Science is used for Disaster Risk Reduction
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:49:00 BST
At the recently concluded UN World Conference on Disaster Risk reduction, a key UNISDR Science and Technical Advisory Group Report 2015 entitled “Science is used for Disaster Risk Reduction” was launched.
During the negotiations for the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
Member States have recognised the importance of science and technology to reduce disaster risk and requested to support the implementation of the priorities for action outlined in this new framework. Science and technology’s continued advancements and research have allowed us to apply strategies and policy to mitigate risks and build resilience to natural and human made disasters in ways that were unimaginable 20 years ago.
The importance of science and technology in better understanding the processes before, during and after disasters is becoming increasingly important. Climate change has meant that an increasing number of the world’s population would be impacted by a climate-based disaster. Additionally, the economic costs continue to rise. Indeed, within an increasingly interconnected world, we have already started to see disaster events in Asia impacting the economies and livelihoods of countries and people in Europe, Africa or the Americas.
This report discusses the role of science and technology in disaster risk reduction and management but also provides commitments on behalf of the science and technology communities to assist with the implementation of the Post- 2015 Framework.
GDRC’s Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga was involved in the development of the UNISDR case study repository and supported and contributed towards this report.
A copy of the report can be accessed here: http://preventionweb.net/go/42848
