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Event: Risk Reduction Hub session at the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction High-Level Meeting
Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023, 8:15-9:45 a.m.
Place: Conference Hall 7, United Nations Headquarters (New York)
Main Participants
Hideyuki Nakano (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office), Mami Mizutori (Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Reduction and Head of the United Nations Disaster Reduction Reduction Reduction Reduction and Response Response Organization (UNDRR)), Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra (Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, India), Mr. Wolnei Wolff Barreiros (National Secretary of Civilian Protection and Defense, Brazil), Mr. Kamal Kishore (Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, India), Mr. Takeo Murakami (Counselor for Disaster Management, Cabinet Office), Ms. Soko Vasiti (Director, National Disaster Management Office, Fiji), Dr. Raditya Jati Deputy Minister, System and Strategy, Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB), Indonesia), Dr. Kawol Dhananjay (Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Mauritius), Mr. Enrique Guevara Ortiz, Director General, National Center for Disaster Prevention, Mexico), Mr. Satoshi Nishikawa ( International Cooperation Specialist, JICA)
Background and Objectives
In this era of complex global crises, the risk of disasters due to the effects of climate change is also on the rise. While many countries are experiencing rapid economic development, the economic damage caused by disasters has been on the rise in recent years. As Paragraph 19 of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction stipulates that disaster reduction is the primary responsibility of each country, there is an increasing need for governments to play a role in addressing disaster risks that can hinder sustainable economic growth and to continuously reduce disaster risks. In recent years, not only the countries of the Global South, but also the G7 and G20 countries have been seeking more effective countermeasures and cooperation among nations, regarding disaster reduction as an important theme.
In this session, co-hosted by the Government of Japan (G7 Presidency), the Government of India (G20 Presidency), and JICA, participants discussed the progress and challenges of investment in advance disaster risk reduction, which is a key component of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction, while focusing on the efforts of governments in disaster risk reduction.
Contents
In this session, after opening remarks by Mr. Hideyuki Nakano, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mr. Kamal, Undersecretary, National Disaster Management Authority, India, and Ms. Mami Mizutori, UNDRR Representative, a panel discussion was held by the countries concerned, with Mr. Satoshi Nishikawa, International Cooperation Specialist, serving as moderator.
Mr. Soko, Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency of Fiji, introduced various efforts in Fiji to reduce disaster risks, including relocation and land use regulations to prevent people from living in dangerous areas in the first place, appropriate design of infrastructure taking into account extreme weather and climate change, and better reconstruction of schools and other facilities after cyclone damage. The presentation also included examples of better reconstruction of schools and other facilities after cyclone damage. He also suggested that the discussion on climate change loss and damage should be considered carefully in the field of disaster management.
Mr. Kamal, Deputy Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, India, pointed out the importance of improving the capacity and technical capabilities of stakeholders to better predict the effects of climate change and weather observation performance, improving disaster resilient infrastructure and optimal maintenance of infrastructure in the medium to long term, and strengthening the financial mechanism for better recovery, in addition to strengthening the system to ensure that it is used effectively and timely. In addition to having a financial mechanism for better reconstruction, it is important to strengthen the system so that it can be used effectively and appropriately in a timely manner.
Mr. Radatiya, Deputy Minister of National Disaster Management Agency of Indonesia, also introduced the government’s long-term plan for disaster management from 2020 to 2045, which is reviewed every five years, and the government’s infrastructure investment to be resilient not only to disasters but also to climate change, as well as the government’s disaster pool fund for better recovery and preparedness. The government has also introduced a disaster pooled fund for better recovery and preparedness.
Mr. Takeo Murakami, Counselor for Disaster Prevention, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, introduced that Japan has been steadily investing in disaster risk reduction based on risk assessment for each type of disaster since the Sendai Framework Agreement on Disaster Reduction, that there is a system to provide low-interest loans to private companies that are engaged in disaster reduction based on objective evaluation indicators, and that assistance to developing countries is being provided based on Japan’s disaster experience. On the other hand, he mentioned that early warning alone is not enough to reduce disaster risks, and that it is important to gradually reduce disaster risks through steady investment in disaster prevention.
Mr. Kawol, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Management, Mauritius, stated that although the country has been working on the development of a disaster management law and policy for the steady implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Management, and has been involving communities in the process, weather disasters such as cyclones are on the increase, partly due to climate change, and partly due to financial limitations, the country is not making sufficient investment in disaster management. He also stated that the country is not investing enough in disaster prevention due to financial limitations. He also noted that the community has been making efforts to reduce disaster risks, especially by providing financial support and seeking partnerships with related countries and aid organizations.
Mr. Enrique, Director of the National Center for Disaster Reduction, Mexico, stated that, among the priority actions of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction, Mexico has made progress in understanding disaster risk (1) and developing a disaster response system (4), and is developing risk transfer mechanisms such as insurance, but there is still room for improvement in developing resilient infrastructure that will directly contribute to disaster risk reduction. However, there is still room for improvement in the development of resilient infrastructure that directly contributes to disaster risk reduction. In addition, he shared examples of disaster risk management knowledge sharing and resilient community building through the network of 31 universities.
In the general discussion session, participants discussed ways to effectively reduce disaster risk in the future among countries facing specific disasters, including the structure of Japan’s national land resilience budget and measures to reduce disaster risk using technology, such as earthquake forecasting in Mexico and tsunami warnings in Fiji and Indonesia, as hints to promote investment in disaster reduction in their respective countries. The participants discussed effective measures to reduce disaster risk in the future among countries facing specific disasters.
In closing remarks, Mr. Barreiras, Director General of the National Defense Agency of Brazil, the next G20 chair, and Mr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, the current G20 chair, took the stage and expressed the importance of disaster risk reduction efforts by their respective governments, the importance of building a safe society through cooperation among countries with high disaster risk, and their determination to continue the disaster risk reduction efforts in Brazil. He also expressed his determination to continue the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group that was just launched at the G20, partly on the initiative of India, the chair country of this year’s G20, in the next session in Brazil.
Since the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction, JICA has consistently and sincerely supported and implemented disaster reduction efforts in developing countries, and this session was another opportunity for JICA to impress upon high-level government officials of each country its commitment to disaster risk reduction, especially through investment in disaster risk reduction in advance. This session was especially meaningful in that we were able to convey to the world, not only the countries of the Global South, but also the G7 and G20 frameworks (especially during the G7 meeting in Japan), that we respect and promote these frameworks.
Materials
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