06 Jun 2017

GIDRM highlights German Contributions to Disaster Risk Management on two International Conferences in Cancún, Mexico

by GIDRM

The 5th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction convened from 24-26 May 2017 in Cancún, Mexico. It was the first meeting of the international disaster risk reduction community since the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. More than 4,000 participants from over 170 countries discussed progress made in implementing the Sendai Framework and strategies needed to achieve the goals of the framework. A major focus of several plenary and working sessions was on how to increase coherence in implementation and monitoring between the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In numerous side events and on the market place, participating organizations showcased innovative approaches and methods for DRR and fostered partnerships for resilience.

As part of the preparatory days for the Global Platform, the Mexican Government also hosted a Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference. This conference built on the outcomes of past Early Warning Conferences hosted by Germany (1998, 2003 and 2006) and focused on how countries can improve the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warnings as well as risk information and assessments. It was attended by more than 400 early warning experts.

The German Initiative for Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM) was actively engaged in both conferences. At the Global Platform 2017, GIDRM co-organized a side event on “Resilient Businesses”. Representatives from partner organizations like the Asian Disaster Prepared­ness Center (ADPC), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the United Nations Social and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) presented approaches developed within the GIDRM (e.g. Hotel Resilient, SME Resilience) that help small and medium enterprises to assess their disaster risk and identify risk reduction measures.

On the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference, GIDRM together with members from its scientific network (e.g. German Aerospace Center, DLR; German Weather Service, DWD) organized a side event that discussed challenges and approaches for multi-hazard early warning on multiple scales. In addition, GIDRM published a factsheet that showcases the expertise of German organizations, scientific institutions, and private sector companies in implementing systemic multi-hazard early warning systems. This contributes to the initiative’s objective to strengthen the German contribution to improved disaster risk management worldwide and match the demand for specialized services and technologies ‘Made in and with Germany’ more effectively.