2023 UN Water Conference Side Event: Realizing Early Warning Systems for All in a World with Increasing Water Related Hazards
Responding to the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action: Realizing Early Warning Systems for All in a World with Increasing Water Related Hazards
Co-organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
In collaboration with the Governments of Egypt, Japan, Tajikistan, United States of America, The Netherlands (TBC), and with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Microsoft (TBC)
The impacts of anthropogenic climate change are being seen and felt around the world, bringing new and previously unimaginable challenges to all countries and communities, but particularly those that are the most vulnerable. As stated in the IFRC’s World Disasters Report 2020, 83% of all disasters are caused by climate- and weather-related events, impacting over 1.7 billion people and killing over 410,000 people in the last ten years. Water-related hazards are key in that respect: floods and droughts struck approximately 75% of all people impacted by hazards in 2000-2019 and the related damage amounts to trillions USD. Climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction measures, and sustainable water management can significantly reduce disasters and their impacts and support sustainable development, including Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), in all its dimensions.
Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems and other disaster risk reduction activities are proven, effective, and feasible measures to reduce related impacts and safe lives. However, less than half of all countries in the world have reported the existence of an operational Multihazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), with low coverage in climate vulnerable countries, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and in Africa. Even where warning elements exist, implementation must be scaled up to save lives and protect livelihoods.
Objectives:
This event will convene UN Member States and entities, intergovernmental and stakeholder organizations, civil society and the private sector from the climate and water practice, disaster risk reduction, science and humanitarian communities to:
- Announce joint commitments and implementation plans for the Water Action Agenda and in support implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s call to action on Early Warning for All by 2027, the Sustainable Development Goal 6, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction;
- Showcase cross-sectoral partnerships that will change the game on how we reduce disaster risks, prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change and other challenges, and build resilience;
- Better understand the impacts of water-related hazards, including floods, droughts, and glacier melt, at local, national, and regional levels, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable, and how these hazards hinder the achievement of the SDGs;
- Explain how early warning systems that lead to early actions reduce the impacts of water-related disasters on communities, society and economies;
- Build momentum for the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2023 UN SDG Summit.
Documents
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