With nations facing multiple crises simultaneously and extreme weather events witnessing a dramatic rise over the past few decades, the UN Secretary-General has called for strengthening disaster risk governance to build a safer and more resilient world. In a message commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that without good disaster risk governance, "bad situations only get worse." Noting that disaster risk isn't the "sole responsibility" of local and national authorities, Guterres highlighted the need for political commitment at the highest level to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. "Good disaster risk governance means acting on science and evidence," he added. COVID-19 and disaster risk reduction The secretary-general also referred to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact, highlighting that lessons from the global crisis can be applied to strengthen disaster risk governance. "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the importance of strengthening disaster risk reduction ... COVID-19 has shown us that systemic risk requires international cooperation," he said. "To eradicate poverty and reduce the impacts of climate change, we must place the public good above all other considerations," he added. Multi-sectoral policies Meanwhile, Mami Mizutori, the special representative of the secretary-general for Disaster Risk Reduction, also highlighted the lessons from COVID-19. In a separate message, she explained that COVID-19 has underscored the need for "clear vision, plans and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence." "We need to see strategies which address not just single hazards like floods and storms but those that respond to systemic risk generated by zoonotic diseases, climate shocks and environmental breakdown," she urged. "Good national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction must be multi-sectoral linking policies in areas such as land use, building codes, public health, education, agriculture, environmental protection, energy, water resources, poverty reduction and climate change adaptation," added Mizutori, who is also the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The International Day The theme of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is strengthening disaster risk governance — one of the Priorities for Action of the Sendai Framework — to build a safer and more resilient world. Disaster risk governance refers to the way in which the public authorities, civil servants, media, private sector, and civil society coordinate at community, national and regional levels in order to manage and reduce disaster and climate related risks. Held every Oct. 13, the International Day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. The International Day was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2009. — UN News
