France National Platform

History

The French national platform succeeded the French Government Committee for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) (1990-2000), and has been active since its inception in 2001, fostering cooperation for DRR activities in France and Europe.

Structure

The French national platform is a network of actors, with a national consultative body on DRR matters since 2003, the COPRNM (Guidance Council for the Prevention of Major Natural Risks). 

The focal point of this network is the General Directorate for Risk Prevention at the ministry in charge of the environment, who coordinates DRR policy with other relevant ministries (civil protection, finance, agriculture, education, etc.) and public agencies such as Meteo France. 

The General Directorate for Risk Prevention provides the administration for the COPRNM. 

The members of the COPRNM are: 

• Ministries in charge of the environment, civil protection, agriculture, housing, culture, education, economy, etc.
• Experts from civil society, including scientific experts on DRR and insurance companies. The French Association for the Prevention of Natural and Technological Disasters has a leading role representing civil society.
• Members of Parliament
• Local authorities

Budget

The ministry responsible for the environment covers the operating costs of COPRNM. It also equally subsidizes several associations that are related to the work of COPRNM (stakeholders relevant to DRR in France, or those that liaise with national education or the business world).

Mandate

The national platform helps shape public policies on DRR. It provides proposals, policy guidance notes and recommendations involving public authorities, research community and civil society on major issues related to disaster risks, and is currently concentrating its activities in the following areas: 

• CCA
• National strategy for flood risk management
• Prevention of seismic risks
• Strategic approach to international DRR activities
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of local risk prevention planning
• Linking prevention and emergency response stakeholders
• Vigilance and early warning systems
• Vulnerability and resilience of networks
• Education and public awareness