MANILA, Philippines (Aug. 22, 2024) — The Asia Pacific region is the most disaster-prone region in the world. It is home to 60 percent of the global population, but it is also the fastest growing regional economy in the world today. The urgency of accelerating collective action on disaster risk reduction is, thus, the highlight of this year’s Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024, a biennial multi-stakeholder event convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and hosted this year by the Philippines.
This year’s theme, “Surge to 2030: Enhancing Ambition In Asia-Pacific To Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction” calls for the collective action of Asia Pacific countries towards the 2030 ambitions of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to resolve current challenges to survive what lies ahead in terms of disaster risks.
The Sendai Framework is a global agreement created to help countries plan, respond, and build back better for disasters, like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other emergencies. It was named after the city in Japan, where UN member-states adopted it on March 18, 2015.
“The 2024 APMCDRR offers us the chance to come together, share what we have learned, and strengthen the partnerships necessary to move forward. This is an opportunity to continue our progress, build on our successes, and reinforce our commitment to protecting our communities and ecosystems,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, chair of the APMCDRR 2024.
The Sendai Framework is an international agreement adopted by United Nations member states to reduce disaster risk and minimize the impacts of disasters on communities and countries. It sets out clear guidelines and priorities for governments, organizations, and individuals to enhance their preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in the face of natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other emergencies. The Framework emphasizes the importance of collaboration, risk reduction, resilience-building, and sustainable development to create safer and more resilient societies. By implementing the Sendai Framework, countries aim to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure from the devastating effects of disasters and to promote a culture of safety and disaster resilience.
The midterm review of the Sendai Framework last year showed, among others, that countries in the region are way behind in their commitments, and there is a need to build a sense of urgency because they are not acting fast enough to meet the goals. Country commitments include citizen awareness towards DRR, disaster waste management, investment in more resilient assets to save money for all levels of government in future disasters which directly align with the priorities of the Sendai Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The Sendai Framework guides us in this journey. It calls us to make the world a safer place by reducing the risks posed by natural and manmade hazards,” said Secretary Loyzaga.
The conference branding was also presented during the media launch with Secretary Loyzaga, Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Department of National Defense, co-chair of APMCDRR 2024, and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy V. Garafil, and other DENR officials.
The event branding depicts converging shields. The shield was chosen to be the main icon in the branding because, during the ancient times, peoples have used shields as tools to protect from harm and defend themselves, their homes and communities. The branding symbolizes all Asia Pacific countries coming together and uniting with their shields to prevent disasters and protect the planet as we surge to 2030.
The shield also represents the goals of the Sendai Framework to understand risks, prevent new risks from emerging, reduce existing risk, and increase resilience. Aligned with the goal to reduce existing risk, the shield symbolizes capacity to mitigate risk. Armed with science, fortitude and determination, countries use their shield to forge forward, armed with the knowledge, resources and commitment.
To represent the goal to build resilience, the shield stands for strategic and tactical intervention and collaboration. As disasters escalate, the combined force of collective action of nations is needed to face challenges and create maximum impact.
The APMCDRR is the main platform in Asia and the Pacific to take stock, monitor, review and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 at the regional level. It will provide an important opportunity to review risk reduction efforts, share innovative solutions and make actionable commitments to accelerate disaster risk reduction by 2030 in the world’s most disaster-prone region.
The Philippines is hosting this year’s biennial conference in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). More than 2,500 participants from 62 countries, as of date, are expected to participate in the event.#
About UNDRR
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) brings governments, partners and communities together to create a safer, more resilient world. UNDRR is the focal point in the United Nations system for disaster risk reduction focused on building resilience and protecting sustainable development gains from disasters. UNDRR is the custodian of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring, and review of progress. UNDRR advocates and supports governments to ensure development is risk-informed. It works within the UN system to convene relevant people, activities and knowledge so that disaster risk reduction is approached cohesively, harmoniously and rigorously. UNDRR works with stakeholders at every level to build political momentum and commitment to action at global regional and local levels to reduce current risk and prevent new risks from arising.
For more information about the Conference, please visit:
https://indico.un.org/event/1010353/
If you are interested to participate, kindly register at: https://indico.un.org/event/1010353/registrations/14779/
