19 November 2009: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UN/ISDR) has released its 2010-2011 “Biennial Work Programme: Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow,” which includes the acceptance and application of disaster risk reduction for climate change adaptation as one of its four strategic objectives.
The 2010-2011 Work Programme complements UN/ISDR’s strong focus on advocacy with greater stimulation of direct action and programming with and through its partners. According to the Work Programme, UN/ISDR and its partners will: accelerate the promotion of national coordination mechanisms for disaster risk reduction, such as national platforms, with the goal of including climate change concerns; participate in UNFCCC processes; promote joint adaptation and risk reduction measures in countries; and increase global inter-agency coordination on risk analysis, and risk reduction, as a tool for climate change adaptation.
Key outcomes envisaged include: enhanced political commitment and national investment in climate-related disaster reduction; improved availability of information on climate risks and risk-reducing adaptation strategies; and greater coherence and coordination of climate-related disaster reduction among international and regional actors. [UNISDR 2010-2011 Biennial Work Programme]