2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction - From Commitment to Action

The 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will be held in Cancun, Mexico from 22-26 May 2017. Under the banner “From Commitment to Action,” this meeting is the first opportunity for the global community to review progress of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted in 2015.

Over 5,000 participants are set to convene in a Leaders Forum, plenary sessions, special sessions, working sessions, side events and special events from 24-26 May, considering various topics including: Critical Infrastructure, Community Resilience, Preparedness, International Cooperation, Risk Insurance, Private Sector Engagement, Science and Technology, Local Authorities, Cultural Heritage, Governance, Inclusiveness, Health and Land Use.

The Platform is anticipated to provide contributions from a disaster risk reduction (DRR) perspective to the deliberations of UN governance bodies and mechanisms, such as the UN General Assembly, the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and especially for the follow-up processes to UN conferences and summits, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key expected outcomes include, inter alia, a more sustainable DRR movement worldwide that leads to increased responsibility for strengthening resilience to disasters; a dynamic and trend-setting forum for stakeholders to announce initiatives, launch products, share information, promote campaigns, and provide DRR evidence; guidance and new alliances for the development and use of tools and methodologies aimed at understanding and applying the economics and investment of DRR; a forum to discuss progress under the Sendai Framework for DRR; and priorities and directions reflected in the outcome document, the Chair's Summary.