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Some Reflections on Post-2015 HFA
Fatma El Mallah
Member of the Advisory Group
to the UN/SRSG on Post -2015 HFA
Post-2015 HFA
o Post-2015HFA to be built on the current HFA.
o Position the Post-2015 HFA as a process rather than a
regulatory framework.
o Need to see how the High-Level Panel on SDGs and
Post-2015 development agenda process unfold.
o Disaster risk reduction and resilience to be integrated
into the texts of new Post-2015 agreements as
essential supportive measures for the achievement
of sustainable development , and in a way that gives
momentum to the Post-2015 HFA.
Expected Outcome
o Substantial DRR and
building the resilience
of
nations
and
communities.
Same 5 Priorities for
Action
o
o
o
o
o
Priority 1: Ensure that disaster risk
reduction is a national and a local priority
with a strong institutional basis for
implementation.
Priority 2: Identify, assess and monitor
disaster risks and enhance early warning.
Priority 3: Use knowledge, innovation and
education to build a culture of safety and
resilience at all levels.
Priority 4: Reduce the underlying risk
factors.
Priority
5:
Strengthen
disaster
preparedness for effective response at all
levels.
Focus on
o Trans-boundary risks and emerging risks such as
scarcity of drinking water, food insecurity, biological
threats, collapse of IT infrastructure etc….
o Drought, a hazard not well scientifically researched.
Evidence shows that arid regions are expanding ( If
deserts were shifted by just few degrees, the
southwestern desert in the USA would move into the
grain-producing region, and the Sahara would move
into southern Europe).
o Defining and positioning different issues related to
disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation in manner that they can be unified in
their practical implementation.
o Risks from climate change and extreme weathers that not
only increase exposure and vulnerability, but affect people
beyond the places where they occur. (Raise commodity prices,
cause shortages and disrupt supply chains and export
markets) ( Addressing risks in one country may affect
countries that rely on one another for their prosperity and
well-being) (The Stockholm Environment Institute a new
project, "Adaptation without Borders").
o Addressing urban risks through urban planning and public
investments, and increasing resilience to disasters through
climate adaptation and risk reduction. (Important to enforce
the implementation of the building codes and develop a
simple building code, like in India, to reduce the risks from
earthquakes in informal settlements) .
o More emphasis on social protection schemes as
effective measures to enhance the resilience of
communities to disaster risks (learning from the
experiences of some Latin American countries).
o Mainstreaming risk assessment in feasibility studies
and environmental impact studies of new projects
(promote resilient investment among business and
finance).
o The economics of disasters and disaster risk
reduction; and developing performance indicators
that measure how much a given risk is reduced and
resilience is improved, assess how the perception of
risk leads to resilience, ...
o Pushing Science and technology harder into DRR, to
ensure that decisions are based on best available
scientific evidence. Traditional science should also be
encouraged and promoted.
o Changing behavior and risk perceptions to influence
actions around risk, using innovative ways (people
change behavior in response to risk).
o Outreaching to new partners like financial
institutions, business and professional associations;
and promoting the engagement of specific groups
such as women, young people (scout movement),
scientists, parliamentarians (finance/budget issues
and legislation)…..
Enhance Means of Implementation
A high level of political commitment to DRR
o The climate change-extreme weather-security connection is
one that can no longer be overlooked.
o The scientific evidence and projections and the socioeconomic and political implications of risk need to be more
accessible and understood by decision-makers.
o A robust decision making approach based on the best
available science .
o The conflict in the Sudan’s western region of Darfur has
generated headlines over the years as the first climate war
because drought and the advancing desert stoked tensions.
o In 2011, the UN Security Council agreed to a
statement expressing “concern that the possible
adverse effects of climate change may, in the long
run, aggravate certain existing threats to
international peace and security.”
o The Security Council session was evidence of the
increased focus on the link between climate change,
extreme weathers and global security.
o In Feb. 2013 at an informal meeting at the UN Security
Council: the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate
Impact Research warned "either rich nations will find a
way to supply needy nations suffering from damaging
climate effects or you will have all kinds of unrest and
revolutions, with the export of angry and hungry people
to the industrialized countries".
o The U.K. - Pakistan notes to the informal meeting: The
impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rises,
drought, flooding and extreme weather events, can
exacerbate underlying tensions and conflict in part of the
world already suffering from resource pressures.”
