10 October 2011: The UN International Strategy or Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) released a discussion paper, titled “Preparing for Rio +20 – Redefining Sustainable Development,” in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The paper outlines the significance of disaster risk reduction (DRR) for attaining sustainable development, and proposes ways to integrate disaster risk measures into the development agenda.

The paper includes a section on recommended policy options for the consideration by governments at Rio+20, including that any future framework for sustainable development include a clear prescription and the practical application of disaster and climate risk management. The paper also makes specific recommendations, including: quantifying and accounting for disaster losses through the establishment of national disaster loss databases; integrating DRR into public investments and sustainable development plans; and utilizing DRR as an instrument to achieve a more sustainable (greener) economy. [Publication: Preparing for Rio +20: Redefining Sustainable Development]