The latest edition of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was an unmissable opportunity to share knowledge with others on all things DRR at a time when it’s never been more vital. Alliance members who were present in Geneva share their reflections on the event, and what it means for future efforts to prepare for, and respond to, climate hazards.
“We have a demanding road ahead, but this Global Platform has reaffirmed our common values, sharpened our collective sense of urgency, and renewed our commitment to reduce risks in an inclusive and resilient manner.”
So said Christian Frutiger, Vice Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, at the conclusion of GPDRR 2025. Over 3,000 people from 164 countries had participated in the week-long conference, all with a common goal of reducing the risk of disasters (including those caused by extreme weather events and other climate hazards).
Among those in Geneva were Alliance colleagues from Concern Worldwide, IFRC, IIASA, ISET-International, the London School of Economics, Mercy Corps, Plan International, Practical Action and the Z Zurich Foundation, bringing evidence and perspectives from Nepal, Peru, Jordan and beyond. From showcasing the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) process to leading interactive learning sessions on Early Warning Systems (EWS), there was no shortage of opportunities to engage with others in the DRR sector, and drive the conversation forward.
We would not hesitate to agree with Mr. Frutiger’s remarks; focal points like this hold tremendous value for a collective so widely spread (both in terms of geography and specialisms). However, now that GPDRR 2025 is over, and with the next edition not expected to take place until at least 2028, we must be realistic about the challenges ahead.
World falling behind on Early Warning Systems
The GPDRR’s preliminary days were dominated by the first multi-stakeholder forum of the UN’s Early Warnings 4 All (EW4A) initiative, which aims for universal EWS coverage by the end of 2027.
The Alliance maintains that EWS can only be effective when several factors are considered, so we were excited to see what progress was being made on these multiple fronts, and encouraged by the many stakeholders reaffirming what we know to be true: that until communities are at the centre of every effort to design and implement EWS where they live, long-standing gaps in protection will only persist.
The need for inclusivity was never far from the programme, and there was general agreement that systemic barriers hinder vital collaborations between the local, regional, national and global levels, as well as between state- and non-state actors.
However, while there was a lot of alignment on the diagnosis, clarity on exactly how to rapidly scale up EWS – and who will provide the badly-needed funds – was largely absent. With the GPDRR’s official programme still to come, there would be myriad more opportunities to delve into the issue; but the forum left us with the sense that without sizeable shifts in action and funding for EWS, the EW4All’s 2027 target isn’t likely to be met.
Heat rising up the agenda
Much more so than at previous Global Platforms, the need to address the risks posed by extreme heat was ever-present in the discussions. As members of the Alliance noted at the start of the Platform, heat affects nearly every aspect of daily life. There is therefore an urgent imperative to mainstream heat risk into both DRR and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) practice, including heat standards for labour and housing.
Many solutions were on show – from the application of cool roofs to repurposing flood shelters as ‘passive cooling centres’ – but we’re still a long way off having a common framework for extreme heat governance that’s also integrated into overall DRR approaches. ‘One-size-fits all’ ideas must also give way to more tailored messaging that considers how variables like gender, employment, income, health and housing shape a person’s experience during heatwaves.
As with many climate hazards, nature-based solutions (NbS) can prove effective in reducing the impact of heatwaves, particularly in urban environments. “Nature-based solutions are not a silver bullet, and don’t work everywhere,” acknowledged LSE’s Swenja Surminski, “but they need to play an increasing role. And we have no other choice but to work with nature!”
What’s next for DRR?
The Global Platform provided a timely reminder of just how much ambition there is to deliver our vision of a world in which communities everywhere can thrive in the face of hazards. The opportunities to connect with national government delegations and civil society were also highly beneficial, and we were pleased to see the Co-Chair’s summary echoing our calls for improved data (including measuring existing levels of resilience), the rapid scaling-up of inclusive EWS, investment in anticipatory action, and resilient recovery.
That being said, the situation is serious. A third of the world’s population is still not covered by EWS – the majority of whom live in the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, where most of these impacts are felt.
It’s now only five years before the scheduled end of the Sendai Framework on DRR, and few believe that the world is on track to meet its targets. GDPRR 2025 confirmed that there is no shortage of desire to prevent disasters from destroying lives and livelihoods, nor are we lacking ways in which to do it.
Meeting the scale of the challenge will require much more action and finance than what we see today – but with increased ambition at the global scale, connected to thoughtful action at the local level, the DRR community holds so much potential for impactful, lasting change.
To explore resources on Early Warning Systems from the Alliance and others, visit our new EWS directory.
Comments