Progress at Global and Regional Levels for the Implementation of the Hyogo Framework and Development with Strengthened ISDR system 6 November 2006, First World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Coordination Meeting Yuichi Ono International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) www.unisdr.org

Disaster trends – rising and changing Great "Natural" Disasters 1950-2005 Economic and insured losses with trends © 2006 NatCatSERVICE, Geo Risks Research, Munich Re Over last decade: 900,000 dead, US$ 570B losses, 2,600 million people affected, poor people and countries most affected, most disasters are weather or climate related Low income Lower-middle income Upper-middle income High income Growth over period; 1990s versus 1960s Number of events 2.3 Economic losses 7.0 Insured losses 15.7

Climate Change and Extremes “Costs of extreme weather alone could reach 0.5 - 1% of world GDP per annum by the middle of the century, and will keep rising if the world continues to warm.” “Climate change is happening and measures to help people adapt to it are essential. And the less mitigation we do now, the greater the difficulty of continuing to adapt in future.” STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change, 2006 Peter Webster et al.

Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters Agreed by 168 Governments at the second World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, 18 – 22 January, 2005 Strategic goals Disaster reduction is essential for sustainable development Strengthen institutions (especially in communities) to build resilience Build risk reduction into emergency management and recovery Decides to establish an open-ended intergovernmental preparatory committee for the Conference to review the organizational and substantive preparations for the Conference - - Decides to approve the programme of work of the Conference and to propose rules of procedure for adoption by the Conference - - Decides that the preparatory committee will meet in Geneva following the 2004 semi-annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Task - - Force for Disaster Reduction, for up to 2 days each time - - Decides the preparatory committee will hold a one-day meeting at Kobe during 18-22 January 2005 Decides that the intergovernmental preparatory committee will have a bureau consisting of five representatives of Member States elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation (regional groups to nominate their candidates for the bureau of the preparatory committee by the end of January 2004) Requests the ISDR Secretariat to coordinate preparatory activities in close cooperation with the host country and the preparatory committee for the Conference, with the full support of the relevant departments of the Secretariat Invites Member States, all United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the Conference, as well as its preparatory process

Disaster reduction – Hyogo Framework for Action Five priorities for actions: 1.- Ensure that disaster risk reduction in a national & local priority- strong institutional basis 2.- Identify, assess & monitor risk- enhance early warning 3.- Use knowledge, innovation & education to build culture of safety 4.- Reduce underlying risk factors 5.- Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response

At least 90 national Hyogo Framework focal points designated National level As reported to ISDR secretariat At least 90 national Hyogo Framework focal points designated More than 35 countries have developed and established a National Platform Meetings among national platforms in Africa, and among regions (in Pretoria, October 2006)

Regional level Regional strategies Asia (Beijing Plan of Action), Ministerial meetings (China 2005; India 2007) Africa (AU/NEPAD), Ministerial meetings (2006, 2007), Europe (Council of Europe), Pacific (Madang Framework) with Ministerial commitments, regional consultations planned in other regions LAC (OAS, CEPREDENAC, CAPRADE) Regional cooperation (inter-governmental organizations), Asia ISDR partnership, collaborative centres (China, Iran, Ecuador)

International level (para. 32, HFA) Integration of DRR into development assistance and humanitarian frameworks: Financing- Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, WB: global and regional level coordination in support of ISDR system; track 2 for countries (implementation of Hyogo Framework) Mainstreaming in development – guidelines for disaster risk reduction for UN planning frameworks (in CCA/UNDAF); and focusing on countries targeted by the World Bank (mainly through PRSPs). Humanitarian policy support for building disaster risk resilience EC/ECHO policy dialogue to support mainstreaming efforts IFRC has adopted HFA as guiding principle Humanitarian Flash Appeals and ISDR system: Tsunami Early Warning System and follow up, Indian Ocean Pakistan

International Level (continued) Strengthened capacity of environmental and other technical areas of UN System to assist disaster-prone developing countries in mainstreaming DRR: DRR in environmental policies and management (lead by UNEP) DRR and climate change adaptation: how to use NAPAs to reduce disaster risk and other ongoing discussions with the UNFCCC and IPCC DRR in other sectors gradually being developed: health (WHO, PAHO), water (UN Water), desertification (UNCCD), space applications (UN/OOSA, GEO) ….

International Level (continued) Other policy-related “Getting Started” guide to implementing risk reduction at national level under the HFA (to be issued for wide consultation shortly) Matrix of commitments and initiatives in support of HFA being updated, available on the ISDR website <www.unisdr.org> Development of indicators for disaster risk reduction, via on-line dialogue, expert consultations, etc.

