The world has experienced many successes in reducing loss of life from extreme weather events and UN Member States committed to substantial reductions in the numbers of people affected by disasters and economic losses when they adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction two years ago. 

Advances that are being made in risk governance, early warning systems, better disaster preparedness and response, could be overwhelmed if we do not fill the “ambition gap” by increasing significantly existing pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stepping up financial commitments. 

None of the world’s leading industrial powers are doing nearly enough, let’s hope COP23 provides some impetus to correct this.

Date:

13 Nov 2017

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)