Disaster risk reduction
Description
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is an integral part of social and economic development, and is essential if development is to be sustainable for the future. This has been recognized by several global documents on DRR and sustainable development. The Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (1994), as the first major international framework for disaster risk reduction, recognized the interrelation between sustainable development and DRR. Ever since, this close interrelation was continuously strengthened within the key global agreements, from MDGs to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (Johannesburg, September 2002), to the “Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015)” and to the “Future We Want” (Rio, June 2012), to the Sendai Framework for DRR (Sendai, Mach 2016) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (New York, September 2015).
The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) addressed risk management and vulnerability in the context of its thematic issues of water, sanitation and human settlements in its 2004-2005 cycle and then in the context of drought and desertification in its 2006-2007 cycle.
On the occasion of World Water Day 2004, Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses was launched. This inter-agency publication, led by DESA aimed at providing decision-makers with a range of options to consider for reducing losses associated with flooding.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai, 14-18 March 2015), and as the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action, is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement, with seven targets and four priorities for action.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes and reaffirms the urgent need to reduce the risk of disasters. In addition to direct references to the outcomes of the Third UN Conference on DRR (Sendai Framework), there are specific opportunities to achieve SDGs through reducing disaster risk. For example, by reducing exposure and vulnerability of the poor to disasters or building resilient infrastructure. There are also several SDGs and targets that can contribute to reducing disaster risk and building resilience, even where disaster risk reduction is not explicit.
Targets related to promoting education for sustainable development under SDG# 4, such as building and upgrading education facilities and ensuring healthy lives, as well as targets under SDG#11 (cities) and under SDG# 9 (building resilient infrastructure) reaffirm the interrelationship between disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. amongst others can be cited.
| Title | Category | Date Sort ascending |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil and Nicaragua | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 23-Jan-2014 |
| Canada, Israel and United States of America | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| European Union | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Denmark, Norway and Ireland | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Disaster Risk Reduction within the Sustainable Development Goals | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Major Group: Indigenous Peoples | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Australia, The Netherlands and United Kingdom | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Maldives | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| New Zealand | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Disaster Risk Reduction: Possibilities Motivate Change | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Iran | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Sustainable Development in a Changing World | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
| Major Group: Business & Industry | Climate change and disaster risk reduction | 10-Jan-2014 |
Milestones
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January 2015 Targets 11.5 and 11.bDisaster risk reduction (DRR) is an integral part of social and economic development and is essential if development is to be sustainable for the future. A risk-informed and resilient 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can only be achieved through partnering with groups, communities and the private sector. In particular, Sustainable Development Goal Target 11.5 reads "By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations". Whereas, Sustainable Development Goal Target 11.b aims to "By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels".
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January 2015 Sendai Decl and FrameworkHeld in Sendai City, Japan from 14 to 18 March 2015, the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction convened to complete the assessment and review of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. The conference was also seen as an opportunity to observe the experience gained through the regional and national strategies/institutions, assess the plans for disaster risk reduction and their recommendations as well as relevant regional agreements within the implementation of the Hyogo Framework of Action.
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January 2009 Int. Day for Disaster ReductionThe General Assembly adopted Resolution 44/236 in December 1989 to designate the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. In 2009, the GA chose 13 October as the date to commemorate the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction and also decided to change the Day's name to International Day for Disaster Reduction.
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January 2005 Hyogo Decl. and Framework of Action 2005-2015The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolution A/RES/58/214, convened a World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005. The Conference aimed at taking a stock of progress in disaster risk reduction accomplished since the Yokohama Conference of 1994 and making plans for the following ten years.
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January 2004 Guidelines for Reducing Flood LossesOn the occasion of World Water Day 2004, Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses was launched. This inter-agency publication, led by DESA aims at providing decision-makers with a range of options to consider for reducing losses associated with flooding. In response to the devastation arising from water-related natural disaster, particularly flooding, a series of three workshops and symposia were held, sponsored by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. One objective of these events was to create comprehensive guidelines that could be used by governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society to help avert losses from flooding. This publication is based on the findings of those three sessions and is a contribution to the overall efforts that are required to help society cope with the forces of nature.
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January 2003 CSD-11 (Annex)At its eleventh session, the Commission for Sustainable Development identified, for its 2014/2015 cycle,"Disaster management and vulnerability" as a thematic cluster and adopted the CSD’s multi-year programme work for the period 2004-2017. The Commission also decided to organize upcoming CSD sessions as a series of two-year action-oriented Implementation Cycles, with a Review Session the first year and a Policy Session the second year. Each two-year cycle would consider a selected thematic cluster of issues and a suite of cross-cutting issues.
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January 2002 JPOI (Para 37)In paragraph 37 of Chapter 4, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation recognizes that "an integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, including prevention, mitigation,preparedness, response and recovery, is an essential element of a safer world in the twenty -first century".
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January 1994 Yokohama Strategy and Plan of ActionThe Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action was adopted as outcome document of the First World Conference on Natural Disasters, held in Yokohama, Japan from 23 to 27 May 1994. It represented the main outcome of the mid-term review of the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) and established 10 principles for its strategy, a plan of action and a follow-up. Furthermore, it provided guidelines for natural disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation.
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January 1990 Int. Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionWith the adoption of Resolution 45/185, the GA declared the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, urging the international community to: fully implement the International Framework of Action of the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (Annex of Resolution 44/236), establish national committees and reaffirm the need for the secretariat of the Decade to work in close co-operation with UNDRO.