWG continues to play a constructive role in enabling the region to better prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters by helping to reduce the risk of disasters and building business and community resilience. By sharing expertise and collaborating on emergency preparedness issues, APEC members strengthen their capacity to mitigate emergencies and disasters.

The EPWG works closely with the APEC Climate Center, ABAC, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the Manila Observatory and the OECD.