Post-2015 News

Boat schools bring classroom to Bangladesh's flood-hit children

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:00:00 CET

Mon, 09 Mar 2015

Hundreds of students in the northern Bangladesh district are taught in floating schools, an initiative to make education available to children whose lives are complicated by regular flooding. Governments meeting in Japan from March 14-18 to adopt a new action plan to reduce the risk of disasters are expected to call for better ways to protect education before, during and after crises...

UNDP: Why is disaster risk governance so essential?

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 00:00:00 CET

Thu, 05 Mar 2015

The new global DRR framework offers a historic opportunity to recognize the importance of risk governance and the related processes that are so elementary for securing the long-term sustainability of both disaster risk reduction and development outcomes. Let us seize this moment, not squander it, writes Angelika Planitz, UNDP Disaster and Climate Risk Governance Advisor...

UNDP: Enhancing last-mile early warning in the Caribbean

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 00:00:00 CET

Thu, 05 Mar 2015

Working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, UNDP and partners are undertaking measures to ensure that warning information on potential and impending disasters is fast, reliable and effective...

CBM: Disaster risk reduction - Inclusion key to resilience

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 00:00:00 CET

Thu, 05 Mar 2015

Since 2012, CBM Internatonal with partners have been advocating to ensure that the post-2015 framework is disability-inclusive. Persons with disabilities are among the most disproportionately affected people during emergencies and should be actively involved in the disaster risk and emergency management cycle - to be addressed at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai...

UNDP: Serbia launches the National Disaster Management Program

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 04 Mar 2015

The UN Country Team together with CADRI provides support to Government’s participation in the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction by introducing the elements of the Hyogo Framework of Action II into Government’s planning for disaster risk reduction and management. The Hyogo Framework for Action has taken us from purely responding to emergencies to a 'disaster risk reduction' way of thinking, said Vojackova-Sollorano...

What role can business play in dealing with disasters? - Opinion

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 25 Feb 2015

Neil Buhne from UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery discusses how the private sector's expertise and resources can help countries boost their capacity to rapidly response to natural disasters...

UNDP: Innovative public-private partnerships are key to Post-2015 success

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:00:00 CET

Fri, 13 Feb 2015

As we prepare to establish a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action, we would do well to look at public-private partnership programmes like Get Airports Ready for Disasters (GARD) as examples of how comprehensive disaster risk reduction must be done, says Neil Buhne of UNDP, highlighting examples from Indonesia, Uzbekistan and FYR Macedonia...

UNICEF: Climate justice - The road to Sendai and Paris

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:00:00 CET

Thu, 12 Feb 2015

'A key thing is how to get back to normalcy and get back on track. How quickly this happens after a disaster depends on what we do in terms of preparedness beforehand,' said UNICEF's Regional Emergency Advisor, recalling recent typhoons Hagupit and Haiyan, recovery and education efforts...

Technological hazards: From risk reduction to recovery

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 11 Feb 2015

To date, no global agreement is in place for preventing and preparing for technological disasters. The post-2015 framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) offers a unique opportunity to address precisely this, and it gives us a real opportunity to strengthen national coordination and legislative frameworks, and to expand the capacities of all stakeholders for all risks, including technological ones...

Disability inclusion and disaster risk reduction at the UN HQ

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 00:00:00 CET

Tue, 28 Oct 2014

The zero draft submitted by the Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee contains five references to persons with disabilities, a mention of the principles of Universal Design, and the use of 'inclusive' and 'accessible' throughout the document, including accessible media...

Revised HFA stresses political leadership

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 Oct 2014

'The Zero Draft recognizes the need for a more people-centred approach to disaster risk. There needs to be more accountability for risk creation. Above all we recognize the fact that we have been presented with a unique opportunity to ensure coherence across the concurrent post-2015 processes on sustainable development, climate change and disaster risk,' Ambassador Thongphakd said...

EAC, AU Commission team to address Africa disaster risks

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 01 Oct 2014

Talking at the sixth Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction Moses Marwa said: 'Other underlying factors of climatic disasters include poverty, low awareness on disaster risks and weak and uncoordinated policy measures and limited capacities in disaster preparedness'...

Iran: Mayor of Qom takes action

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 01 Oct 2014

'The Mayor has proven to have the ability to mobilize others to adopt disaster resilient thinking and behaviour. He has influenced policy and change at the city and regional and national level so that laws are passed to reduce disaster risk,' advisor to the Mayor of Qom, Mr Reza Bathaee said...

