The UN Secretary-General’s report titled, ‘Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030,’ provides an overview of progress made in implementing the Sendai Framework for DRR.
The report emphasizes the importance of taking a “risk-informed” approach to sustainable development, and calls for integrating the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement into national social and economic planning within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.
9 October 2017: The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Head of the UN Office for DRR (UNISDR), Robert Glasser, has presented to the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee a report titled, ‘Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.’
The report provides an overview of progress made in implementing the Sendai Framework for DRR, emphasizes the importance of taking a “risk-informed” approach to sustainable development, and calls for integrating the Sendai Framework for DRR and the Paris Agreement on climate change into national social and economic planning within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Robert Glasser underscored that achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will only be possible if the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for DRR are met.
The report warns that: developing countries are the most vulnerable to disasters; urban populations exposed to hurricanes will increase to 680 million by 2050; and urban assets vulnerable to sea-level rise and flooding could increase ten-fold to US$35 trillion by 2070. The report also includes a section on effective global responses to address the impacts of El Niño.
Presenting the report, Glasser stressed that failure to include disaster and climate risks in investments has led to an increase in disaster-related costs, explaining that, over the past 20 years, disasters have caused 1.35 million deaths and US$2.5 trillion in economic losses. He underscored that achieving the 2030 Agenda will only be possible if the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework are met.
The report discusses countries’ efforts to: align their national strategies with the Sendai Framework; strengthen early warning systems; enact disaster risk management (DRM) legislation; and enhance public education and training. Its recommendations include: prioritization and provision of resources to develop inclusive DRR strategies by 2020 in order to reduce climate and disaster risk; establishment of national coordination mechanisms that ensure engagement of all relevant stakeholders, particularly the private sector and women; putting in place efficient reporting and accountability mechanisms; and use of indicators developed to monitor progress on the Sendai Framework targets to also monitor implementation of relevant SDGs.
The report was released on 9 October 2017, in advance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, which is celebrated on 13 October. [UN Secretary-General’s Report on ‘Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030] [UN News Story] [UNISDR News Story] [Second Committee Discussions of Report]