This Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia-Pacific Region identifies three core objectives or end-states for APEC to pursue in the period to 2015, which aligns with the timeframe of the United Nations‘ Hyogo Framework for Action. First, that political decision-makers in APEC economies understand the economic and social costs of disasters and, equally, the human and economic costs of failing to take action. Second, that the gaps in regional disaster risk reduction approaches are identified and this information shared to support the delivery of targeted capacity-building initiatives. And finally, that a suite of practical mechanisms are developed that will aid APEC economies to build business and community resilience.
These objectives should be pursued through coordinated interaction with APEC fora and relevant external bodies, and should complement other international efforts such as the Hyogo Framework.
Also, to achieve these core objectives, APEC economies should endeavour to: prepare for disasters jointly; manage risk prospectively; and use a long-term development approach to recover from disasters. This Strategy suggests a range of areas where cooperation might be warranted.
This Strategy articulates a framework for the APEC Task Force on Emergency Preparedness (TFEP) and APEC Member Economies to facilitate the delivery of meaningful regional, national and community-level contributions in the Asia-Pacific that will strengthen disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery in the region. The Strategy is considered to be a ‘first edition’ and will be developed further in coming years as circumstances, events and priorities change.