United Nations International Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction - "Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Emergency Response"

The deadline for registration to attend the conference is 6 August 2018. Online registration is mandatory for all participants via the UNOOSA online registration platform:

• https://register.unoosa.org/civicrm/event/info?id=114&reset=1

Earth observation and other space technologies play an important role in emergency response by providing rapid response maps, detailed damage assessment, emergency communication, and collecting location based damage information, finding suitable sites for building back better and so on. However, the countries need to prepare well and build capacities for utilizing the full potential of space technologies in support of the Sendai Framework Priority 4. UN-SPIDER is working with the Member States in this direction. For example, UNOOSA co-published guidelines for disaster emergency response in ASEAN countries. The handbook "Sharing Space-based Information: Procedural Guidelines for Disaster Emergency Response in ASEAN Countries" provides procedural guidelines for sharing space-based information during emergency response and aims to support disaster managers become familiar with the systematic approach necessary for using satellite-derived and geospatial information applications. This publication is an outcome of 4 workshops conducted in the ASEAN region.

Recognizing the current challenges in the use of Earth observation technologies in disaster management and emergency response, the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People’s Republic of China are co-organizing the International Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction – “Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Emergency Response”.

The conference aims to provide a platform to communicate various means to be adopted by Member States and supporting international/regional organisations in enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to ‘Build Back Better’ in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially based on the use of space-based technologies. This may include tools, technologies as well as peripheral issues such as data sharing, spatial data infrastructure, institutional coordination, needed for achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework. Recommended practices and experiences in this context will be shared by the panellists and discussed by all participants. Thus, the conference will contribute to efforts of Member States and UN-SPIDER to implement the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement stemming from the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP21). The conference also supports the implementation of UNISPACE+50 that marked the 50th anniversary of the First United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE) held in 1968 in Vienna.

The overall aim is to strengthen the role of space technologies to assist Member States in implementing the Sendai Framework which can be achieved by deeper engagement with the Member States through technical advisory support and other services aiming at institutional strengthening.

Structure of event

Session 1: Institutional strengthening and preparedness for improving emergency response using space technologies

Session 2: International mechanisms for rapid response mapping (with support from International Working Group on Satellite based Emergency Mapping (IWG-SEM))

Session 3: Earth observation for assessing resiliency of ecosystem as an instrument for disaster risk reduction

Session 4: Demonstrating advances in Earth observation to build back better

Session 5: Networking and engagement with the UN-SPIDER network

Breakout sessions:

Three breakout groups will be organized:

1. Multi-hazard early warning

2. Enhancing capacity of community in providing emergency mapping

3. Earth observation for achieving targets of Sendai Framework

Training programme (28 October to 1 November 2018)

The training programme “Space-based technologies for emergency response mapping”, co-organized with the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the National Disaster Reduction Centre of China and the Beihang University, will be offered to 25 conference participants. Interested participants for this training programme can contact to Ms. Tong TANG via a separate Email (tong.tang@un.org).