Delegates welcome new framework for disaster risk reduction

The Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) marked a milestone in international efforts to help communities and nations develop greater resilience to the impacts of natural hazards. The event, held March 14-18 in Sendai, Japan, convened approximately 6,500 delegates to review, discuss, and adopt the “successor-agreement” to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015, called the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

The global conference was hosted by the Government of Japan in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, as secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, (UNISDR). The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlstrom called the event “a truly multi-stakeholder conference,” with delegates and representatives of inter-governmental organizations, UN entities, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector participating in ministerial roundtables, high-level multi-stakeholder partnership dialogues, working sessions, and the Public Forum.

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) Director of Applied Science Heather Bell participated in several presentations. At the Children and Youth Forum, she spoke on using tools and technology to support preparedness; and during the Symposium on Strengthening Disaster Information Systems organized by BNPB, Indonesia’s national disaster management coordination agency, Bell highlighted the advancements in early warning and decision making that the country’s new InAWARE system has provided. She also addressed the Conference during a session covering PDC’s work with Universitas Gadjah Mada, University of Hawai‘i, and the R3ADY Asia Pacific Consortium to extend and integrate a successful community-based early warning system as a model of effective linking of community-based projects to national and regional initiatives.

The conference concluded with the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in a closing plenary that took place at midnight on the final day.  The Sendai declaration affirms the shared commitment to the new framework as the guide to enhance efforts for the future. It also underscores global efforts and worldwide determination to strengthen disaster risk reduction to reduce disaster-caused losses of lives and assets.

For more information on the WCDRR:
• Visit the WCDRR website,
• Read the PreventionWeb summary,
• View more information on the UNISDR website, and
• Read about the ministerial AMCDRR event leading up to the world conference.