International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, aims to set the framework for the engagement of all society and countries in disaster risk prevention and reduction (DRR). Prevention and reduction address natural and man-made hazards as well as related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. The framework also guides and monitors the implementation of the principles of action and the tracking of global indicators. It also allows for the progress measurement and mapping to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Indeed, the Sustainable Development Goals, including the Sendai Framework and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, have established a global agenda for advancing effective DRR and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) policies based on science and research. This collective effort has advanced goals toward a more resilient society despite the complexity of the challenge. These may be the exacerbation of the frequency and intensity of extreme climate risks or the limitations of traditional siloed approaches to risk management.

The path to resilience requires the continuous promotion of a culture of risk and disaster prevention, including disaster mitigation and adaptation. In this way, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 13 as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Over the past 30 years, this day has become a major turning point for global awareness to recognize progress and encourage continued efforts to building a more resilient community on disasters.

In 2016, the UN Secretary-General launched the “Sendai Seven Campaign,” which aims to promote each of the framework’s seven goals over seven years. The 2022 campaign shows us the importance of working on Goal G. This one informs us that we need to significantly increase the availability of multihazard early warning systems (MHEWS) by 2030. It also aims to increase the sharing of information and assessments on disaster risks, as well as to promote public access to these systems.

As part of overall disaster risk reduction management, multi-hazard early warning systems are increasingly seen as essential to reducing the impacts of hazards. The majority of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have identified MHEWS as a top priority. Despite efforts, only 40% of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) members reported having such systems in place (1). Moreover, 34 out of 195 countries have reported at least one G-goal indicator (there are 7) for the period 2015-2018 (2). In short, one-third of the world’s population is not covered by early warnings.

Despite the fact that North America stands out for its preparedness and response capabilities and early warning systems, there are still significant barriers to overcome, among them:

• For early warnings to translate into rapid action, national, provincial, and local plans need to be better coordinated-not just in terms of communication systems, but also in terms of knowledge about how to act once the warning is issued. 
• Successful operation of a MHEWS requires secure long-term funding and also implies that the social components (e.g., community participation, communication) are as important as the technical aspects of the warning system.
• Even today, civil security decision makers and climate service providers continue to underestimate the extent to which decision-making is influenced by risk perception, including cognitive biases.

Investing in risk understanding, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation, including multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), is the foundation for sustainable development. These are considered one of the most important aspects in reducing disaster risk in societies. It is therefore essential to prioritize them and make them people-centered, emphasizing the importance of an integrated and comprehensive societal approach and greater participation of communities at risk.