Unheard voices in the Tohoku disaster: Toward international policy community

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 26 Aug 2014

Lessons drawn from the Tohoku disaster provide key insights that can help prepare for cascading disaster risks in modern society. Early warning, risk assessment, education, research, knowledge, and investment are core components of disaster management, but critical attention must also be given to the linkages between elements, resources, systems, and activities at the local and national levels...

Central Asia and the Caucasus: Rescuers harmonizing actions at a regional conference

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Sat, 26 Jul 2014

A regional conference of Central Asia and South Caucasus states, gathering the heads of state agencies responsible for disaster prevention and population protection, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations and scientists, discussed proposals and recommendations for the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework...

A step towards a post-2015 framework for DRR

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 06 Jun 2014

Participants at an Asia-Europe meeting were finalizing a new declaration on disaster risk reduction and management on Friday, writes Lean Alfred Santos for Devex. The Tacloban Declaration is meant to identify the gaps, challenges, best practices, innovation, systems and procedures for better DRRM in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region...

Disaster resilience to leave no one behind

Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 23 May 2014

'We have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure sound disaster risk reduction policies are apparent throughout post-2015. Let’s take advantage of it', writes Harold Brooks, SVP for International Operations at the American Red Cross, for Devex...

Sticking points on the way to a new disaster reduction pact

Thu, 15 May 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 15 May 2014

Regional consultations on the content and form of a new international agreement to tackle the risk of ‘natural’ disasters start in earnest this week. Governments, businesses, researchers and community groups are meeting in Abuja, Nigeria to agree a declaration from the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction...

COPECO (Honduras) y UNISDR encabezan consulta nacional sobre nuevo Marco Internacional para la RRD

Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 09 May 2014

Con el objetivo de dar a conocer los avances del país en materia de gestión de riesgo para prevenir desastres, se llevó a cabo en Tegucigalpa un taller de consulta, en el cual participaron miembros de distintas organizaciones gubernamentales y privadas; Honduras fue uno de los seis países de Latinoamérica elegido para realizar dicha consulta...

‘DRR is development’ says Central Asia

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 04 Apr 2014

Consultations on the substance of the region’s contribution to the new post-2015 agreement on disaster risk reduction identified as key issues: the need for greater regional and sub-regional coordination, more information sharing on disaster losses, broader stakeholder involvement in disaster risk reduction and more risk-informed planning - including a gender-sensitive approach...

ONU encabezará consultas sobre nuevo marco para la reducción del riesgo de resastres en América del Sur

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 19 Mar 2014

En seguimiento al proceso de consultas para la elaboración de un marco para la reducción del riesgo de desastres después del 2015, la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres, a través de su Oficina Regional para las Américas, apoyará las consultas nacionales en Perú y Paraguay...

Call for best practices and experiences in integrating gender in disaster risk reduction: Gender in disaster risk reduction / Convocatoria de buenas practicas y experiencias de integración del tema de género en la reducción de riesgo de desastres

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 05 Mar 2014

Esta convocatoria está destinada a representantes de agencias de gobierno, organizaciones no gubernamentales, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, comunidades y las agencias de cooperación desde el nivel local, nacional, subregional y regional. La fecha límite para la recepción de propuestas es el 23 de marzo de 2014 a media noche...

Americas parliament lays down resilience law

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 00:00:00 CET

Thu, 30 Jan 2014

Latin America has taken a step towards mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into national development policy instruments and poverty reduction strategies. The Latin American Parliament has adopted a protocol on disaster risk management that obliges its 23 member states to incorporate guiding principles of building resilience into legislation. ...

UN warns climate change is drowning Senegal

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 00:00:00 CET

Tue, 28 Jan 2014

Senegal's home minister Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo said that more nationwide coordination was needed for civil protection: 'We are thinking of setting up an office to provide more resources but we think we already have the means to put in place a national plan that can coordinate all government actions in the context of disaster risk management'...

Russia's G8 presidency to focus on disaster risk

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 22 Jan 2014

The Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, today welcomed Russia’s declared intention of using its G8 Presidency to promote integrated disaster risk management and to focus the world’s major economies on cooperation in developing a new global agreement on disaster risk reduction...

SDGs open way for ‘resilient development’

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 15 Jan 2014

'Disaster risk reduction should not be seen only as an imperative to protecting investments in development, but also as an opportunity for a transformative shift towards resilient development.' This statement from disaster-prone Bangladesh was one of several calls from governments for disaster and climate risk considerations...

