- Recently,Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) has warned of new and much larger threats due to extreme climate changes to economies in particular the Asia Pacific region.
- The GAR was launched at the ‘Global Platform’ organised by the by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNISDR).
- The report has outlined major risk to human life from air pollution and biological hazards in addition to other natural disasters like floods, landslides and earthquakes.
- The report has said that economic losses to the extent of 4% of GDP annually are projected if countries don’t invest in DRR (disaster risk reduction).The report has also estimated that an annual investment of $6 billion in DRR strategies would generate benefits of up to $360 billion each year.
- The report has also warned that failure to act more urgently to manage intertwined risks could slow or even reverse progress towards the UN goals on sustainable development which include eradicating poverty and hunger.
- The report has urged the governments to put the Sendai Framework into action shifting focus from disaster management to reducing risk.
- The “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030” was adopted during the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai,Japan in March,2015.It outlines targets and priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks
- The UNISDR was established in 1999 as a dedicated secretariat to facilitate the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- It is mandated to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities.
UN report warns of greater economic threat to nations not investing in DRR
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