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Daily Web Coverage 
of the Second Session, Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
     
   
 
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
 
   
   
   
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Monday, 22 June 2009
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Second Session of the Global Platform 
for Disaster Risk Reduction

15-19 June 2009 |Geneva, Switzerland

 
L-R: Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss Confederation walking with Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya.
Highlights for Tuesday, 
16 June 2009


On Tuesday, 16 June 2009, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the Second Session of the Global Platform in Geneva, Switzerland by video message, stressing that risk reduction is the frontline defense against natural disasters and a crucial investment for the future. He challenged participants to set targets and take practical steps that will reduce the loss of life and damage from disasters.

During the first day of the meeting, participants took up the Secretary-General's challenge by discussing disaster risk reduction issues in a number of sessions, including the opening plenary; informal plenary to prepare for the Hyogo Framework of Action mid-term review; plenary on global and regional perspectives on progress in achieving a substantial reduction in disaster losses; a high-level panel on increasing investment for risk reduction; and a roundtable on early warning.

In an evening ceremony, the UN Sasakawa Award, administered by the UNISDR, was presented to Indonesian geologist Dr Eko Teguh Paripurno for his lifetime contribution and commitment to reduce disaster risk and build capacity at the community level in Indonesia, one of the countries most vulnerable to natural hazards.
OPENING PLENARY

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the plenary via video message.

Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss Confederation, noted cooperation and experience sharing contribute to global solutions for more effective protection measures from natural disasters.
John Holmes, UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Chair of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasized that disaster risk reduction is increasingly being addressed by the international community and is included on the agenda of the UN climate change negotiations.
Rafael Alburquerque, Vice-President of the Dominican Republic, outlined national challenges and policies to address natural disasters in his country.

Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice-President of the Gambia, stressed the need for stronger strategic alliances and partnerships to address resource and financial challenges faced by developing countries.
Loren Legarda, Senator, Philippines, said that reducing disaster risk is a moral imperative for governments. She called for a renewed commitment to disaster risk reduction and urgent policy reforms. 

Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, alerted the Global Platform to existential security threats that climate change poses to his nation.
Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya, drew attention to the effects of climate change facing Africa.
Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, said UNISDR's mission is crucial to the well-being of the world but noted that many governments display insufficient political commitment to action.

The panel during the plenary presentations of global and regional reports on disaster risk reduction with L-R: His Royal Highness Prince Turki Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz, President of Meteorology and Environment, Saudi Arabia; Carlos Foradori, Chair of the ISDR Support Group; Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council; Walter Erdelen, UNESCO; Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Salvano Briceño, UNISDR; Andrew Maskrey, UNISDR; and Marcus Oxley, Global Network of Civil Society Networks for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Andrew Maskrey, UNISDR, presented the main findings from the Global Assessment Report.
Marcus Oxley, Global Network of Civil Society Networks for Disaster Risk Reduction, the gap between national policies and local level actions.
Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, presented a report on water and disasters, underlined the growing linkages between water and disasters.

HIGH LEVEL PANELS: INCREASING INVESTMENT FOR RISK REDUCTION

The dais during the high level panels, moderated by Zoubida Allaoua (center), World Bank, exchanged experiences on initiatives to reduce risk and explored the challenges related to increasing investments for DRR.

ROUNDTABLES

Participants at a roundtable session on early warning.
L-R: The roundtable on early warning was co-chaired by Maryam Golnaraghi, (WMO) and Bhupinder Tomar (IFRC). 

UNITED NATIONS SASAKAWA AWARD FOR DISASTER REDUCTION:

The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is given to individuals or organizations that have been chosen by an independent jury for their  exemplary contributions in the field of disaster reduction. This year's award was presented to Eko Teguh Paripurno (center), Indonesia by UN Under Secretary-General John Holmes (left).


SNAPSHOTS:

L-R: Malou Cugay, Center for Disaster Preparedness, discussing with Andrew Bidnell, Global Network of Civil Society Networks for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Set of the BBC World Debate at the conference center.
Participants consulting in the corridors.
AROUND THE MARKETPLACE:

 UN Under Secretary-General John Holmes visiting the marketplace.


   
   
Related Links
Related Links for Disaster Risk Reduction

Website of the UN International Strategy for Risk Reduction
Website of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Session documents: Provisional Annotated Agenda, Provisional Timetable, and Calendar of Events

IISD RS resources

IISD RS coverage of the Second African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Consultative Meeting, 5-7 May 2009, Nairobi, Kenya
IISD RS coverage of the First Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 4-7 June 2007, Geneva, Switzerland
IISD RS coverage of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe-Hyogo, Japan
IISD RS coverage of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction - Prepcom-1, 6-7 May 2004, Geneva, Switzerland
IISD RS coverage of the Second Conference on Early Warning, 16-18 October 2003, Bonn, Germany 
Climate-L -A news and announcement list on climate change news and policy developments
Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news
MEA Bulletin- Newsletter on key MEAs and their secretariats
Climate Change Policy & Practice - News and information on the actions of international organizations in responding to the problem of global climate change
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