The 4th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to be held in Seoul from October 25-28, 2010, brings together a wide cross section of experts, donors, academia and civil society led by Ministers from over 60 countries and heads of leading international development and disaster risk reduction agencies.
The theme for this year’s conference focuses on “Disaster Risk Reduction through Climate Change Adaptation” (CCA). It’s a theme that’s particularly relevant in a year when unprecedented floods have displaced 20 million Pakistanis, submerging a quarter of that country at its peak. It’s a year when Mongolia suffered the worst flooding in decades in its capital Ulaanbaatar, followed by typhoons in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, an earthquake in Indonesia, and a devastating tsunami hitting Samoa and Tonga.
The World Bank is a major partner with the host Government of South Korea in facilitating regional participation, adoption and future implementation of the Incheon Regional Roadmap and Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction through Climate Change Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific.
The Bank has been working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency of Korea (NEMA) towards the implementation of the Roadmap—specifically, in helping build capacities and cooperation for DRR and CCA among countries in the region. This is being done by strengthening existing institutions through training programs, capacity building, analytic and advisory services as well as financing for both post-disaster sustainable recovery and disaster preparedness and mitigation.
The three day conference will focus on integration of DRR and CCA through sustainable, green growth alternatives, disaster risk financing, developing and sharing information technologies and building safer cities. The World Bank, together with GFDRR and partners is hosting a Workshop on October 24, 2010, on “Designing for Risk and Disaster Resilience” which will focus on Early Warning Systems and safeguarding communities.
One of the highlights of the Conference will be the participation of the world’s leading seismic expert, Peter Yanev, in a GDLN session on October 25, 2010 with several countries and a side event on October 26, 2010, when he will be speaking on the theme: “Not If but When: Getting Ready for the Next Big Earthquake in Asia”. Mr. Yanev has studied all the world’s major earthquakes since the 70s and his findings on the structural impact of quakes on mortality rates raises fundamental questions on current safety standards and practices.
Given the growing interest in Catastrophe Risk Insurance frameworks—particularly among South Pacific island nations and other governments—there will be a second side event on 27 October, 2010, by World Bank risk finance expert, Olivier Mahoul.
These presentations and stories will be available on our website following the events.
For more information on the conference please visit: http://www.amcdrrkorea.org/
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