Government and civil society leaders from around the world are gathering in the Japanese city of Sendai for a United Nations conference that will take stock of ten years of global work to better prepare for and curb the impact of disasters, and to agree on an updated global response framework.<\/p>\n
The Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction<\/a> takes place in the centre of the Tohoku region, which bore the brunt of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima meltdown. It is an appropriate location to continue making the strides that began amid the devastation of the Indian Ocean tsunami in January 2005, which claimed 227,000 lives.<\/p>\n The aim is to update the landmark agreement reached a decade ago in Hyogo, also in Japan, which detailed the work required from all different sectors and actors to reduce disaster losses. The Hyogo Framework for Action<\/a> (HFA) has produced some important successes, including the reduction in the number of people directly affected by natural disasters in Asia \u2013 where most such disasters occur \u2013 by almost one billion.<\/p>\n While such successes are encouraging, there remains widespread concern that the drivers of disaster risk \u2013 improper land use, non-existent or poorly implemented building codes, environmental degradation, poverty, climate change, and, most important, weak governance institutions \u2013 are still present.<\/p>\n Furthermore, a string of tragedies since 2005, and recognition of the huge financial cost of repairing damage to commercial and residential buildings worldwide \u2013 an average of $314 billion each year, 85 per cent of which is borne by the private sector \u2013 highlight the need for intensified action.<\/p>\n In an op-ed published this week<\/a>, Secretary-General<\/a> Ban Ki-moon said that a new UN report found that annual investment in disaster risk reduction of $6 billion can result in savings of up to $360 billion. Recognition of that has led to greater private sector participation in the Sendai conference.<\/p>\n \u201cA decade ago, when the last such gathering was held, the private sector was scarcely represented,\u201d Mr. Ban said<\/a>. \u201cThis time, companies and entrepreneurs will be there in full force to explore a range of valuable opportunities.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Ahead of the conference, Margareta Wahlstr\u00f6m, the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction<\/a> (UNISDR), met with UN Radio<\/a> to discuss her expectations for the meeting\u2019s outcomes and its significance in what is a momentous year for the UN development system. She said there was already a high degree of agreement on disaster risk reduction issues and priorities and great understanding on what needs to be the focus of the updated framework.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is left for Member States and countries now,\u201d she said, \u201cis to find a common formula for the terms of international cooperation on financing, on how to formulate a common global commitment. But also of course the achievement of sustainable development goals and how to deal with climate adaptation.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Wahlstr\u00f6m said that the new framework will seek to improve the functioning and integration of institutions and policies designed to mitigate disaster risk, while pushing for continued focus on strong preparedness measures and the importance of proper planning and execution of reconstruction.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that document gets fully agreed and it has strong sense of proximity to what countries, national and local governments need, then we have a success,\u201d she said, adding that she hoped that the conference would help to forge new partnerships on disaster risk reduction. \u201cIn an environment which is so intense in collaboration between organizations and local governments, if they come out of the conference with even more commitment to that collaboration\u2026that is also a sign of success.\u201d<\/p>\n