Improving environmental security is vital to reduce disaster risk

Disaster risk reduction has been placed in the mainstream of international society’s discussions of development, based on the Sendai Framework that was adopted in March 2015.

However, developing regions in the world, particularly in Africa, made little progress in implementing the Sendai Framework. Despite the fact that Africa is one of the world’s regions most vulnerable and least resilient to disasters, it failed to show significant progress. Africa is still haunted by high poverty rates, lack of action on climate change, rapid urbanization, and the neglect of structural transformation.

Therefore Africa should develop a single framework that integrates DRR, sustainable development, climate change measurements and conflict prevention. In addition, the need for an explicit recognition under which a disaster situation is created is important, and thus the situation requires solutions and investment for enhancing the function of DRR.

Environment policies for resilience and DRR in Kenya and East Africa are in a critical phase. Many areas in Kenya are facing serious water shortage since last December due to climate change. Many local and vulnerable people in Kenya are forced to visit faraway water stations for domestic use, necessary for their daily survival. Reports show that only 49% of households have access to quality water derived from secured water supply infrastructure, wells and water reservoirs.

We are concerned that the current situation in Africa, as the case of Kenya shows, on the implementation of the Sendai Framework, the beautiful solid model for resilience – including gender mainstreaming – fails to give appropriate aid and public awareness for overall protection and environment security. This will come from active cooperation with strong connections, encouraging participation for the welfare of both humans and nature. It is important to promoting DRR policies for restoration and offer solutions to various environment crises that produce several natural hazards and highly damage life, threatening the sustainable livelihoods of ordinary citizens. The situation arises because of a lack of awareness and negligence of policy makers.

Of course, the achievement of resilience on DRR in the context of the Sendai Framework requires activities by all parties, including local governments, research institutes, private enterprises and citizen groups, as well as the national government. However, environmental security has been threatened by the ignorance of authorities and stakeholders. Unfortunately the Sendai Framework has not improved the situation. Regarding the full value of the natural ecosystem’s service to us all – and particularly to the poorest – we have to put more efforts to reach environmental goals.

Our generation has the key to accelerate the realization of resilient societies where human beings continue to enjoy environmental benefits from now into the future. We hope for the maximum effort and the sincere commitment of policy makers, especially in Africa, for the adaptation of the Sendai Framework to obtain environmental justice and to protect livelihoods of vulnerable people in the community.

Go Takahashi is the Founder and President of the NGO Little Bees International (https://littlebeesinternational.jimdo.com/). Currently he is studying International Peace at the UN-mandated University for Peace.

Little Bees International works to empower women and children in the Korogocho slum of Nairobi in Kenya, by offering tangible and practical solutions through environmental projects to fight against poverty and develop a sustainable green community