The second day of the seventh Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 (GP2022) concluded preparatory events, setting the stage for the main part of the meeting, which kicks off on Wednesday, 25 May.
The third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-III), the second Stakeholder Forum, and the fifth World Reconstruction Conference (WRC-5) concluded their deliberations, drawing valuable conclusions on the way forward on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and implementation of the Sendai Framework.
To dive deeper, read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin Daily Report.
Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference
On its second and final day, MHEWC-III further explored thematic perspectives. Participants discussed how to best communicate and disseminate warnings, leverage private sector contributions, transition from mainly reactive to anticipatory action, and coordinate DRR with humanitarian efforts. A high-level panel discussed what is needed to deliver on a "clear moral imperative" to make natural hazard early warning a reality for all of humanity by 2027. During the closing session, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral collaboration as well as adequate funding to reach this target and to reduce the risk from climate-related hazards that nearly half of humanity is already facing.
Second Stakeholder Forum
The Stakeholder Forum devoted its morning sessions to a set of interactive and outcome-oriented smaller parallel discussions, focusing on: the gap between science and technology, and practice at local level; local implementation of the Sendai Framework; disaster risk governance; integrating DRR into climate change policy and action; DRR financing; and the mid-term review of the Sendai Framework.
In the afternoon, a plenary session summarized the key messages from the parallel sessions, highlighting, inter alia, the need to: move away from one-size-fits-all approaches; make local communities the protagonists of change; achieve policy integration between DRR and climate change policies; and incorporate DRR considerations in all investment decisions. A second plenary session focused on the main messages from the constituency sessions, which took place on Monday 23 May, portraying the views of major groups and stakeholders. The closing session heard about experiences with disaster risk management from around the world and summarized key take-home messages from the Stakeholder Forum on the path ahead.
The Fifth World Reconstruction Conference
WRC-5 convened for its final day, addressing themes around disaster risk recovery in conflict zones as well as technical sessions on managing complex crises, financing, and pre-disaster recovery plans.
The plenary session on disaster risk recovery in conflict zones explored the unique governance challenges posed by the intersection of conflict and disaster risk recovery, with panelists noting a myriad of problems to be resolved. They suggested solutions must: be integrated; sensitive to conflict, including its source and drivers; and look for opportunities to reduce conflict through DRR plans.
During the closing, participants heard the highlights of the WRC-5 Communique, which, inter alia: calls for a commitment to a resilient recovery process to build back better, putting agency in the hands of the affected people; recognizes that critical infrastructure recovery requires strong collaboration with civil society, including local knowledge holders; and seeks to develop gender responsive recovery governance strategies and processes.
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Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference
Participants gather for the session on digital networks and technologies for reaching communities at risk
Omar Abou-Samra, Global Disaster Preparedness Center
A slide from the presentation of Joe Lynch, Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) on how to network with communities
Abhishek Modi, Google
Jothiganesh Shanmugasundaram, World Food Programme (WFP)
Kara Siahaan, Head, Anticipation Hub
Phoebe Shikuku, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Rabeya Sultan, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
Nelson Tivane, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Mozambique
Faith Mitheu, University of Reading, UK
Delegates play DRR bingo as part of an interactive exercise
Anil Pokhrel, Chief Executive, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal
Guleid Artan, Director, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC)
Ken O'Flaherty, Regional COP26 Ambassador for Asia-Pacific and South Asia
Selwin Charles Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action
Mami Mizutori, Head, UNDRR
Franz Breitwieser, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Austria
Dwikorita Karnawati, Director, Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG)
Vincent Piket, EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam
Second Stakeholder Forum
Panel speakers during a session on DRR financing
Emily Gvino, University of North Carolina, US
Mareike Bentfeld, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and Elham Youssefian, International Disability Alliance
Modiegi Radikonyana, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), South Africa
Aashish Kullar, UNDRR
Terry Otieno, Global Focal Point, Sendai Children and Youth Stakeholder Group
Sophie Rigg, Action Aid UK
Maite Rodriguez, Guatemala Foundation and Women and Habitat Network for Latin America and the Caribbean
A session discusses a 'whole of society approach' in implementing the Sendai Framework
Juan Angel de Gouveia, President, Latin American Network of NGOs of Persons with Disabilities and Their Families (RIADIS)
Martha Moghbelpour, Desk for Social Action
Hans-Peter Teufers, ARISE Vice-Chair
Dan Perell, Baháʼí International Community
During the closing plenary, delegates share their key thoughts in a word cloud.
Participants water a plant during the closing plenary to symbolize the unified approach needed for further growth.
Fifth World Reconstruction Conference
Panel speakers during the Rethinking Recovery Governance Models session
Ronald Jackson, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Chair, International Recovery Platform Steering Committee
Niels Holm-Nielsen, Head, Global Facility for Disaster Risk Recovery
Antonio Freitas, Deputy Finance Minister, Timor-Leste
Jerry Chandler, Director General, Civil Protection, Haiti
A slide demonstrates the extent of damage in Haiti due to disasters
Nathan Nkomo, Chief Director, Civil Protection, Zimbabwe
Anita Chandra, Vice President, RAND Corporation
A delegate takes notes during the session
A traditional Balinese performance is held during the closing plenary
Paola Albrito, UNDRR
Asako Okai, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau
Ella Nurela, Association of Indonesian Women with Disability
Ricardo Mena, Director, UNDRR
Around the Venue
A delegate visits the poster session for MHEWC-III
Some of the materials on display as part of the poster session
Delegates participate in a meet and greet exercise to share experiences
Selwin Charles Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, and Felix Dodds, University of North Carolina, US
UN Security around the venue
Delegates around the venue
