Information and communication technology (ICT) experts are working to harness the power of telecommunications to both prevent and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
Gathered for the second 'Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications (GET-2016): Saving Lives,' an international event focusing on the intersection of emergency telecommunications and climate change mitigation and adaptation, 500 participants from 90 countries adopted two global ICT initiatives aimed at enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR).
28 January 2016: Information and communication technology (ICT) experts are working to harness the power of telecommunications to both prevent and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. Gathered for the second ‘Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications (GET-2016): Saving Lives,’ an international event focusing on the intersection of emergency telecommunications and climate change mitigation and adaptation, 500 participants from 90 countries adopted two global ICT initiatives aimed at enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR).
The Global Forum, organized by the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), launched the ‘ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency Telecommunications’ and the ‘Global Emergency Fund for Rapid Response.’ These initiatives, in strengthening the word’s response when natural disasters strike, will support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which was adopted in 2015 and calls for early warning system and emergency communication investment, development, maintenance and strengthening.
Participants at GET-2016 called for countries to demonstrate “unwavering support” for the two initiatives, which are also expected to make resources accessible and build countries’ capacities for managing disasters and saving lives.
The outcomes of GET-2016 provide ITU and the wider international community with strategic guidance for integrating ICT into disaster mitigation and management. ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao highlighted the Global Forum’s focus on “mobilizing new technologies to not only save lives, but improve people’s lives.” Discussions at the event centered around emerging trends and innovative technologies, financing, national case studies, challenges in deploying ICTs in disaster zones, examples of effective ICT use in emergencies, and the role of the private sector and other non-state actors.
Participants also considered the important role of ICT in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, both adopted in 2015, by mitigating the impacts of climate change. A Ministerial Roundtable held during the conference discussed better preparedness and effective response for sustainable development.
GET-2016 was hosted by the Government of Kuwait in Kuwait City from 26-28 January 2016. Delegates included government ministers, ICT regulators, national disaster management stakeholders, researchers, private sector companies, the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), which took place from 14-18 March 2015, in Sendai, Japan. The UN Sustainable Development Summit, which adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, took place from 25-27 September 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, US. The Paris Agreement was adopted at the conclusion of the Paris Climate Change Conference, which convened from 29 November to 13 December 2015, in Paris, France. [ITU Event Announcement] [ITU Press Release, 26 January 2016] [ITU Press Release, 28 January 2016] [UNISDR Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of the World Conference] [IISD RS Coverage of the UN Sustainable Development Summit] [IISD RS Coverage of the Paris Climate Change Conference]