Protecting communities: UNISDR and EU regions join forces on International Day for Disaster Reduction

Speaking shortly after the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction , the UNISDR and European Committee of the Regions (CoR) reiterated the importance of building resilience locally and working with communities to mitigate and respond to future potential disasters. The International Day highlights the importance of communities that demonstrate excellence in managing disaster risk to draw attention to the importance of local knowledge, traditions and customs in building more resilient and sustainable societies.

Over the last decade alone within the EU natural disasters have caused 80000 deaths and €95 billion in financial losses. To address this, the UNISDR led the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted earlier this year which the CoR, European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU all contributed to. The Framework explicitly acknowledges the role of local governments in risk reduction and importance of tackling disasters in urban areas. "The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as well as the UNISDR Making Cities Resilient Campaign – both of which were influenced by stakeholders on the local level and last year’s Committee of the Regions report – demonstrate that building resilience to disasters must closely involve the local level," said CoR President Markku Markkula.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides also remarked, "The EU can be satisfied with the final outcome of the Sendai framework. In a few months, we will adopt a European Union action plan on Sendai implementation as one of my main priorities”.

“Globally, only 4% of spending on disasters goes towards disaster prevention and preparedness, with 96% spent on response. This has to change,'' added European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva, one of the UN Global Disaster Risk Reduction Champions.

In the coming years, the disaster risk community, including at the local level, will be engaged on many fronts in implementing the Sendai Framework. “Developing new and building upon existing partnerships that support disaster risk reduction on the local level are key. The EU plays an important role in supporting local and regional authorities to build resilience to disasters and promoting the complementarity between climate and disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and responsible urban planning,” said Paola Albrito, Head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Europe.

"Disasters know no borders which is why we need a coordinated approach at the EU level. We already have EU mechanisms in place like the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Solidarity Fund but what we really need to do now, is to develop an overarching framework that can work as a coherent strategy. A strategy that pinpoints what Sendai means for Europe. Local government must be involved in this" said CoR rapporteur Cllr Harvey Siggs, Leader of Mendip District Council in the UK.

The focus must be on the efficient implementation of disaster risk reduction actions at the local level by improving internal consistency and coherence with policy goals. Improved communication strategies that recognise the increasing role of digital communication, and working with the private sector on factors such as data and insurance schemes, are crucial. Support for local level risk assessments and improving the knowledge on risks and disasters caused by natural hazards and promoting the use of available local resilience assessment tools to develop local action plans and strategies for disaster risk reduction is also vital. To help cities and municipalities implement activities they must be supported in capacity building programmes and peer reviews, and stimulate exchange and transferability of good and innovative practices through such means as city-to-city exchanges and twinnings.

Background Information

The CoR contributed to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction through its participation in the events organised by the UNISDR and its opinion ( post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action: Managing Risks to Achieve Resilience ) led by Cllr Harvey Siggs (UK/ECR).