Preparatory workshop on science and technology for The Global Platform
Scientific and technical knowledge on natural hazard risk remains critical for governments and partners to achieve the Hyogo Framework for Action and requires a broad framework of knowledge on the social, economic and political issues that bound disaster risk management.
The ongoing monitoring of progress and risk against the Hyogo Framework, as captured in the Global Assessment Report (GAR, UNISDR 2011) finds that disaster risk management practice in countries is not necessarily well informed or guided by ongoing advances in scientific and technical knowledge and at the same time, scientific and technical research is not necessarily informed by nor oriented to address contemporary issues emerging in national and local disaster risk management practice. The linkages between existing science based institutions and networks and disaster risk management practitioners could benefit from more active partnerships.
At the same time, considerable progress has been achieved by science and technical institutions in a number of areas of work. The international Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme has initiated a study on the forensic review of disaster causes, the Global Risk Forum, Davos, Switzerland continues to convene the science and technical community at its International Disaster Risk Conferences (IDRC), science and technical partners such as WMO, UNESCO, UNU to name some of the most active, have made progress such as, for example, the Global Framework for Climate Services report. A number of thematic and hazard specific groups are actively contributing with coordination and assessment of science and knowledge, risk assessment and information sharing. Finally, the IPCC/SREX report is a major assessment of science and research on issues pertaining to disaster risk in the context of climate change.
At the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, in June 2009, the ISDR Science and Technical Committee made recommendations that remain valid today. Challenges remain in coordination and coherence of action, as well as leveraging existing mechanisms and endeavors to develop specific science and technical support to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework on a biennium basis.
The Pavia workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss both the what and the how, in preparation for the Global Platform Third Session, 8 -13 May 2011, Geneva, Switzerland. For more information on the Global Platform Session: https://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2011/