10 May 2011: Delegates from 175 governments and over 176 regional and national organizations convened on 10 May 2011 for the week-long Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organized by the UN Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN/ISDR). The Platform will focus on the links between the rising cost of disasters, how local communities adapt to climate change, and the status of poverty eradication efforts before the 2015 deadline set by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA).

In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that the international community must “risk proof” development because disasters are taking a heavy toll on rich and poor countries, and are outpacing their ability to respond.

In launching the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, titled “Revealing Risk, Redefining Development,” Andrew Maskrey, UN/ISDR, highlighted evidence that: economic loss risk continues to increase across all regions, whereas mortality risk is lower compared to 20 years ago; drought is a hidden risk caused by poor water and land-use management; governments are liable for a significant part of expected losses but do not have the contingency financing to match the liabilities incurred; risk can be reduced by reducing vulnerabilities; and risk can be reduced through ecosystem-based disaster-risk management.

At the end of the four-day conference, the Platform is expected to issue an agreed Chair’s Summary, which will include a communiqué and a plan of action. [IISD RS Coverage of the Meeting] [Global Platform Press Release] [Publication: Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2011]