1 / 6

Disaster Risk Reduction – a Core Climate Policy for Protecting the Vulnerable

Disaster Risk Reduction – a Core Climate Policy for Protecting the Vulnerable. Reid Basher, ISDR Secretariat, Geneva. Disasters are increasing – linked to development and climate change. Adaptation policies need to encompass disaster risk reduction.

audra-velez
Download Presentation

Disaster Risk Reduction – a Core Climate Policy for Protecting the Vulnerable

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Disaster Risk Reduction – a Core Climate Policy for Protecting the Vulnerable Reid Basher, ISDR Secretariat, Geneva • Disasters are increasing – linked to development and climate change. • Adaptation policies need to encompass disaster risk reduction. • Imperative to act now – the knowledge and tools are already available.

  2. www.unisdr.org Disaster risks are heavy burden on the poor Disasters affected 2.5 billion people in last decade; with costs of $570 billion. Death toll was 889,000 people. Main hazards are climatic - floods, storms and droughts. Poorest countries are 5 times more affected. Impacts can exceed GDP. Vulnerability to natural hazards arises from land degradation, unplanned settlements, lack of awareness, lack of preparedness, poverty.

  3. www.unisdr.org Climate change and disaster risks Evidence of more extreme events already found (IPCC) – drought, heavy rainfall, heatwaves. Populated deltas, SIDS, and Africa identified. Impacts from (i) more extreme events and (ii) greater vulnerability to hazards - from stresses on ecosystems and water. Big gaps of knowledge on specific humanitarian and economic consequences.

  4. www.unisdr.org Climate change and disaster risks Extensive toolbox of methods for reducing disaster risks is available for adaptation use. Risk assessments, early warning systems, ecosystem management, river management, public education, etc. We need an IPCC assessment on tools for management of extreme events. Clearly we should link adaptation and disaster reduction agendas, not reinvent the wheel.

  5. www.unisdr.org Climate policy to reduce disaster risks Bali Action Plan proposes “risk management and risk reduction strategies, including risk sharing and transfer mechanisms” … and … “disaster reduction strategies and means to address loss and damage in developing countries” UNGA-endorsed Hyogo Framework for Action is a core policy guide for supporting adaptation. Adaptation funding criteria, adaptation plans, and NAPAs, should include disaster risk reduction.

  6. www.unisdr.org Priorities and measures to build resilience First priorities? (i) National Adaptation Plans. (ii) National risk assessments, focused on the vulnerable. (ii) Strengthened institutions, including to link climate change and risk reduction agendas. Measures? (i) Risk-related zoning and building codes. (ii) Protection of environmental buffers. (iii) Management of floods and droughts. (iv) Protection of critical facilities e.g. hospitals. (v) Early warning and response systems. (vi) Public education and awareness raising.

More Related