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Highlights for Tuesday, 5 June 2007 On Tuesday, 5 June 2007, the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP/DRR) opened with a video message from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He stressed that risk reduction is the frontline defense against disaster threats and called upon participants to act with common purpose at the first session of the GP/DRR to fulfill the promise of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). In the opening session, Secretary of State Michael Ambuhl, Switzerland, welcomed participants and highlighted the ISDR system as vital to providing support for national disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes delivered the keynote statement and suggested: documenting those countries at greatest risk; mainstreaming policies to reduce huge losses in development efforts; and increasing investment and strengthening institutions through partnerships. Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), outlined AKDN’s DRR activities in a range of countries. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), noted that the WMO congress had recently identified DRR as WMO’s chief priority. Jeff Gutman, Vice-President, World Bank, noted that World Bank emergency response programmes were increasingly emphasizing DRR activities. Regarding the organization of the session, Chair Holmes introduced the draft agenda and timetable of the session, which were not amended. On challenges and opportunities in disaster risk reduction, interventions were made by heads of delegations and high-level participants in the morning, and in the afternoon a high-level dialogue, moderated by Mishal Hussain, BBC, opened debate among panelists and the plenary. The panel addressed DRR from three perspectives: implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action to reduce disaster risk and adapt to climate change; reducing disaster risk in urban settings and megacities; and exploring ways to raise the profile of DRR on the policy agenda.
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Lousewies van der Laan, LW International, suggested “naming and shaming” those who do not implement the HFA.
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Mishal Hussain, BBC, moderated the discussion.
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Related Links
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Links to IISD RS resources
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World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower, 29-31 May, Antalya, Turkey
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