Transcript Living with Risk: The need to build partnerships

Disaster Risk Reduction – a Core Climate
Policy for Protecting the Vulnerable
Reid Basher, ISDR Secretariat, Geneva
Disasters are increasing – linked to
development and climate change.
 Adaptation policies need to encompass
disaster risk reduction.
 Imperative to act now – the knowledge
and tools are already available.
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
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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Disaster risks are heavy burden on the poor
1. Disasters affected 2.5 billion people in last
decade; with costs of $570 billion. Death toll
was 889,000 people. Main hazards are
climatic - floods, storms and droughts.
2. Poorest countries are 5 times more affected.
Impacts can exceed GDP.
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3. Vulnerability to natural hazards arises from
land degradation, unplanned settlements, lack
of awareness, lack of preparedness, poverty.
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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www.unisdr.org
Climate change and disaster risks
1. Evidence of more extreme events already found
(IPCC) – drought, heavy rainfall, heatwaves.
2. Populated deltas, SIDS, and Africa identified.
3. Impacts from (i) more extreme events and
(ii) greater vulnerability to hazards - from stresses
on ecosystems and water.
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4. Big gaps of knowledge on specific humanitarian
and economic consequences.
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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www.unisdr.org
Climate change and disaster risks
1. Extensive toolbox of methods for reducing
disaster risks is available for adaptation use.
2. Risk assessments, early warning systems,
ecosystem management, river management,
public education, etc.
3. We need an IPCC assessment on tools for
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management of extreme events.
4. Clearly we should link adaptation and disaster
reduction agendas, not reinvent the wheel.
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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www.unisdr.org
Climate policy to reduce disaster risks
1. Bali Action Plan proposes “risk management and
risk reduction strategies, including risk sharing and
transfer mechanisms” … and … “disaster reduction
strategies and means to address loss and damage
in developing countries”
2. UNGA-endorsed Hyogo Framework for Action is a
core policy guide for supporting adaptation.
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3. Adaptation funding criteria, adaptation plans, and
NAPAs, should include disaster risk reduction.
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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Priorities and measures to build resilience
1. First priorities? (i) National Adaptation Plans.
(ii) National risk assessments, focused on the
vulnerable. (ii) Strengthened institutions, including
to link climate change and risk reduction agendas.
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2. Measures? (i) Risk-related zoning and building
codes. (ii) Protection of environmental buffers.
(iii) Management of floods and droughts.
(iv) Protection of critical facilities e.g. hospitals.
(v) Early warning and response systems.
(vi) Public education and awareness raising.
Climate Change and the Most Vulnerable Countries:
The Imperative to Act, Informal Meeting of UNGA, New York, 8 July 2008
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