Disasters could increase by 40 percent by 2030 due to ongoing environmental degradation, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) warned on Thursday, Aug. 22.
“Disasters are expected to increase by 40 percent by 2030. This stark projection indicates that we are going off course from the goal we set in the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction, the Sendai framework in 2015,” Marco Toscano Rivalta, the chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said during the media launch of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).
The Sendai Framework, which was adopted in 2015, is a global agreement aimed at reducing disaster risk and loss by 2030.
“We are building risk rather than decreasing it,” he added.
With this, Rivalta reiterated the importance of enhancing disaster preparedness and response, emphasizing that the focus should be on prevention and risk reduction.
“We need all hands on deck, including leaders from governments, civil society, science, academia, the private sector, as well as the media,” he added.
Disaster-prone region
Rivalta noted that Asia-Pacific, home to 60 percent of the global population, is the most disaster-prone region in the world.
“That is why we are bringing them together in Manila to set shared priorities, share innovative solutions, strengthen regional collaborations, and make actionable commitments to accelerate disaster risk reduction,” he said.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga said over 2,500 participants, from 62 countries, are expected to attend the APMCDRR which will be held from October 14 to 18 at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
This year's APMCDRR centers on the theme "Surge to 2030: Amplifying Ambition in the Asia-Pacific to Fast-Track Disaster Risk Reduction."
The 2024 APMCDRR will be structured around the pillars of disaster risk reduction funding, gender-sensitive and inclusive disaster risk governance, localization, and urban and rural resilience.
According to Loyzaga, the 2024 APMCDRR provides “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,” she went on.
The DENR chief said the Philippines’ hosting of the APMCDRR will increase access to disaster risk financing.
It is also expected to forge partnerships and strategic collaborations for capacity development, and country-to-country exchange in disaster risk reduction science, engineering, technology, and innovations.
As 2,500 participants from all over the world are expected to take part, the government also expects a boost to the local economy through potential tourism revenue, job creation, and support for local businesses.
The APMCDRR, a biennial conference convened by the UNDRR, is a primary regional platform that brings together global leaders to monitor, review, and strengthen cooperation for the regional implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
The Sendai Framework was created to guide disaster risk reduction efforts from 2015 to 2030.