Enhanced leadership and governance for DRR on the
national regional and global levels
On the national level
o Clear Commitment to the core elements of good governance (access to
information, transparency, effective civic participation, accountability, rule
of law, combating corruption, etc….) with elaboration on how the
promotion of these elements can enhance the achievement of good
governance for DRR.
o Development of the necessary institutional arrangements for good
governance for DRR ( a sovereign body or ministry with authority in charge
of DRR; integrate DRR into planning, land use planning, urban planning,
development and sector policies; coordinate CCA and DRR; adequate
budget allocations for DRR on the national and local levels; determine
responsibilities and accountability of different stakeholders at the national
and local levels; develop appropriate social protection schemes; develop
appropriate early warning and monitoring -reporting-verification systems;
enhance legislative and enforcement support; incorporate DRR in public
investment and public procurement, etc…).
On the regional level
o Strengthen and develop existing regional DRR mechanism (A
number of DRR structures that have been set up in between 2005
and now, especially in Africa e.g. Ministerial Committees on DRR;
national policies on DRR; DRR departments in AU and the RECs; the
Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel
(CILSS), the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa)
Initiative and the three lead partners, the African Union
Commission (AUC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UN
ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), to work as one in
implementing its work plan; the Africa Adaptation Knowledge
Network (AAKNet) as the continental network to be responsible for
coordinating, facilitating, harnessing and strengthening the
exchange of information and knowledge and fostering and
supporting strategic planning and policy processes.
o Strengthened coordination and cooperation with Regional
organizations and UN entities operating at the Regional level.
o More strengthened and effective UNISDR Regional Offices.
On the Global level
o A strengthened UNISDR with adequate resources and
capabilities to implement Post-2015 HFA.
o The UN recognizes disaster risk reduction including climate
change adaptation as essential to poverty reduction in the
21st century.
o The UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for
Resilience 2013 is to ensure cross-UN agency support for
mainstreaming DRR and accelerating the integration of DRR
into all UN country-level operations. The Plan also indicates
that the UN is introducing more accountability around risk
management; agencies will track their progress on a regular
basis.
Mobilizing Finance for DRR and Resilience
o More resources need to be pooled to finance DRR and
Resilience.
o Financing DRR and Resilience is not expenditure, but rather an
investment for sustainable development.
o Post-2015 HFA is a voluntary process with no commitments to
developed countries like under the UNCCC process. However
the socio-economic and political implications of climate
change and extreme events could greatly affect the global
regional and national security. Developed countries should
find a way to support countries, suffering from climate
extremes, in their efforts to reduce disaster risks and build
resilience.
o The World Bank and regional development banks need to be
further involved.
o Public financing includes local, national, international aid
(developmental and humanitarian)
o Private sector to focus on making its investments resilient. Big
and medium businesses can through their supply chain
promote the resilience of smaller businesses.
o Insurance is a way towards higher resilience. If finance
companies, insist on an insurance coverage for projects with
higher disaster risk, the insurance firms in turn insist on
stronger adherence to safety standards for construction.
o Carefully designed micro-insurance policies, using innovative
premium payment methods, can get cash to farmers early
enough to avoid drought-induced poverty traps.
o Insurance can also work well at the household scale, for
example, to avoid a spiral into poverty caused by repeated
failed harvests due to extreme climate events.
o Risk transfer schemes, via regional risk pooling between
affected countries offer another option. It is only effective
when costly events are relatively infrequent and affect only a
fraction of the pool. But as temperatures keep rising and
extreme events become more common, insurance may no
longer help.
o UNFCCC/COP continues the debate around what institutional
arrangements could be created to address loss and damage –
payments to offset losses and damages that occur despite
adaptation. Funds under the adaptation Fund are minimal and
expectations under the Green Fund are not foreseen.
Thank you
[email protected]