4th call for abstracts for the 2015 Global Assessment Report

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 00:00:00 CET

Fri, 20 Dec 2013

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is issuing a Fourth Call for Abstracts as part of the development of the 2015 Global Assessment Report (GAR15). The GAR15 will be published prior to the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, in which governments will adopt a successor framework to the Hyogo Framework for Action...

Tunisia’s database a DRR ‘game-changer’

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:00:00 CET

Mon, 02 Dec 2013

'The database now enables the true impact of disaster to be known. This is major progress indeed,' said Mr. Lars Bernd, UNISDR Regional Programme Officer. 'Previously, the international EM-DAT database had only recorded 20 disasters for Tunisia since 1900. The new national database reveals that disaster losses are much more higher than previously thought'...

Arab region pushes for decentralized post-2015 framework

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 00:00:00 CET

Wed, 27 Nov 2013

'The post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action should leave no one behind and should pay due attention to all,' said Ms. Fatma El Malah, member of the Advisory Group on Post-2015 HFA and former advisor to the League of Arab States Secretary-General on Climate Change...

Germanwatch Climate Risk Index 2014: Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan most affected

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 CET

Tue, 12 Nov 2013

'Our results are really a wake-up call to ramp up international climate policy and to better manage weather-related disasters', says Sönke Kreft of Germanwatch. 'The year 2015 represents a major milestone, which needs to deliver a new climate agreement, and the international disaster framework is also up for renewal'...

HelpAge: Living with disability and disaster

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 17 Oct 2013

The ASEAN Day for Disaster Management and International Day for Disaster Reduction was celebrated on 12 October in Bangkok, Thailand. The focus of the event was to amplify the critical issue of including the needs of people with disabilities, both now and in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction...

Open data makes disaster risks visible

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 15 Oct 2013

'Open data, models and knowledge can help us understand our disaster risks. As of May this year, we have a global risk model for earthquakes and wind speed. We are now working hard with the GAR15 team to come up with a comprehensive global coverage for earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis that will include economic loss information,' said UNISDR’s Information Management Coordinator Craig Duncan...

Disaster risk reduction isn't all about money - ODI

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 15 Oct 2013

As attention turns to a successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (the current global blueprint on reducing disaster risk), governments seem to be recognising governance as a critical gap, highlighting broader stakeholder involvement and strengthening local capacities as priorities for the successor to the HFA...

What should a new disaster risk reduction deal focus on?

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 11 Oct 2013

As attention focuses on negotiating a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action, governments appear to be getting the message. They are calling for the inclusion of women, children and disabled people in shaping the next framework and in leading disaster risk reduction efforts. ODI analysed 62 government statements made to the Global Platform...

2nd IRDR conference: Call for abstracts - Deadline extended

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 10 Oct 2013

The Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme invites submissions of abstracts from researchers, politicians, practitioners, funding agencies and disaster risk reduction-related organisations for its 2nd Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Conference, 7-9 June 2014...

74 parliaments, one message: Reduce disaster risk

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 08 Oct 2013

Legislator Mr Andrei Andreev, of the Belarus delegation, emphasized the importance of building on the success of the Hyogo Framework for Action: 'It is vital to endorse the post-2015 international framework for disaster risk reduction during the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan, in March 2015'...

La Campaña Tu voz

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 04 Oct 2013

La Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja lanzo la herramienta de participación Tu voz, que permitirá a las Sociedades Nacionales presentar puntos de vista de su personal, miembros, voluntarios y beneficiarios así como recoger ideas y opiniones del público en torno a la agenda de desarrollo post-2015...

Partnerships for disaster risk reduction

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Mon, 30 Sep 2013

Developing awareness and strategies for reduction of disaster risk is a shared responsibility, which requires cooperation between governments, civil society and private sector. Only via combined efforts will we be able to take sufficient measures to protect lives and livelihoods...

Local and regional leaders meet in Rabat to discuss 21st century agenda for cities

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 25 Sep 2013

As the United Nations and the international community redefine the development goals for the coming fifteen to twenty years, the discussions of Summit will also contribute to the development of the successor of the current 10-year international disaster risk reduction, the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015...

Norway gets ready for more extreme weather events

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Mon, 23 Sep 2013

'In Kvam (near Lillehammer, north of Oslo) we have had a once-in-every-50-years-flood twice in the last two years; houses were rebuilt after the first floods and then were destroyed again the next year,' Norwegian Minister Sand said. 'We could say that we were unlucky but in reality we must realise that we will continue to face such extreme weather because of climate change'...

OECD survey finds Hyogo Framework boosted donor funding for disaster risk reduction

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 19 Sep 2013

Six of the eleven donor respondents expected future funding to increase slightly due to factors such as increased ministerial attention to DRR, new policy focus on resilience, mainstreaming of DRR throughout development assistance programming and stronger links between DRR and climate change programming...

