Disaster risk reduction has been identified as one of the seven new and emerging issues for Rio+20.

The cost of the severe floods which hit Bangkok in 2011 is estimated at $40 billion. More than 1,000 factories were shut down and 700,000 people were out of work. Over 800 people died in the floods.

Cities are becoming more sustainable and reducing their risk to disasters through partnerships and collaboration.

Children and youth are stepping up to the challenge of makeing their communities safe and sustainble for the future.

Local communities are getting involved with innovative and sustainable ideas for development and disaster risk reduction.

Bangladeshi women use local knowledge to develop a risk assessment plan.

Indonesian children learn about disaster risk reduction by playing the Riskland board game. (Photo: IFRC)

An innovative and low-cost strategy for reducing disaster risk.

What's New?

UNISDR, ICLEI, UCLG, IFRC, UN Habitat and the Group of Friends for DRR are organizing a dialogue on "Resilient Cities - Fostering Local Action to achieve Sustainable Development" on 20 June, 9-10:30 am, at Rio Centro, T-1. Click here for more info!

A number of Rio+20 side events related to reducing risk and strengthening resilience are being organized by Governments, UN system, Major Groups and IGOs.

DRR EVENTS AT RIO+20 on PreventionWeb!

More NEWS about Rio+20 and DRR on PreventionWeb →

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What is Rio+20?

The 1992 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) also known as the "Earth Summit", was an important milestone that brought environment and development issues into the public arena. Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development are two important outcomes of the Summit that outlined the key policies for achieving sustainable development.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development dubbed as "Rio+20" will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 20-22 June 2012.

Discussions in the Conference will also focus on two themes: (1) A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (2) the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development.

Disaster Risk Reduction as an Emerging Issue

Disaster risk reduction has been included as part of the new and emerging issues in Rio+20 after the issue had been raised by UN member states, UN agencies, political groups and major groups. Other emerging issues identified include (i) combating poverty through green jobs and promoting social inclusion, (ii) advancing food security and sustainable agriculture, (iii) sound water management, (iv) energy access including from renewable sources, as well as efficiency and sustainability, (v) sustainable human settlements and (vi) management of oceans.

A Resilient Future: UNISDR Statement on the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document Rio+20: "The Future We Want"
UNISDR's Zero Draft Proposal for Rio+20, 1 November 2011
UNISDR's discussion paper: preparing for Rio +20 - redefining sustainable development
Rio+20 Newsletter: Making it Happen, Volume 2, Issue 23, 16 Dec 2011
Rio+20 Issues Brief No.8: Reducing Disaster Risk and Building Resilience
UNISDR's statement: Second Preparatory Committee Meeting of UNCSD Rio+20, 7-8 March 2011, New York

More DOCUMENTS about Rio+20 and Disaster Risk Reduction on PreventionWeb →

UNISDR Contact

Elina Palm, Liaison Officer (palm@un.org)

Key Rio+20 events

UN Conference for Sustainable Development (Rio+20), 20-22 Jun 2012 - Rio de Janeiro
3rd Preparatory Committee Meeting of UNCSD, 13-15 Jun 2012 - Rio de Janeiro
Third round of 'informal-informal' negotiations on the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document, 29 May - Jun 2 2012 - New York
Second round of 'informal-informal' negotiations on the zero draft of outcome document, 23 Apr - 4 May 2012 - New York
3rd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD, 26-27 Mar 2012 - New York
First round of 'informal-informal' negotiations on the zero draft of outcome document, 19-23 Mar 2012 - New York

DRR EVENTS AT RIO+20 on PreventionWeb!

Past key lead-up events

UN General Assembly Informal Thematic Debate on Disaster Risk Reduction, 12 Apr 2012 - New York
From Sendai to Rio - cultivating a disaster-resilient society for sustainable development, 11 Apr 2012 - New York
Initial discussion on the Zero draft of the outcome document, 25-27 Jan 2012 - New York
1st Zero Draft Discussion Meeting, 16-18 Jan 2012 - New York
2nd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD, 15-16 Dec 2011 - New York

More LEAD-UP EVENTS on PreventionWeb →

Disaster Risk Reduction in major international development-related documents

Governments are increasingly recognizing that disaster risk reduction is crucial to sustainable development. This has been reflected in a number of inter-governmentally agreed, development-related outcome documents such as:

Agenda 21, 1992 - Section 1, Chapter 7: Promoting Sustainable Human Settlement Development
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 2002 - Section IV: Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development, Paragraph:37
Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 - UN Document A/Conf/219/3, Pages 34-35
Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals 2010 - General Assembly Resolution 65/1 (A/RES/65/1)
Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States 2011 - General Assembly Resolution 65/2 (A/RES/65/2)