Bali Roadmap on Climate Change recognizes importance of disaster risk reduction

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was included in the Bali Action Plan as a tool for climate change adaptation. The Bali Action Plan was adopted by UN member states on 15 December at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference. It called for enhanced action on adaptation, including DRR strategies to lessen the impact of disasters on developing countries; risk management and risk reduction strategies including risk transfer mechanisms such as insurance; and more international cooperation on implementation, such as through vulnerability assessments. At a side event, the Working Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction recommended that adaptation be a pillar of any eventual climate change agreement; that DRR and climate risk management be core elements of adaptation; that mechanisms for funding adaptation and disaster risk reduction be established; and that immediate action be taken to implement risk reduction measures from 2008-2012. Participants included representatives from UNEP, UNDP, UNISDR, WHO, WMO, WB, Red Cross, Oxfam, and CARE International.