Analysis: How to make disasters less deadly for the disabled

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Mon, 16 Sep 2013

'A lot of the risk people face in disasters comes from poverty and social marginalization – where people live, what they live in, and their ability to move matters immensely when it comes to risk,' Myroslava Tataryn, a research fellow at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told IRIN...

Un’indagine sulla disabilità nei vari scenari di emergenza

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 10 Sep 2013

Anche le persone con disabilità dell'Italia e i loro assistenti di cura potranno fornire entro il 25 settembre una preziosa collaborazione all’indagine promossa l’Ufficio delle Nazioni Unite che lavora per la riduzione del rischio in caso di calamità che intende produrre documenti più inclusivi nei confronti delle stesse persone con disabilità...

UN disaster framework 'in danger of not reaching goals'

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 06 Sep 2013

Tiziana Rossetto, reader in earthquake engineering at University College London, United Kingdom, says that the Hyogo Framework cannot be considered a failure. 'The progression towards risk reduction must be participatory,' she adds. 'Raising awareness is important but, at the same time, we should help local communities implement practical measures and education schemes'...

Analysis: Debating the best way to improve water and sanitation post-MDGs

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Fri, 06 Sep 2013

A leading water think tank today issued a call for a post-2015 development target on water aimed at making better use of scarce water supplies, realising the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, and increasing resilience to droughts and floods by 2030...

The long-term forecast for extreme weather

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 21 Aug 2013

Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are increasingly being integrated, with growing focus on the impact of policies on infrastructure and people, and on building their resilience to face what might come their way, said Adaptation expert Saleemul Huq, one of the authors of the IPCC assessments...

UN disaster policy to get input from disabled people

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Mon, 12 Aug 2013

'It's too early to say what the take-up will be but we are optimistic that it will garner several hundred responses and provide input on the disabled for the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework, which will succeed the Hyogo Framework for Action,' Denis McClean, spokesperson for UNISDR says...

Analysis: The UN in 2023

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 31 Jul 2013

'If UN agencies come together to collectively set standards, monitor the quality of response, disseminate lessons learned, and improve and monitor progress on disaster risk reduction, early warning and preparedness, “now that would be remarkable'...

UNISDR chief: 'Integrated action will help billions and save trillions'

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Mon, 08 Jul 2013

'I urge the world to follow the example of the Pacific and abandon the current norm of running separate and parallel strategies for disaster risk management and climate change. By committing to integrate the two approaches, the Pacific will benefit millions of people and avoid billions of dollars in economic losses,' the Head of the UNISDR, Margareta Wahlström said...

Caribbean SIDS adopt 'Kingston Outcome' in preparation for 2014 conference

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 04 Jul 2013

The meeting also included presentations and interactive dialogue with the UN system and regional organizations on ensuring integrated approaches regarding the emerging new UN institutional framework (post-Rio+20 outcomes and the post-2015 development agenda) and the positioning of SIDS within it...

Pacific goes to work early on disaster risk reduction

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 04 Jul 2013

'The key word is urgency. The environment is changing faster than you can adapt, so now we have new hazards, things people have never experienced before,' said Andrew Maskrey, lead author of the Global Assessment Report at the recent Asia launch of the report...

Australia leading the world in disaster risk reduction

Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Sat, 29 Jun 2013

'Australia’s work to integrate disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and environmental considerations in AusAID programs abroad, consistent with efforts improve disaster resilience at home, tells me that Australia’s commitment is long-term as well as high-profile,' writes Margaret Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in her blog entry...

Do we need a new global approach to disaster risk reduction? - Opinion

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 11 Jun 2013

Does the current architecture and organisational mix really help to eliminate the ‘silent’ disasters and the everyday risks that now form a major part of how we understand disaster impacts? Or do we need a different constellation committed to making disaster risk reduction a central component of poverty reduction efforts?...

How did disasters fare in the post-2015 panel report? - Opinion

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 06 Jun 2013

Just a week after the end of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the biggest gathering of the international disasters community for nearly a decade, the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) released its recommendations on future development goals...

Experts plead for standards and accountability in managing disaster risk

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 23 May 2013

Auditing and regulatory experts today said that accountability is paramount for all actors in disaster risk reduction, from victims and taxpayers to national Governments, international organizations and civil society. The experts were discussing disaster risk management standards and accountability for business and citizens as part of the Global Platform on Disaster Reduction...

