Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022

The outcome of GP 2022 was summarized in the co-chair’s Bali Agenda for resilience. The takeaways of the document were:

• There is a need for a whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction(DRR), ensuring no one is left.
• DRR must be at the core of development and finance policies, legislation and plans to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG).
• The real cost of disasters is that of inaction, which must be weighed against investments in DRR.
• Current greenhouse gas emission levels far exceed their mitigation, increasing the frequency and intensity of catastrophic events.
• The development of multi-hazard early warning systems, inclusive of communities is at most risk.
• A participatory and human rights-based approach in DRR planning and implementation is crucial as people are affected differently by disasters.
• The need for a transformative recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, to build back better, greener and more equitable.
• Ecosystems should be considered as critical infrastructure and recognized for their basic services, bringing environmental, socio-economic and cultural benefits.
• Recovery and reconstruction are most successful when they are community-driven and support existing local structures and resilience-building mechanisms.
• DRR & climate change adaptation have the common objective of reducing vulnerability and enhancing capacity and resilience.
• Risk understanding remains limited, particularly regarding emerging and future hazards, with government policies largely reactive.

• Corporates will look for maximizing the profit, disregarding its effect on the environment.
• There are DRR components in investments which far outweigh its negative impact.
• Third-world countries are now fighting to revive their economy after COVID-19.
• The double whammy of natural disasters & COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the livelihoods of people.
• The most important message given by GPDRR is- A participatory & human rights-based approach in DRR planning & implementation is crucial as vulnerable people are affected acutely by disasters.
• Women, disabled persons, aged people, people affected by war and conflicts, and informal labour are some of the vulnerable groups which need to be mobilized and heard with sensitivity.

Some other points which should be focused on here for resilience building are :

• Greater resources for grounded local action, government support and strict enforcement of law and international conventions.
• The resources include evacuation, maintenance of cyclone shelters as well as proper, adequate and timely compensation.
• Government should strictly impose the law and international conventions related to environmental protection.
• Greater focus on building resilience and sustainable livelihoods focusing on a community level.
• In many of the studies by civil societies, it is found that the compensation is equally divided among the most affected, to avoid political turmoil.
• In contrast to this, the tribal communities in India adopt such low-cost traditional technologies that help them mitigate the impact of natural disasters like drought.
• Greater accountability and transparency in relief and rehabilitation efforts are necessary.