This informal thematic debate aims to promote understanding on how effective investment policies, practices and sustainable urban management can reduce risk and exposure to disasters. Special focus will be on rapidly expanding urban areas, where risk, population and economic assets are concentrated. Building on the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (September 2010, New York), which acknowledged that disaster risk reduction and increasing resilience to natural hazards can accelerate the achievement of the MDGs, the debate will underscore the linkages between disaster risk reduction, poverty eradication and sustainable development. The Panel will include two interactive panel discussions with high-level experts. The concept paper and draft programme for the debate were issued by General Assembly President Joseph Deiss on 21 January 2011.  

date: 9 February 2011   location: New York, US   www: http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/65/letters/drr210111.pdf