Highlights and images for 13 May 2019

Highlights for Monday, 13 May 2019

The Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction 2019 (GP2019) began preparatory events on Monday, ahead of the forthcoming high-level meeting from 15 – 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland. Many forums and side events took place in and around the main conference venue of the CICG, organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and partners including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), universities, and other international organizations.One of the preparatory events leading up to GP2019 was Fourth World Reconstruction Conference (WRC-4). The two-day conference, which opened Monday at the International Conference Center Geneva (CICG), highlighted inclusivity as a centerpiece of national DRR frameworks. Speakers noted that there are many entry points to begin protecting vulnerable populations from disasters, and cited examples such as giving support to NGOs or care workers, and identifying who is vulnerable before a disaster occurs.Another two-day preparatory event for GP2019 was the Second Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Conference (MHEWS-II), which took place near the conference venue, at the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The conference drew attention to the need for a multi-hazard approach in light of the anticipated impacts of climate change, and participants discussed progress on technology and partnerships to reach people in “the last mile” through MHEWS.A third event in preparation for GP2019 was the Science and Policy Forum at the nearby UN Headquarters, the Palais des Nations. The Forum brought together academics and policymakers from the disaster risk reduction (DRR) community. They discussed the need to reach audiences beyond the DRR community,

expand the traditional scope of academic research to work closely with local communities, and improve the governance of risk through adopting deliberative approaches.Other events associated with GP2019 preparations on Monday included the Fourth Meeting of the Small Island States Resilience Initiative (SISRI) Practitioners’ Network at WMO, a stakeholder forum organized by UNDRR, and several consultations of regional groups.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary report from GP2019, which is available in HTML and PDF.

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World Reconstruction Conference 4

Delegates take their seats as the opening session begins

Asako Okai, ASG, UNDP; Carl Hallergard, Deputy Head of Delegation of EU in Geneva; Maria Luisa Silva, UNDP

Delegates during the opening plenary

Setsuko Saya, Cabinet Office, Japan; Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Goverment of Kerala, India; and Edward Ndopu, UNSG SDG Advocate and disability advocate

Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Goverment of Kerala, India

Swiss yodeling performance at the WRC4 opening ceremony

Science and Policy Forum

Mami Mizutori, SRSG for Disaster Risk Reduction and Flavia Schlegel, International Science Council (ISC) Special Envoy for Science in Global Policy

Jacqueline McGlade, University College London and Maasai Mara University, Kenya, and Andrew Revkin, National Geographic Society

Rajib Shaw, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG); Annisa Triyanti, Global STAG; Qunli Han, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR); Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, National Resilience Council, Philippines; Chadi Abdallah, Arab STAG; Jörgen Sparf, Europe STAG; Hirokazu Tatano, Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes, and Mark Pelling, Global Challenges Research Fund

Qunli Han, IRDR

Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, National Resilience Council, and Chadi Abdallah, Arab STAG

Launch of new journal, “Progress in Disaster Science,” at the Science-Policy Forum

Second Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference

Nicolas Bidault, World Food Programme (WFP)

Martin Todd, University of Sussex; Prisca Chisala, Malawi Red Cross; Luca Dell'Oro, UNDDR; and Gabriela Guimaraes Nobre, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Pablo Suarez, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre

Participants break out into small groups to debate priorities on impact-based forecasting.

Madhad Uprety, Practical Action, Nepal; Brenda Lazarus, FAO; Helen Bye, Met Office, UK; and Ganjuur Sarantuya, National Agency for Meteorology and Environment Monitoring, Mongolia

Petteri Talas, Secretary-General World Meteorological Organization (center) with participants from the Second Multi- Hazard Early Warning Conference