Why in the news?
India has established the first G20 Disaster Risk
Reduction Working Group.
What is the rationale behind its
establishment?
The consequences of climate change are resulting in
devastating disasters across the world.
● Massive forest fires were recorded in
Greece and Canada
● The river Yamuna breached the highest
flood levels in India a few weeks ago.
● Heat waves are recorded in North
America.
This shows the imperative to not just respond to
disasters but take efforts to prevent or reduce its impacts.
Global initiatives for Disaster Risk
Reduction
1. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015-30:
● It acts as a global road map for
reducing disaster risks and losses.
● It fosters that 'State' has to reduce
disaster risk and its responsibility should be supplemented by other
stakeholders including local government and the private sector.
● The Sendai Framework encourages
adoption of strategies that can address the three dimensions of disaster risk
exposure to
○ hazards
○ vulnerability and capacity
○ hazard’s characteristics
in order to prevent the creation of new risk, reduce existing risk and increase
resilience.
● Inclusive & Multi-hazard Early
warning systems to reduce economic losses & disaster deaths
○ During Cyclone Biparjoy, effective
early warning systems ensured zero-deaths in India
○ Preparedness of the power sector
helped reduce disruption time in power supply post cyclone.
● "Early warning for All"
initiative by the UN - To achieve universal coverage for everyone by 2027.
2. Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure
● Launched by India with the UN in
2019.
● Aims to enhance resilience of
Infrastructure with the capability to withstand climate & disaster risks.
3. G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working
Group
○ G20 countries make up 85% of the
global GDP and two-thirds of the world population
○ G20 countries have a high level
disaster risk exposure incurring annual
average loss of $218 billion or 9% of their average annual investment in
infrastructure.
○ The new working group has been
established under India's Presidency in G20, to help countries undertake
multidisciplinary research & exchange best practices on disaster risk
reduction.
○ Priorities of the working group
i. Early Warning Systems for all hydro-meteorological
disasters with a global outreach.
ii. High commitment towards building disaster and climate
resilient infrastructure systems.
iii. Robust national financial frameworks for disaster risk
reduction.
iv. Strengthened national and global disaster response system
to address the consequences of
increasing frequency and intensity of disasters.
v. Improved application of ecosystems-based approaches to disaster risk.
