News Archive

UNFCCC summary of disaster risk workshop now available

Video : 2009 Global assesment report (GAR)

Event : 2009 Global assesment report on disaster risk reduction launch : Bangkok, Thailand : 25th May

The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction launched for the first time internationally in Bahrain on 17-18 May by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki -moon will be launched regionally in Bangkok on 25 May 2009, at the United Nations Conference Centre, in presence of senior officials from the Regional Organisations, Government of Thailand, senior representatives from the UN Agencies, International Financial Institutions, and the Civil Society, followed by a discussion on the implications of the Reports? findings for the Asia and the Pacific.

Global Platform: Special events to highlight projects and achievements

Where are the safest places on earth from sudden onset hazard?

Governments ‘must invest today for safer tomorrow' – the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva

Leaders and representatives from some 165 Governments gathering here today for the 2009 Global Platform on Disaster Reduction will be urged to ‘invest today for a safer tomorrow’ – or face much harder decisions in the years to come.

Risk reduction conference ends with call to halve disaster related deaths by 2015

The Global Platform ended today with participants from more than 300 regional/national organizations and governments urging political leaders to implement measures to halve the number of deaths from natural hazards by 2015.

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Chair’s Summary of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

BBC World Debate ‘Prevent or React’

G8 Summit ‘promises much’ on Disaster Risk Reduction

IPCC Special Report 'Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters': Nominate an author until 27 Jul 2009

World Climate Conference - 3

UNISDR at World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3)

International Day for Disaster Reduction: new initiatives launched in London

International Day for Disaster Reduction: Disaster Risk Reduction initiative for Nepal launched

Katmandu - A new disaster risk reduction initiative for Nepal was launched by a consortium of partners that comprises the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, other United Nations organizations, the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to mark the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction.

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UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction launched in three East Asian languages

First global scientific effort to examine the linkages between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation

More than 90 world experts have assembled today in Panama City to start a new assessment on how climate change will affect disaster risks in future and how countries can better manage the expected increases in damaging weather events due to climate change. The meeting is being convened by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which decided in April 2009 to prepare a new IPCC Special Report called: “Managing the Risk of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation”. The assessment was proposed by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the government of Norway in response to the predictions in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report that more frequent and severe extreme events such as droughts, floods, storms, heat waves were likely in the future warmer world.

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Adaptation to climate change by reducing disaster risks: country practices and lessons

UNISDR secretariat has launched its new Biennial Work Programme for 2010-2011 "Invest today for a safer tomorrow

The UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme was developed following the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2009. It is based on the role and mandate of UNISDR as set by the UN General Assembly. The strategic direction for the 2010-2011 biennium is derived from the outcomes of the Global Platform and from regional consultations. The current programme has been further shaped through broad consultation with the ISDR Support Group in Geneva, donors, the ISDR Inter-Agency Group and other partners.

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Related links

UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme: 2010-2011

BBC World News to broadcast ‘Tsunami Revisited’

‘Tsunami Revisited’ is a documentary on the EC funded project 'Building Resilience to Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean Region in response to the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. UNISDR was appointed to manage the project by coordinating, supervising and monitoring the actions of a number of partner organisations in four target countries: India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will air the programme at the following times:

BBC World News broadcast
- Sat 26/12/09 00:30 / 03:30 / 09:30 / 22:30 GMT
- Sun 27/12/09 12:30 GMT

Earthquakes caused the deadliest disasters in the past decade

External Evaluation of the UNISDR and Management Response

UNISDR is pleased to share its Management Response to the second external evaluation of the secretariat. The Management Response sets out the process and main activities to implement recommendations arising from the evaluation carried out by Dalberg Global Development Advisers. Initiated by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and major UNISDR donors, the evaluation’s purpose was to assess the secretariat’s performance over the last four years and to provide guidance for UNISDR's future direction. The independent report presents 42 recommendations based on 25 findings, which are summarized in five key messages included in the executive summary.

> View executive summary

> View full report

> View management response

Rebuilding for resilience: How science and engineering can inform Haiti’s reconstruction

Publication "Local Governments and Disaster Risk Reduction: Good practices and lessons learned" now available

These good practices show how building the capacity of local institutions is key to sustaining disaster risk reduction, and demonstrate the immediate impact of local and national political commitments that institutionalise disaster risk reduction. Collaboration between local and national governments, civil society organizations and international agencies is another notable strength of the initiatives showcased in this publication.

My City is Getting Ready, Is yours? UNISDR launches 2010-11 World Disaster Reduction Campaign

With more than half the world’s population living in urban areas, cities are particularly vulnerable to the risks of natural hazards, such as earthquakes, drought and floods. To strengthen a city’s readiness to reduce disaster impacts, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction is launching this Sunday, 30 May 2010 in Bonn, Germany, a new campaign to raise awareness and boost commitment for sustainable development practices that will increase a city’s well-being and safety.

UNISDR at Cities on Volcanoes 6 (COV6)

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, May 31 - June 4, 2010

Volcanic risks are of great urban concern, as many settlements are situated on volcano flanks or in historic paths of mud and lava flows. COV6-Tenerife is an international forum where experts will discuss ways to improve volcanic risk management in densely populated volcanic regions. Henri Gaudru, President of the European Volcanologist Society, will present the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as well as the 2010-11 World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready” at the meeting.

City leaders join UN Making Cities Resilient campaign

Shanghai Expo 2010 to hold forum on disaster risk reduction

Training toolkit and "factsheet" piloted in Kenya to strengthen disaster management

2010 International Day for Disaster Reduction

This year's theme: My City is Getting Ready!