United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
- 1 -
UNISDR Statement at the Second Prepcom of UNCSD
7-8 March 2011, New York
Agenda Item 3: Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving the opportunity for UNISDR to take the floor.
Reducing disaster risk is both an emerging issue and disasters are a major factor that is
contributing to the gaps in implementation of sustainable development.
It is increasingly recognized that the green economy movement is an important
opportunity to ensure that both international aid and national and local budgetary
spending effectively address the risk of disasters. We chose to intervene under this
session as gaps in the institutional framework remain the main obstacle for effectively
addressing disaster risk reduction in sustainable development plans and strategies.
This intervention is set against the background of growing risk of economic loss from
such hazards as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and drought. The increase in disaster risk
is primarily driven by the growing exposure of people and economic assets to natural
hazards – the vulnerability being higher in least developed countries and small island
developing states.
Many Governments have learned the hard way that decades of sustainable development
achievements can be lost in a matter of seconds when disaster strikes. Unless urgent
action is taken to reduce risk, this pattern will continue, as extreme events become more
frequent and intense.
Some figures to reflect the scale of the challenge:
· 85% of people exposed to earthquakes, cyclones, floods and droughts live in
developing countries.
· Direct disaster damage costs alone have increased from US$ 75.5 billion in the 1960s to
nearly US$ 1 trillion in the past 10 years.
In order to strengthen the institutional frameworks for sustainable development, we
believe that ensuring synergies between CSD and other relevant existing intergovernmental
processes and instruments – such as the Hyogo Framework for Action
2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters – is crucial.
Governments have already recognized that reducing dis aster risk is an important element
for climate change adaptation as well as for accelerating the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. Better communication, links and synergies among these
different frameworks and agendas can have multiple benefits for achieving sustainable
development.
- 2 -
Enhanced synergies between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction agendas
can result in a number of benefits:
1) The integration of disaster risk reduction into socio-economic development
planning can have multiplier effects in all areas of sustainable development by
protecting development achievements from the impact of natural hazards.
2) Key sectors of development, such education and health as well as water and
sanitation, need to ensure that their infrastructure is disaster-resilient.
3) Positioning disaster risk reduction as an essential element of poverty reduction
strategies and programmes, with particular attention to vulnerable
communities, will help reduce the poverty in the long term.
4) Empowering women in disaster risk reduction to accelerate achievements in
sustainable development is also important as women are key to making
communities and nations better prepared and more resilient to natural hazards;
women in developing countries are still largely responsible for securing food,
water and energy in homes.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, we would like to emphasize the importance of enhancing
synergies and strengthening coordination among different existing international
frameworks as this will help address many of the gaps and challenges in achieving
sustainable development.
For delegations that are interested in this issue, you can visit the UNISDR website
(www.unisdr.org).
I would also like to remind you that the Third Session of the Global Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction, which is an important milestone on the sustainable
development agenda, will take place from 8-13 May 2011, Geneva Switzerland.
Thank you for your attention.
UNISDR Statement at the Second Prepcom of UNCSD
7-8 March 2011, New York
Agenda Item 3: Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving the opportunity for UNISDR to take the floor.
Reducing disaster risk is both an emerging issue and disasters are a major factor that is
contributing to the gaps in implementation of sustainable development.
It is increasingly recognized that the green economy movement is an important
opportunity to ensure that both international aid and national and local budgetary
spending effectively address the risk of disasters. We chose to intervene under this
session as gaps in the institutional framework remain the main obstacle for effectively
addressing disaster risk reduction in sustainable development plans and strategies.
This intervention is set against the background of growing risk of economic loss from
such hazards as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and drought. The increase in disaster risk
is primarily driven by the growing exposure of people and economic assets to natural
hazards – the vulnerability being higher in least developed countries and small island
developing states.
Many Governments have learned the hard way that decades of sustainable development
achievements can be lost in a matter of seconds when disaster strikes. Unless urgent
action is taken to reduce risk, this pattern will continue, as extreme events become more
frequent and intense.
Some figures to reflect the scale of the challenge:
· 85% of people exposed to earthquakes, cyclones, floods and droughts live in
developing countries.
· Direct disaster damage costs alone have increased from US$ 75.5 billion in the 1960s to
nearly US$ 1 trillion in the past 10 years.
In order to strengthen the institutional frameworks for sustainable development, we
believe that ensuring synergies between CSD and other relevant existing intergovernmental
processes and instruments – such as the Hyogo Framework for Action
2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters – is crucial.
Governments have already recognized that reducing dis aster risk is an important element
for climate change adaptation as well as for accelerating the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. Better communication, links and synergies among these
different frameworks and agendas can have multiple benefits for achieving sustainable
development.
- 2 -
Enhanced synergies between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction agendas
can result in a number of benefits:
1) The integration of disaster risk reduction into socio-economic development
planning can have multiplier effects in all areas of sustainable development by
protecting development achievements from the impact of natural hazards.
2) Key sectors of development, such education and health as well as water and
sanitation, need to ensure that their infrastructure is disaster-resilient.
3) Positioning disaster risk reduction as an essential element of poverty reduction
strategies and programmes, with particular attention to vulnerable
communities, will help reduce the poverty in the long term.
4) Empowering women in disaster risk reduction to accelerate achievements in
sustainable development is also important as women are key to making
communities and nations better prepared and more resilient to natural hazards;
women in developing countries are still largely responsible for securing food,
water and energy in homes.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, we would like to emphasize the importance of enhancing
synergies and strengthening coordination among different existing international
frameworks as this will help address many of the gaps and challenges in achieving
sustainable development.
For delegations that are interested in this issue, you can visit the UNISDR website
(www.unisdr.org).
I would also like to remind you that the Third Session of the Global Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction, which is an important milestone on the sustainable
development agenda, will take place from 8-13 May 2011, Geneva Switzerland.
Thank you for your attention.