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction concludes in Geneva, urging greater role for private sector, communities and children

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 23 May 2013

The fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which met from 19 to 23 May, helped lay the groundwork for the post-2015 development agenda, which highlights resilience to disaster and climate change...

Global Platform calls for immediate start on developing targets for risk reduction

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Thu, 23 May 2013

The three-day 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, attended by a record 3,500 people and representatives from 172 governments, ended today with a call for 'the immediate start of work to develop targets and indicators to monitor the reduction of risk' in the Chair's Summary at the closing plenary. The government of Japan also announced that it would be hosting the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction...

Joint press release: Global platform side event on disability inclusiveness

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

The purposes of the event were to increase awareness and visibility of disability inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and to create an opportunity to discuss the collective approach to the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2015 framework for DRR. It was co-organized by The Nippon Foundation, the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Disability inclusive DRR Network for Asia and Pacific (DiDRRN)...

Science and technology should contribute more to reducing disaster risk, say experts

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

Experts in disaster risk reduction today urged that science and technology be applied more effectively to disaster management policy and practice. Their discussions, organized by the UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, were part of the fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction...

Droughts, the ‘most devastating’ disasters, set to increase, warn climate change experts

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

Every one-degree rise in temperature means a 20-fold increase in global conflicts, Wadid Erian, a specialist in arid zones and dry lands, told a meeting on drought resilience this morning. He and other speakers warned that, with droughts set to become even more frequent and intense, food shortages, water shortages and conflicts will also increase...

Local communities plead for greater involvement in disaster risk reduction

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

Local communities, which were often the drivers of disaster resilience, should be more involved in decision-making and disaster planning, said speakers at a panel discussion this morning on community resilience...

World urged to speed up action on disaster reduction

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

'I think we have to inject more sense of urgency and determination for the post-Hyogo process, and to... make sure that disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business,' Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner, told journalists on Wednesday. 'The pyramid is still upside down - we still fund much more in response than in preparedness and prevention'...

Pacific countries taking the lead in addressing disaster and risks in an integrated manner

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

'A major milestone for the development of this regional roadmap will be a joint meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Nadi, Fiji next month.' 'The outcomes of the Joint Meeting will also feed into the development of the post 2015 Global Framework for Disaster Reduction and post 2015 Development Agenda,' said Dr Petterson...

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2013 High-Level Dialogue Communiqué

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

Participants recognized that there is an urgent need to address the drivers of risk as this is instrumental to social, economic and environmental sustainability and well-being of people and this should be a core part of the post-2015 development agenda, future sustainable development goals, and the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change...

Neglected 'everyday' disasters fuel rising losses for poorest

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Wed, 22 May 2013

'People's own determination to get out of poverty should be matched by our commitment to redistribute risk and build equality, thereby supporting them to thrive and prosper, rather than just cope and survive in a world of increasing risks,' Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote in a foreword to the Views from the Frontline report...

‘No safer tomorrow’ without planning today, warn panellists

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

The private sector’s potential role in building resilient societies, and especially in repairing vital infrastructure damaged by disasters, was highlighted by several panellists this afternoon at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which opened here yesterday...

Disaster risk reduction and sustainable development should be closely linked, say Global Platform speakers in Geneva

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

The global consequences of disasters, and the need for strengthening resilience through partnerships and investment, were stressed at the opening ceremony of the fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Geneva this morning...

Japan: 'UN mulls excluding nuclear accidents from disaster prevention plan'

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

Japan will be hosting the next UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015 in Sendai, northeastern Japan, the Japanese city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis...

Switzerland hosts the international conference on disaster risk reduction in Geneva

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

Switzerland, hosting the event for the fourth consecutive time, was represented at the opening ceremony by the President of the Confederation, Ueli Maurer. In his speech, he spoke in favour of a second international regime that would enable the efforts undertaken since 2005 to be continued and their implementation to be strengthened...

UN to private sector: Change mindset on disaster resilience

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

'Disaster risk management must become part of the investors’ mindset,' Margareta Wahlstrom told Devex in an email interview. The UNISDR chief discussed the Hyogo Framework for Action, the 10-year action plan developed in 2005 to reduce disaster losses, its impending successor and the vital role the private sector plays in building a more resilient world...

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction: Ensuring clear links between discussions on post-2015 frameworks

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 CEST

Tue, 21 May 2013

The Global Platform is highly important for the international community to agree a strong successor framework that builds on the achievements of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and to ensure clear links between discussions on post-2015 frameworks to enable sustainable development through reduced disaster loss...

Stakeholders in disaster risk reduction stress need for community involvement, resilience, addressing root causes