30 September 2015: Senior disaster management officials from the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) have introduced a collaborative platform for strengthening the resilience of Asia-Pacific economies, in light of the ‘new normal’ of increasing natural disaster threats due to climate change. The APEC Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will guide policy coordination within and between APEC economies to combat the increasing frequency, magnitude and scope of disasters, which are endangering lives and economic stability.

The APEC Framework on DRR was finalized during a meeting of disaster management officials that took place in Iloilo, the Philippines, on 23 September 2015. It will focus on advancing measures under four pillars: prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response; and rehabilitation and rebuilding.

APEC notes that economies of its member countries collectively account for about three billion people and half of global trade, and experience more than 70% of all natural disasters. It stresses that during the last decade, APEC economies lost over US$100 billion annually from natural disasters.

Voltaire T. Gazmin, the Philippines’ National Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chair, underscored that this ‘new normal’ causes major disruptions to trade relations, businesses and investments across the region. He added that the Framework aims to empower disaster managers so they can respond to and effectively address the “changing landscape” of DRR. Philippine Undersecretary of Civil Defense Alexander P. Pama said the task now is to leverage the framework as a guide for concrete action to ensure sustained, inclusive and resilient growth.

The APEC Framework aims to promote APEC-wide collaboration on DRR through enhanced cooperation across all areas of its policy agenda, including: ensuring regional trade and investment flows; business continuity in the micro, small and medium enterprise sector; infrastructure and financial resiliency; and protection of food security, health and the environment.

The Framework also calls for DRR to be elevated as a focus area for APEC and calls on APEC members to develop an implementation, monitoring and evaluation tool for achieving common disaster resiliency goals, with the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) expected to serve as the central administrative body for this work. The EPWG, first established in 2005, aims to help the region better prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters by helping to reduce the risk of disasters and build business and community resilience. [APEC Press Release] [EPWG Website]