The High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 opened on Thursday. After an opening segment, delegates adopted a Political Declaration on the Midterm Review aimed at advancing action on disaster risk reduction.
Want to dig deeper? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.
UNGA President Csaba Kőrösi expressed the need for urgency in government actions. “Conventional solutions are not enough, nor are scaled up conventional solutions”, he said adding that “We need a radical change in how we define and address risks.”
Katalin Éva Veresné Novák, President of Hungary, described the success of the Hungary Helps Programme providing assistance to 54 countries for disaster risk reduction. Mark Anthony Phillips, Prime Minister, Guyana highlighted the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) regional strategy and framework to strengthen disaster risk governance on disasters through coordination and collaboration.
Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Prime Minister of Tonga, highlighted the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Mutale Nalumango, Vice President, Zambia, called for international support from development partners in the implementation of relevant sustainable development policies and, as Chair of the African Group, expressed interest in constructive arrangements for addressing loss and damage at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
In a day-long plenary session, delegates shared views on actions for advancing implementation on disaster risk reduction. In their statements, they discussed progress to date on the Sendai Framework; the impact of recent crises; the use of data, science, and technology; early warning systems; linkages with other UN processes; multi-stakeholder involvement and collaboration; and solidarity between countries and communities, among other issues.
A unique Leaders' Roundtable was held over a formal lunch, enabling delegates to convene for informal dialogues on a range of select issues. Topics ranged from risk-informed investment and financing to comprehensive climate and disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction (DRR) in fragile settings, and the One Health approach.
The UNDRR Disaster Risk Reduction Hub also reconvened, with a session dedicated to Early Warning for All.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of the High-Level Meeting of the Midpoint Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction will be available on Monday, 22 May 2023 at https://enb.iisd.org/midterm-review-sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction.
Opening Session
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Mutale W.K. Nalumango, Vice President, Zambia
Mwanahamisi Singano, Women and Gender Stakeholder Group
Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
Katalin Novák, President of Hungary
Mark Anthony Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana
View of the UNGA hall during the opening session
Siaosi Sovaleni, Prime Minister of Tonga
Themba Masuku, Deputy Prime Minister, Eswatini
Shawn Edward, Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Saint Lucia
Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management
Mustafa Kemal Kilinç, Türkiye earthquake survivor
Sakiasi Ditoka, Minister of Rural and Maritime Development, Fiji
Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, Mozambique
Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Jamaica
Sheralizoda Bahodur Ahmadjon, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection, Tajikistan
Emilie Enger Mehl, Minister of Justice and Public Security, Norway
Annelies Verlinden, Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal, Belgium
Ambrose Dery, Minister for the Interior, Ghana
Taina Bofferding, Minister of the Interior and of Equality between Men and Women, Luxembourg
Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Barbados
Christos Stylianides, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Greece
Leaders’ Roundtables
Csaba Kőrösi, President of the UNGA
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
From L-R: Jessica Sy, Assistant Vice President, SM Development Corporation; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency; and Mathieu Verougstraete, Economic Affairs Officer, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Suriya Chindawongse, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN
Mathieu Verougstraete, Economic Affairs Officer, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with Marcin Ociepa, Vice-Minister of National Defense, Poland
Jessica Sy, Assistant Vice President, SM Development Corporation; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
Annelies Verlinden, Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal, Belgium
Asako Okai, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UN Development Programme Crisis Bureau
Patricia Danzi, Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Germany
Emilie Enger Mehl, Minister of Justice and Public Security, Norway
Reception and Launch of the Exhibition "Disasters are not natural"
Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
Csaba Kőrösi, President of the UNGA
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
Søren Dahlgaard, artist
Mary Mattingly, artist
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, with artists from the exhibition
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
