The Asia-Pacific region is facing a daunting increase in disaster risk, with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) warning of a projected 40 percent surge in disasters by 2030. This alarming forecast underscores the urgent need for collective action to reduce disaster risks and enhance regional preparedness.
“This stark projection indicates that we are going off course from the goal we set in the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction, the Sendai Framework in 2015. We are building risk rather than decreasing it,” said Marco Toscano-Rivalta, UNDRR Chief of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, during the media launch of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Manila on Thursday.
The Sendai Framework is a global agreement established to assist countries in planning, responding to, and recovering from disasters. It emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to mitigate disaster risks before they escalate.
Toscano-Rivalta highlighted the necessity for enhanced regional disaster preparedness and response strategies. “Most fundamentally, we need to double down on prevention and risk reduction,” he stressed.
The urgency of accelerating collective efforts in disaster risk reduction will be the focal point of the upcoming APMCDRR 2024. This biennial multi-stakeholder event, convened by the UNDRR, will be hosted by the Philippines in October. The conference aims to bring together governments, organizations, and experts to collaborate on innovative solutions to disaster risks.
Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary and Chair of APMCDRR 2024, expressed optimism about the conference’s potential impact. “The 2024 APMCDRR offers us the chance to come together, share what we have learned, and strengthen the partnerships necessary to move forward,” she stated.
The conference will focus on key areas including securing sustainable and predictable financing for disaster risk reduction, ensuring inclusive participation in decision-making and implementation, integrating disaster risk reduction at the local level, and strengthening early warning systems.
“This meeting is an opportunity to continue our progress, build on our successes, and reinforce our commitment to protecting our communities and ecosystems,” Loyzaga added.
As the Asia-Pacific region grapples with increasing disaster risks, the collective efforts stemming from the APMCDRR 2024 could be pivotal in steering the region towards a more resilient and secure future.
Reference(s):
UN body warns of 40% surge in disasters in Asia-Pacific by 2030
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