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Disaster Management international framework


The international landscape for disaster management relies on frameworks that emphasize reducing risk, improving preparedness, and fostering resilience to protect lives, economies, and ecosystems from the impacts of natural and human-made hazards. Here's a more detailed examination of key international frameworks, with a focus on terminologies, facts, and concepts, as well as the role of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):

1. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

Adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2015, the Sendai Framework represents a paradigm shift from disaster response to proactive disaster risk management. It applies across natural, technological, and biological hazards.

Core Priorities:

  • Understanding Disaster Risk: This includes awareness of disaster risk factors and strengthening risk assessments based on geographic, social, and economic vulnerabilities.
  • Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance: Effective governance structures are crucial to coordinate and implement disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. It calls for policies, legal frameworks, and institutions at all levels to manage disaster risks effectively.
  • Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Promotes investments in structural (e.g., infrastructure) and non-structural (e.g., education, awareness) measures to reduce vulnerabilities.
  • Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response, and Building Back Better in Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction: This involves creating contingency plans, improving response mechanisms, and ensuring that post-disaster reconstruction efforts enhance resilience to future events.

The Sendai Framework established seven global targets aimed at reducing mortality, economic losses, and infrastructure damage by 2030. It also set benchmarks to improve the availability of early warning systems, enhance international cooperation, and increase the number of countries with DRR strategies.

2. Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World (1994)

Established at the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction in Yokohama, Japan, in 1994, this was one of the earliest frameworks for international disaster risk reduction.

Key Concepts:

  • Political Will and Governance: Emphasized the role of political commitment to support legislation and policy-making for DRR.
  • Public Awareness and Education: Recognized the importance of community education in enhancing preparedness and resilience at the grassroots level.
  • Integration into Development Planning: Encouraged integrating disaster preparedness and risk reduction into national development plans.

The Yokohama Strategy laid foundational principles for DRR, including vulnerability reduction, community involvement, and international cooperation, which later informed frameworks like the Hyogo and Sendai.

3. Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015)

The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) sought to build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, with an overarching goal to reduce losses in lives, assets, and economies by 2015.

Five Priorities for Action:

  1. Ensure DRR is a National and Local Priority
  2. Identify, Assess, and Monitor Disaster Risks
  3. Use Knowledge, Innovation, and Education
  4. Reduce Underlying Risk Factors
  5. Strengthen Disaster Preparedness

While the HFA helped establish national DRR platforms in several countries, it faced challenges, especially in measuring progress and achieving substantial reductions in disaster losses, leading to the more ambitious Sendai Framework.

4. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Established in 1992, the UNFCCC aims to mitigate climate change impacts by limiting greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate effects, which are linked to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters.

Key Contributions to DRR:

  • Kyoto Protocol (1997): Set legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries, aiming to address the causes of climate-related risks.
  • Paris Agreement (2015): Targets to keep global temperature rise below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a more ambitious aim of 1.5°C. This agreement underscores adaptation as a key pillar, which includes measures to reduce vulnerabilities to climate-driven disasters.

The UNFCCC promotes National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and financial mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund to support DRR efforts in climate-vulnerable countries.

5. The Paris Agreement

Adopted by 196 countries at COP21 in 2015, the Paris Agreement aims to address the climate change crisis by committing countries to emissions reduction targets and climate resilience measures.

DRR Components:

  • Adaptation Communication: Countries must outline their efforts to adapt to climate impacts, directly influencing disaster resilience and preparedness.
  • Loss and Damage: Recognizes that some climate-related disasters will exceed adaptive capacities, so strategies for addressing irreversible losses are essential.
  • Climate Finance: High-income countries commit to providing financial support to assist lower-income countries in managing climate risks and enhancing DRR.

6. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Adopted in 2015, the 2030 Agenda acknowledges the importance of reducing disaster risk in achieving sustainable development. Ten of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are related to DRR, including:

  • Goal 1: End poverty in all forms, with targets to build resilience to climate and disaster shocks.
  • Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, focusing on urban planning to mitigate disaster risks.
  • Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change, with direct reference to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacities.

The SDGs emphasize a holistic approach where DRR is essential for sustainable development, highlighting interdependencies between social, environmental, and economic goals.

7. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

UNDRR (formerly UNISDR) is the United Nations entity responsible for coordinating global DRR efforts and supporting countries in implementing the Sendai Framework.

Key Functions:

  • Data and Reporting: UNDRR helps in gathering and disseminating disaster-related data to track progress on Sendai's targets.
  • Capacity Building: Provides technical support and training for countries to build robust DRR systems.
  • Policy Advocacy and Coordination: UNDRR works with various UN agencies, regional bodies, and governments to ensure coherent DRR policies and frameworks are integrated into national and regional agendas.
  • Global Assessment Report (GAR): Published by UNDRR, the GAR provides a comprehensive overview of global disaster risk and emerging trends, aiding policymakers and stakeholders in planning effective DRR strategies.

Key Terminologies and Concepts

  • Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): DRR encompasses all efforts aimed at analyzing and managing the causal factors of disasters to reduce exposure, minimize vulnerability, and enhance preparedness.
  • Vulnerability and Resilience: Vulnerability is the susceptibility to harm, while resilience is the ability to recover from disasters. Both are core concepts in international DRR strategies.
  • Mitigation, Adaptation, and Preparedness: Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or prevent hazard impacts; adaptation is about adjusting systems to cope with risks, particularly those from climate change; and preparedness includes actions that enable an effective response to emergencies.

These international frameworks and policies collectively establish a multi-dimensional approach to disaster management, addressing everything from immediate disaster preparedness to long-term climate adaptation. They emphasize the importance of integrating DRR into national policies and sustainable development plans, recognizing that reducing disaster risks is critical to resilient, sustainable growth.




Disaster Management fyugp note 

PG and Research Department of Geography,
Government College Chittur, Palakkad
https://g.page/vineeshvc

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