Redouble Efforts To Reduce Disaster Risks

Context: 

In the recently held G-20 summit in New Delhi, the leaders raised concerns about the climate crisis, driving the extreme weather events that are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity.

G-20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):

• Established under India’s Presidency of this G20 in 2023, the working group aims to integrate disaster risk reduction across the work of the G20 and in its support to developing countries.

Arising Concerns:

• A relentless wave of bad news across the world: From severe flooding in China to destructive wildfires in Europe and Hawaii to the hottest month ever on record in July. 
• Paying by Vulnerables: Most vulnerable countries and communities are paying the greatest price despite having contributed least to the problem. 
• Debt Issues: The majority of the 50 countries most vulnerable to climate change also suffer from severe debt issues.
• Case of India: India is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries, and in 2022, the country was battered by disasters or extreme weather nearly every day, while this year’s severe monsoon has caused widespread loss of livelihood and lives.

Available Solutions:

• Adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The SDGs are the best blueprint for peace and prosperity, together with commitments made in Paris to limit global warming to 1.5°C, and the global framework for reducing disaster risks — the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. 
• Innovation with Collaboration: The COVID-19 pandemic gave lessons on the importance of systems-wide disaster risk reduction, resilience, and adaptation. 
  • It also forged new ways of working together, including through digital innovations, such as computer modeling and India’s CoWIN digital vaccine system.
• Focus on Early Warning Systems: The recent zero death toll of Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat demonstrates what can be achieved through effective preparedness, response, and early warning and action systems.
• Reforms to Disaster Risk Financing: The 15th Finance Commission in India introduced significant reforms by allocating $28.6 billion at the national and State levels for a period of five years for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and capacity development.
• Global Partnership: India is promoting disaster resilience and sustainability, including through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, a global partnership for building resilience in infrastructure. 
  • India’s National Disaster Response Force responds to domestic disasters and is also regularly deployed to disaster zones around the world.

The Path Ahead:

• Integrative Approach: Disaster risk must be integrated at all levels. 
• Global Multi-Risk Warning System: Need to develop a global multi-risk warning system for all kinds of hazards, whether biological, tectonic, or technological.
• Improvement of Global Data Capabilities: To predict and respond to the facing risks. Need to work on knowledge sharing, joint data infrastructure, and risk analysis.
• International Cooperation: Need to ensure enhanced international cooperation in disaster prevention, response, and recovery, especially for the countries of the Global South.

News Source: The Hindu