Highlights and images for 6 June 2025

As disasters become more frequent and intense, governments, local authorities, and communities, as well as the private sector, are looking at ways to enhance capacity building for disaster prevention, response, and recovery. Many are looking at legislative and institutional arrangements, along with the use of new technologies and financial incentives, to boost their efforts.

In the fourth and final Multi-Stakeholder Plenary, Ethiopia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan highlighted their use of AI-enhanced forecasting and analysis tools to support disaster risk reduction (DRR). A lunchtime side event on ‘Advancing Risk Reduction with Inclusive AI Solutions,’ organized by UN University (UNU), delved into specifics. David Daou, UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), warned that AI can be a “double-edged sword” if basic ethics are ignored, noting however its value when used to integrate data for early warning systems (EWS) with governance systems to improve reaction speed and coordination. Maxime Souvignet, UNU-EHS, challenged panelists and participants to go “beyond the AI hype” and explore how to ensure new technologies do not exacerbate inequalities by only benefiting those with access to digital systems. Other presenters noted that many organizations lack the basic amenities to exploit the power of AI, such as fast computers, processing and storage capacity to manage big data, or even access to a reliable electricity supply.

A special event on small island developing States (SIDS) stressed the need to harness local knowledge and innovation—tapping into people’s lived experience and histories of resilience. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change, Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, Vanuatu, described how his country is integrating its disaster risk strategy and loss and damage into its National Adaptation Plan, and strengthening community committees to serve, both as first responders and to inform development.  

In thematic sessions, government delegates highlighted national progress toward stronger institutional arrangements. Krishna Vatsa, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India, highlighted India’s 2024 amendments to its National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, which provides a funding window for recovery efforts, thereby enabling state governments to access recovery funds based on loss and damage assessments. The change, he noted, provides impetus to institutionalize recovery efforts in the long term. Michelle Forbes, Director, National Disaster Risk Management Office, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, noted that the post-disaster project management structure created in her country has become a permanent part of the Ministry of Planning. 

In a special session on implementing the Sendai Framework Gender Action Plan, which was launched in March 2024, delegates presented on how they are integrating gender considerations into their DRR actions. Saskia Carusi, UNDRR, spoke about the Medellin Gender Observatory and Local Governance in DRR, which is located in Colombia. She noted that similar projects are being developed in Uruguay and Chile.  

During the closing ceremony, GPDRR 2025 Co-Chair Christian Frutiger, Vice-Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, presented the Co-Chair’s Summary—titled the Geneva Call to Action—which gives recommendations for advancing implementation of the Sendai Framework over the remaining five years to its deadline.

Kamal Kishore, UNDRR Head and Co-Chair of the Global Platform, congratulated the UNDRR community and Global Platform participants for a successful meeting. He applauded countries' successes in reducing the disaster mortality rate by 50% over the last decade, noting that 131 countries so far have developed national DRR plans. He urged all to build on their achievements, by “organizing the money” and elevating local participation and action.

Reminding everyone that the meeting outcomes will inform the continued implementation of the Sendai Framework, UNDRR Director Paola Albrito closed the Eighth Global Platform on DRR at 17:26 pm.