08 – 13 May 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland
GRF Davos was again present at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction on reducing disaster risk and building resilience of communities and nations, convened by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), in Geneva, Switzerland from May 8-13 2011. The core function of the Global Platform is to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The Third Session was held under the overall theme: Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow – Increased Investment in Local Action, and focuses on the inclusion of the World Reconstruction Conference (hosted by the World Bank – www.wrc-2011.org) addressing the following 3 main topics:
1) Recovering and Reducing Risks after Disasters - World Reconstruction Conference;
2) Understanding the Economics of Disaster Risk Reduction; and,
3) Strengthening Alliances for Climate Change Adaptation and Development.
For the Foundation Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, Dr. Walter Ammann, Dr. Marco Ferrari, Professor David Alexander, Marc Stal and Madeleine Colbert participated in the Global Platform. In addition to an exhibition booth GRF Davos was asked for active participation in several sessions and conducted a joint side event on “Science meets Practice – How can Science Contribute to Risk Reduction, Disaster Management and Climate Change Adaptation?”
GRF Davos focused its large presence on promoting the integrative approach in Disaster Risk Reduction.
The GRF Davos booth, provided up-to-date information on the principles of Integrative Disaster Risk Management, answered questions on the last decade’s major catastrophes, and provided possibilities to actively take part in the selection of the next IDRC Davos conference topics.
With Dr. Marco Ferrari GRF Davos is actively involved in the mid-term review process of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
Marco Ferrari is one of the members of the ISDR-Advisory Board on the Hyogo Framework for Action. He was asked and invited to do so due to his earlier involvement in the elaboration of the HFA as the Chairman of the then Drafting Committee. As mentioned in the acknowledgments of the Review, actually, his special focus in the review work was to help in defining the issue of international governance for disaster risk reduction. He was equally involved in brainstorming on post-HFA issues, as together with others, he considers it to be highly important to already now send clear messages not only on what has to be kept from the HFA but also with regard to the direction in which the DRR has to travel in the years after 2015. In the third session of the GPDRR his attention will be on the implementation of the outcomes of the HFA Mid-Term-Review. Further information on the Hyogo Framework for Action and GRF Davos' collaboration with UN-ISDR is available here.
Monday, 09 May 2011
Dr. Walter Ammann was asked to participate as a speaker in the IPL-ICL Round Table Discussion on “Towards a dynamic and global development of the International Programme on Landslides ( IPL)” on Monday, 9 May 2011. The session's main objective was to formulate an action plan for building the resilience of nations and community by strengthening regional activities and capacity in landslide disaster risk reduction. Dr. Walter Ammann addressed the pressing issue of "Landslides and hazard mapping and gaps to be addressed" in his keynote speech.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
On Tuesday, 10 May, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the Third Session, which is being attended by approximately 3,000 participants, including representatives from over 170 governments, 20 ministers and 30 mayors, and 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Throughout the day, participants met in high-level plenary sessions, roundtables on preparedness, nuclear emergencies, local action and wildfire risk, as well as a dialogue with parliamentarians and mayors and a briefing on the 2011 Global Assessment Report.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Yesterday, on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 from 12.45 – 13.45 GRF Davos conducted a side event on “Science meets Practice – How can Science Contribute to Risk Reduction, Disaster Management and Climate Change Adaptation?” jointly organised with the Disaster Prevention Research Institute DPRI of the Kyoto University, the IRDR Integrated Research for Disaster Risk, and the International Council for Scientific Unions. Find more detailed information on the GRF Davos side event here.
In cooperation with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Save the Children and the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency an event on "Protecting public health from disaster risk" was featured at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2011. As GRF Davos recognised Holistic Health Management as one of our time's major challenges, Corina Sutter, Project Officer at GRF Davos, participated in the event.
Large natural catastrophes immediately endanger public health within the area affected with respect to not only loss of life but also injuries and disabilities, impending spread of disease and break down of health facilities and services. Against such a background measures to intervene with and recover from the disastrous event cannot be implemented at their fullest, affecting communities even longer while additionally being exposing to major health threats.
Integrating the health workforce in risk reduction and disaster management activities can reduce the loss and damages from natural disasters. National community resilience enhancing action plans presented from Indonesia and New Zealand impressively demonstrate, how local action at the individual level reduce the risk of major public health threats in the aftermath of a destructive natural disaster. In order to keep communities safe and healthy, prevention and preparedness measures must especially rely on communication, learning, adaptation, risk awareness and social capital activation. But also safe hospitals and resilient health systems, which can only be achieved in joint action from all sectors at all levels of society, are key to protecting public health form the impact of disaster risks. Further information on the topic is provided on the GRF Davos' One Health Summit information page.
As a closing of the day GRF Davos invited to a networking reception at the GRF Davos booth which was attended by approximately 70 participants.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Dr. Marco Ferrari delivered an official plenary statement.
The complete statement is available as a PDF here.
Dr. Walter Ammann participated in the rountable discussion "Mountains of Risk", jointly organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Swiss Confederation.
The cultural heritage and traditions of mountain communities have, for centuries, contributed to resilience in the face of earthquakes, landslides and avalanches. Now, climate change is presenting new and particular challenges in these vital regions as well as for their downstream neighbors. Glacial retreat radically transforms local hydrological systems in many communities that rely on glacial waters for agriculture and basic needs. Changes to the hydrological cycle, persistent changes to land cover, and forest degradation can amplify seismic risk by triggering landslides. This interaction of hazard risks is a shared feature in mountain systems. The roundtable will discuss the disaster risks in mountain systems and identify opportunities for cooperation and shared learning between mountain states. It will reinforce the unique contribution of mountain cultures to the practice of disaster risk reduction and resilience.
Dr. Ammann raised the need for integrative disaster risk managagement highlighting that it does not matter which disaster kills people - the focus should be on reducing the death toll. Additionally he emphasized the point that mountains are the beginning of a watershed and respectively the beginning of downstream problems implying management issues and financial risk sharing.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, Nigeria providing to a general framework for promoting collaboration between GRF Davos and the CDRM&DS in S&T areas of mutual interest and in University level education and PhD-programs. Further information on the collaboration and the MoU singing is available >>>here.
The Iranian Delegation from the City of Mashad, I.R. Iran, led by the Mayor of Mashad and invited by GRF Davos visited the Mayor of Geneva, Mrs. Sandrine Salerno to discuss risk reduction and disaster management strategies in urban areas.
Friday, 13 May 2011
The first Risk Award was announced at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as the conference came to a close.
For the first time, Munich Re Foundation, the Global Risk Forum and United Nations secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) join forces and offer €100,000 to a risk reduction project that will contribute to increasing people’s resilience to disasters, especially in developing communities which are most at risk.
Further information on the IDRC Risk Award can be found here.
Daily Reports of the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction:
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Further Information on the UN-ISDR Global Platform:
Global Platform Programme
GRF Davos Side Event
GRF Davos and UN-ISDR
IDRC Risk Award
IPL-ICL Round Table Discussion
The Hyogo Framework for Action
