According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), temperatures of around 40°C in Portugal contributed to the severity of the wildfire which claimed dozens of lives in June.
The WMO, USAID and partners convened in Slovenia to discuss the establishment of a South-East European Multi-Hazard Early Warning Advisory System.
During the second edition of the East African Community Parliamentarian Forum on DRR, member countries pledged to enhance implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR in their region.
21 June 2017: Summer arrived early in the Northern hemisphere, with heat waves engulfing parts of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the US since May. This theme and recent developments in disaster risk reduction (DRR), disaster risk management (DRM) and early warning systems are reviewed in this update.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), temperatures of around 40°C in Portugal contributed to the severity of the wildfire which claimed dozens of lives in early June. Record high temperatures have been recorded for France, Spain, Portugal, as well as parts of the Middle East and the US. [WMO Press Release] [UNISDR Press Release]
In light of increased disaster risk, recent adaptation developments have focused on DRR, early warning systems and climate services.
The WMO, USAID and partners convened in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 14-15 June 2017, to discuss the establishment of a South-East European Multi-Hazard Early Warning Advisory System. The multi-hazard early warning advisory system seeks to improve forecasts and warnings about hazards such as floods, severe storms, droughts and heat waves. [WMO Press Release]
Early warning systems rely largely on satellites and the UN Institute for Training and Research’s Operation Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) and NORCAP, Norwegian Refugee Council’s expert deployment capacity, enhanced their collaboration on DRR, climate services and strategic management. [UNITAR Press Release]
During the second edition of the East African Community (EAC) Parliamentarian Forum on DRR, held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 26-27 April 2017, EAC member countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) pledged to enhance implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR in their region. Participants also agreed to seek support from partner States and donor agencies to strengthen DRR and DRM efforts in the region. [Resolutions from Second EAC Parliamentarian Forum] [UNISDR Press Release] [EAC Website] [Sendai Framework for DRR]
The EU DRM Knowledge Centre has issued its first flagship science report titled ‘Science for disaster risk management 2017: knowing better and losing less.’
During the 2017 Global Platform for DRR, held in Cancún, Mexico, from 24-26 May 2017, the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) issued a statement on the role of ecosystems in DRR and climate change adaptation. The statement, inter alia, outlines challenges facing the international community in reducing the risks posed by environmental disasters, and identifies ecosystems as an important tool for lowering risks and reducing exposure to natural hazards. [UNU-EHS Statement] [UNU Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of 2017 Global Platform for DRR]
The EU DRM Knowledge Centre has issued its first flagship science report titled ‘Science for disaster risk management 2017: knowing better and losing less.’ Focusing on all four phases of disaster cycle, namely mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, the publication seeks to provide reviews of scientific solutions and their practical use in various areas of DRM in Europe. It also highlights the need for further research avenues to address the multi-risk impacts of natural and human-induced hazards. [Science for DRM 2017: Knowing Better and Losing Less] [Executive Summary] [Publication Landing Page] [Climate-ADAPT Press Release]