This afternoon’s meeting discussed 2019’s plan on risk reduction in regards to the climate. From 1998-2017 1.3 million were killed by climate concerns and the numbers appear to be continuing to rise. The UN wants to take action and find ways to get these numbers to drop which is why a plan was drawn explaining potential risks and how to stop them. By taking Stock of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (the plan from 2015-2030), we inform the public of potential risks thereby creating momentum to find ways to stop them. 

On the 13th and 14th of May, a world reconstruction conference was held with small island states (known as the Resilience Initiative (SISR) meeting) and the feedback was quite positive. We saw the inclusion of women at forty percent with over 3500 participants, 182 member states, 70+ ministers, 10 learning labs, 25 official sessions, etc. 

However, despite all the progress being made, the risk is increasing across all 17 SDGs. DRR financing strategies are needed across sectors at all levels and for development to be sustainable, it needs to be risk-free. What the UN needs to understand is that risk is complex and systematic; it can no longer be addressed hazard by hazard and that we must change our understanding.

Meeting: 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Date/Location: Wednesday, July 3, 2019; 15:45-17:30; Conference Room 12, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY
Speakers: Government of Switzerland, State Secretary, Mr. Manuel Sager

  United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Stakeholder Mechanism, Marwa El-Menshawy

Director of UNDRR, Kirsi Madi

Commissioner for Political Affairs African Union, Minata Samate Cessouma,

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Norbert Barthle

Pacific Community, Audrey Aumua,

Head of National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN) of Peru, Javier Abugattas Fatule

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Koko Warner

Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN, Jürg Lauber

Chief of the New York Liaison Office of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr. Marco Toscano-Rivalta

Director of UNDRR, Kirsi Ma

Written By: WIT Representative Ikonii Chiabi