International Level (continued) Thematic platforms, clusters, partnerships International Recovery Platform (ISDR/UNDP/ILO/ADRC/OCHA, Kobe) knowledge sharing, capacity building, post-assessment methodology Early warning: ISDR Platform for Promotion of Early Warning (Bonn); EWC-III, Bonn March 2006, Checklist, Project portfolio, Global Survey of EWS (SG report), and International Early Warning Programme; Indian Ocean regional tsunami early warning system (UNESCO-IOC led); Education: HFA Education “cluster”, UNESCO led with Action Aid, ADRC, UNICEF, ISDR etc – include DRR in school curricula and safer schools; recent inventory of experience Global Risk Indexing Program: UNDP led, ProVention, WB, ISDR etc Drought network (China, Africa….); Seismic risk collaborative centre (Iran); El Niño (CIIFEN, Ecuador); Wildland Fire Network (Freiburg and FAO)

Role of WMO in ISDR system and for the implementation of HFA Governance structures Thematic (technical) responsibilities National platforms and action plans Scientific panel ...

NMHSs engagement to reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards Improve early warning, preparedness and response Develop culture of prevention and resilience Build institutions (policies, legislation, plans...) to actively contribute to these goals Identify risks (hazard & vulnerability assessments, mapping...) and avoid high risk zones Build hazard-resistant structures (schools, hospitals, houses...) Protect and develop hazard buffers (forests, reefs, mangroves..)

Collaboration WMO-ISDR in region (examples) A regional meeting on Climate Change in the Latin America and Caribbean Region held in Panama, 19 to 23 November 2006 (- a regional meeting and training, co-organized by UNISDR-LAC, IAI (Inter-American Institute Global Change Research), CATHALAC (Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean), the Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID), the National Authority of Panama for the Environment (ANAM), and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO ). The International Workshop on Flash Flood Forecasting, held in Costa Rica, 13 to 17 March 2006. ISDR-LAC attended the ‘technical seminar on disaster prevention and mitigation’ that was organized by WMO together with the Peruvian government, in Lima from 4 to 6 September 2006 ISDR supports Tropical Cyclone Programme activities – Typhoon Committee, Tropical Cyclone Panel, Hurricane Committee, etc. Tornado warning system in Bangladesh (ADRC to lead)

Collaboration WMO-ISDR in theme (examples) EWCs, International Early Warning Programme UN-Water, International Flood Initiative, World Water Development Report

Why strengthen the ISDR system Respond to current disaster trends and increased demand for support Increase political space for disaster risk reduction (finance, development sectors, MDGs…) at all levels

Why strengthen the ISDR system (continued) Increase capacity to support national and local level implementation Build coherence and coordination (global and regional) - joint system planning and prioritized deliverables Promote disaster risk reduction as part of sustainable development and prerequisite for Millennium Development Goals

Build a disaster risk reduction movement – ISDR system Our objective: To reduce disaster risk, worldwide, focusing on nations and communities The instrument: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 The vehicle: ISDR system - ‘movement ’

Main elements of the strengthened ISDR System in support of the Hyogo Framework for Action Responsible for national strategies and programmes, baselines studies, reporting… Nations and communities National Platforms for DRR, Government agencies, local authorities, NGOs, CBOs, technical organisations, private sector , media… Governance UN General Assembly, ECOSOC Advice from ISDR Support Grp Supporting mechanisms Global coordination ISDR regional and thematic platforms International and regional org. UN Country Teams, Red Cross/ Red Crescent societies Global Platform for DRR and working bodies (PAC…) USG Humanitarian Affairs management oversight board ISDR secretariat Management, programme guidance, support, joint work programming, global reporting Support and technical advice to agencies, authorities, institutions and organizations

ISDR system levels of action (“platforms”) National National frameworks will determine composition and functions Support from UN country team – when appropriate Regional Based on existing regional and sub-regional strategies and mechanisms coordinated international and regional efforts to support national and ISDR programme local capacities Global Annual sessions Programme Advisory Committee Thematic Building on existing networks, clusters, programmes and other mechanisms

Ongoing strengthening of the ISDR system Involvement of Governments in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (first session 5-7 June 2007, in Geneva); The Global Platform meets once a year; nominates a Programme Advisory Committee for expert advice on coordinated and joint planning in support of national implementation of HFA; The USG for Humanitarian Affairs designated an inter-agency management oversight board to assist in his/hers functions: to oversee the ISDR secretariat, provide high-level advocacy functions and strategic support to the ISDR system from humanitarian, development, environment and scientific angles; A transitional inter-agency Reference Group is contributing to preparations of the joint planning framework for the Global Platform

" More effective prevention strategies would save not only tens of billions of dollars, but save tens of thousands of lives. Funds currently spent on intervention and relief could be devoted to enhancing equitable and sustainable development instead, which would further reduce the risk for war and disaster. Building a culture of prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, its benefits lie in a distant future. Moreover, the benefits are not tangible; they are the disasters that did NOT happen. " Kofi Annan, “Facing the Humanitarian Challenge: Towards a Culture of Prevention”, UNGA, A/54/1