GDRC Professors invited to the United Nations General Assembly

The University’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC) was invited to take part in the ‘High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030’, at the United Nations General Assembly which took place at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.

The midterm review of the Sendai Framework titled ‘Working Together to Reduce Risk for a Resilient Future’, takes stock of implementation, assesses progress and challenges; identifies shifts in context, new and emerging issues since 2015; and examines options for accelerated and amplified action in risk-informed decision-making, investment, and behaviour.

The MTR SF is also an opportunity to identify and implement renovations, innovations and course corrections to policy, practice, investment and cooperation to prevent, mitigate and reduce existing and emerging risks before 2030.

The High-Level Meeting provided a platform for Member States, the United Nations system partners and other stakeholders to reflect on the findings and recommendations of the Framework and formulate a forward-looking and risk-informed approach to more effectively address systemic risk. The meeting adopted a political declaration to renew commitment and accelerate the functioning of Sendai Framework up to 2030.

GDRC Co-Directors Professor Richard Haigh and Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga said it was a privilege to be invited to take part at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), which is the main policy-making body of the organisation. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

Leaders’ Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction

Professor Amaratunga represented the academia at its Leaders’ Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction, upon invitation by Ms Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Her intervention was on ‘A One Health Approach for ecosystem health and pandemic preparedness’ where she highlighted the need for robust surveillance and early warning systems as a critical component of pandemic preparedness, and the need to advocate a multisectoral, collaborative approach to pandemic preparedness, bringing together health professionals, disaster management experts, and other stakeholders.  

The Leaders’ Roundtable was chaired by H. E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the United Nations General Assembly with Ms. Amina Mohamed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations delivering the opening remarks. 

Professor Amaratunga said the event provided participants with the opportunity to delve deeper into the synergies between the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

“The event to discuss the Sendai Framework ensures a coherent relationship between global stock-takes and other intergovernmental processes with a view to ensuring a risk-informed and prevention-oriented approach to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” she added.

Leaders from all sectors around the world discussed disaster risk reduction and its role in accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda and other key intergovernmental frameworks. This contributed towards the political declaration that was adopted by the UN General Assembly to renew commitment and accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework up to 2030.

Scaling Up Risk Sensitive Urban Development

Professors Amaratunga and Haigh also took part in the ‘Scaling Up Risk Sensitive Urban Development’ session, organised by the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) global partnership. Convened by the UNDRR, MCR2030 has mobilised more than 1,520 local governments from 75 countries and territories, with a combined population of 482 million people. The partnership also includes international organisations, national governments, private sector enterprises, academic organisations, and NGOs with unmatched experience of supporting greater urban resilience.

The Sendai Framework Midterm Review reported ‘limited progress’ at the local level with only 99 countries recording the existence of local disaster risk reduction strategies. The review stated there is ‘a near complete absence’ of local government and community involvement in disaster risk reduction (DRR) planning. A lack of capacity to manage data to strengthen the understanding of risk is identified as one key area to be addressed.

The review recommended that Member States ensure that local level risk governance structures are supported with clear strategies, appropriate authority, and resources.

GDRC’s work with the UNDRR Making Cities Resilient initiative

Professors Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh have been at the forefront of the UNDRR’s Making Cities Resilient initiative since its inception in 2010.  The initiative led by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and its partners supports cities in taking action to reduce disaster risks.

Founding Steering Committee Members from 2010 -2020, both were formally appointed Advocates, for their innovative ideas, high motivation, experience and suggestions for further developing and implementing campaign principles and tools that accelerated the implementation of DRR at the local level.

In 2019, they were the lead authors of the ‘Making Cities Resilient report 2019: A snapshot of how local governments progress in reducing disaster risks in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’, an attempt to identify key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for urban resilience.

‘Making Cities Resilient 2030’ (MCR2030) launched in 2021 and builds on the ten years of experience of its 2010 – 2021 campaign. It will run until the end of 2030, to ensure cities become inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, contributing directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Professor Amaratunga is a member of its ‘Regional Coordination Committee for Europe’, which brings together key regional partners and selected city representatives, responsible for coordinating and ensuring synergies among regional partners in providing technical support to cities to empower them to progress along the resilience roadmap.

In 2023 she was a major contributor for the UNDRR Policy Brief ‘Cities and communities are at the frontline of pandemics, how can local authorities prepare better?’, which recommends ways to protect cities from pandemics, a task complicated by climate change and economic woes.

UK Alliance for Disaster Research Annual Conference 2023

The Global Disaster Resilience Centre is hosting the 2023 Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR) Annual Conference' at the University of Huddersfield on 18-19 December later this year.

The conference's main theme ‘2030 and beyond: Risk-informed decision making, investment, and behaviour’, will highlight the pressing need to address global challenges and manage disaster risks effectively.

Inspired by the MTR SF, the conference will emphasise the importance of disaster risk management and will be a unique opportunity for the UKADR community to gather and advance disaster research.

To view the call for abstracts, associated deadlines and other useful information, visit: https://ukadr2023.buildresilience.org.