2nd Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction

Introduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 shifts the focus from managing disasters to managing risks. Such a shift requires a better understanding of risk in all its dimensions of hazards, exposure and vulnerability - a disaster risk governance that ensures disaster risk is factored into planning and development at all levels across all sectors as well as in disaster preparedness, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction; and cost-benefit analysis to support prioritization of investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR) for long-term resilience. 

The Sendai Framework emphasizes the role of science and technology. It calls to prioritize the development and dissemination of science-based risk knowledge, methodologies and tools, science and technology work on DRR through existing networks and research institutions and strengthened interface between science and policy to support all four priority areas: understanding disaster risk; disaster risk governance; investing in DRR for resilience; and enhancing disaster preparedness for response and to build back better. This is envisaged to be done with support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG). 

To strengthen this process a ‘Science and Technology Roadmap to Support the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030’  was agreed as a result of the UNISDR Science and Technology Conference in January 2016. The Roadmap includes expected outcomes, actions, and deliverables under each of the four priorities of the Sendai Framework.

Further, the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (May 2017, Cancun, Mexico ) highlighted the need to ‘bridge the gap between science and technology and policy-making to ensure that the strategies required by 2020 are sound, including that they anticipate emerging risk patterns’.

DRR and Science and Technology in Asia

Asia has been the world’s hotspot of economic development and innovation in terms of science and technology over recent decades. At the same time, the region continues to be highly exposed and vulnerable to disasters. Science and technology-based DRR was a priority in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in Asia.

UNISDR established the Asian Science Technology and Academia Advisory Group (ASTAAG), shortly after the adoption of the Sendai Framework in 2015 to achieve the relevant objectives of the Framework in the region. In August 2016, the 1st Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction was organized by the Royal Thai Government Ministry of Science and Technology and UNISDR, in collaboration with ASTAAG, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), Future Earth and other scientific organizations and networks.

The Conference brought together more than 300 senior policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and academics, civil society and the private sector in the realm of disaster risk reduction from across Asia, and more widely, to discuss how to strengthen science based DRR policy development in support of the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Asia.

An outcome document, which consists of twelve recommended actions aligning with and contributing to the ‘Science and Technology Roadmap’, has been agreed as the result of the conference.

At the first Asia Ministerial Conference on DRR (AMCDRR 2016 ) of the Sendai Framework era, the ASTAAG issued a Voluntary Action Statement, comprising of the following focus areas:

1. Research: Promote, prioritize and advance research on natural, social, engineering and technology aspects of disaster risk in an integrated environment; enhance team efforts in hazard and disaster monitoring and research, building on existing networks, universities and initiatives; synthesize top-down bottom-up approaches in research; integrating various stakeholder needs on all levels; develop an initiative for Asia and Pacific science plan on Disaster Risk Reduction with the consensus from nations in Asia and Pacific region.
2. Higher education: Strongly promote multi-disciplinary disaster risk reduction in university education as well as professional training.  This will ensure human resource development in the DRR field.
3. Integration: Ensure that disaster research programs, policies, and applications are integrated across disciplines, and contribute to enhancing policy-making and capacity building for the effective DRR and sustainability; strengthen international research programmes as the think tank on disaster risk reduction and national and regional security.
4. Global / Regional Standards: Develop and coordinate globally / regionally standardized open source information and data, event documentation and analysis procedures, guidelines and frameworks for integrated and effective disaster risk management and sustainable development.
5. Awareness: Raise awareness of decision-makers and the public by promoting effective, integrated, demand-driven, evidence-based disaster risk initiatives and increased advocacy.
6. Increase Funding: Motivate funding sources (public, private, humanitarian, development, scientific, etc.) to allocate priority funding to address the urgent need for applied and basic integrated research on disaster risks.

The way forward

Implementation of the Sendai Framework is in a critical juncture with a fast approaching target to be met by 2020. The Target E of Sendai Framework which is to “Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020” requires a sense of urgency by all countries. Asian countries are well ahead of the curve and have been putting their efforts in developing or revising their national and local strategies. At this point, it is important to ensure that the national and local strategies that are being developed or revised are science and evidence based. At the same time, it is also crucial to inject the importance of science and evidence based disaster risk management approaches at all level in these polices, plans and strategies.

The ASTAAG has been utilized as a key resource to strengthen regional networking and to provide advice and insight to boost national science and technology capacities. As part of this role, ASTAAG has disseminated the successful applications of science and technology in mitigating risks from different types of hazards including flood, earthquake, drought, health and other climate related hazards showcased at this conference.  

Asian science, technology, and academia community agreed during the 1st Asia Science and Technology conference to hold such a Conference every two years in advance of the AMCDRR so that science and technology influences the implementation and monitoring of the Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework. The Government of China announced at the 1st Asian Science and Technology conference to host the 2nd Asian Science and Technology Conference on DRR, in Beijing, China.

The 2nd Asia Science and Technology Conference will provide an opportunity to the science, research, academia community in Asia to continue the much-needed science-policy dialogue to ensure that implementation of disaster risk reduction measures at all level is sound science and technology based.