Highlights and images for 27 May 2022

The seventh Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 (GP2022) concluded its deliberations without slowing down its pace. Delegates and participants engaged in a high-level dialogue, a Mid-term Review plenary, five thematic sessions as well, as side events, learning labs, a special session on scaling up joint action to reduce climate-related disasters, and the closing ceremony.

The high-level dialogue under the title “Accelerating Financing for Risk Prevention” discussed ways to increase financial flows dedicated to pre-disaster risk assessment and prevention. Participants stressed that disproportionately more resources are devoted to relief, rehabilitation, and emergency response, than to prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. They underscored the importance of innovative financial mechanisms for disaster risk reduction (DRR) to induce investment in key adaptation systems; urged for planning and funding mechanisms, involving both the public and private sectors, that trickle down to the community level; noted the need to structure both public and private finance towards building resilience; and underscored the importance of creating a pillar for anticipatory action, engaging with developing countries to address existing constraints in accessing DRR financing.

The Mid-term Review plenary focused on effective multilateral risk governance and risk management. Participants highlighted adaptive governance, institutional coherence, and the need to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and inclusiveness of the multilateral system. They exchanged opinions on how to enable the structural transformation needed to build resilience to disasters and ensure no one is left behind.

Five thematic sessions focused on:

• cooperation across borders for strengthened capacity and action;
• enhancing understanding and management of disaster risk in humanitarian contexts;
• empowering the most at risk through social protection;
• embedding risk in investment decisions; and
• transformative financing options to build resilience.

The special session addressed ways to scale up joint action to reduce climate-related disasters. Participants, inter alia: suggested investigating the trade-offs and compromises needed to ensure sufficient resilience; drew attention to the need for local governments to understand how to manage risk and resilience; discussed factors contributing to effective adaptation; urged learning how to address extreme climate phenomena; and suggested engaging local youth and local communities would guarantee resilience.

During the closing ceremony, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Former President of Indonesia, highlighted work to strengthen Indonesia’s disaster management systems and urged avoiding potential food vulnerability through concerted multilateral action. Elham Youssefian, Inclusive Humanitarian Action and DRR Advisor, International Disability Alliance, presented stakeholders’ priorities, underscoring the need: for a whole-of-society approach; to use and develop traditional and local knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge; and to take urgent unified action to tackle the climate crisis.

Suharyanto, Minister of National Disaster Management Authority, Indonesia, summarized the outcomes of GP2022, focusing on the need for, inter alia: integrated DRR, development, and finance policies; systemic changes; scaled up climate action; and a participatory and human-rights based approach. Manuel Bessler, Deputy-Director General, Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland, thanked Indonesia for a successful, inclusive, and "buzzing" conference, and announced that the eight Global Platform on DRR will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2025. Mami Mizutori, Head, UNDRR, shared her reflections on GP2022, stressing: “we can never underestimate the role that human decisions play”; the great diversity of people at GP2022; and the rich variety of topics and fields discussed during the week.

On the margins of the fifth and last day of GP2022:

• eight side events discussed: governance of risks in transboundary waters; anticipatory action; advancing DRR for health facilities; mainstreaming gender equality, disability, and social inclusion in anticipatory action; implementing integration; urban multi-hazard risk policy transitions; new media for disaster and climate resilience; and the role of regional standby mechanisms in disaster preparedness and response; and
• five learning labs focused on anticipatory action and impact-based forecasting; comprehensive disaster and climate risk management; Sendai Framework monitoring; opportunities for shared risk analytics; and a subnational risk index.