31 August 2012: The International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC) 2012 convened in Davos, Switzerland, from 26-30 August 2012, under the theme of “Integrative Risk Management in a Changing World – Pathways to a Resilient Society.” The conference aimed to discuss new findings and exchange experiences about the broad spectrum of risks societies currently face.

The conference was convened by Global Risk Forum (GRF) Davos, and was organized into plenary sessions on: research, education, training and application in disaster risk reduction (DRR); mega disasters with cascading effects; urban search and rescue; improved preparedness through capacity development of national emergency services; geospatial technologies in risk reduction and disaster management; country risk management and financial preparedness for disasters; urban risks and resilience; risk and society; an integrated governance approach; disasters, environment and migration; risk in agriculture; linking One Health and the Hyogo Framework for Action; and the future of integrative risk management.

The conference convened under the patronage of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and the International Labour Organization (ILO). It was supported by Swiss Re and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. [IDRC Press Release]