World’s DRR community gathers in Geneva for ‘pivotal’ conference

More than 1,250 participants have registered for the Second Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction taking place in Geneva from 16 through 19 June 2009.

The conference will bring together a wide cross-section of the global disaster risk reduction community, including heads of state, senior ministers, UN agencies, NGOs, scientific and technical experts, and others. Under the slogan ‘invest today for a safer tomorrow’, a key focus at the event will be close scrutiny of the linkages between climate change adaptation, poverty and disaster risk reduction.

Other highlights include: five high level panels exploring relevant thematic issues, from safer schools and hospitals through early warning to ‘building back better’ after disasters; special events organized by UNISDR system partners, regional organizations and NGOs; a BBC ‘World Debate’ featuring some hard hitting dialogue between DRR specialists in front of a TV audience; a Film debate highlighting climate change adaptation films and a Disaster Risk Reduction Market Place facilitating exchange of tools and know how.

“As we have just seen with the launch of the Global Assessment Report, public awareness of DRR issues and initiatives is intensifying and more questions are being asked of governments,” says UNISDR Deputy-Director, Helena Molin-Vales. “This will be a pivotal conference, not only in setting the DRR agenda for the coming two years and beyond, but also in the run up to sealing a deal on climate change adaptation in Copenhagen this December.”