Final report of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
Addendum to the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, Report of the Secretary-General: General Assembly Economic and Social Council A/54/132/Add.1 – E/1999/80/Add.1
The present report conveys the views of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Committee assesses progress during the Decade, and provides concluding observations about future needs as well as recommendations for arrangements to ensure continued international commitment for disaster prevention into the twenty-first century.
The report first provides a summary review of salient developments in primary areas of disaster reduction. It highlights how scientific knowledge and technical experience can best be utilized in conjunction with public policies to minimize social disruption and economic loss from natural and similar disasters which have an adverse effect on the environment.
The report then concludes that remarkable progress has been made in the acceptance of the desirability and feasibility of prevention policies, and numerous activities promote multidisciplinary commitments to effective disaster reduction.