2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Earlier this year, the UN General Assembly agreed on how UN Member States will measure progress in these key areas over the next 15 years in a major breakthrough on accountability for reducing disaster losses. The adoption of clear targets and indicators for reducing disaster losses as called for in the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is key to the achievement of the goals set out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, especially the eradication of poverty. By signing up to these targets, governments have demonstrated a clear commitment to improved governance on some of the defining issues of our time including climate change and rapid urbanisation. The 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction offers an exciting opportunity for governments, civil  society and the private sector to announce details of how they are going to work together to achieve these ends: saving lives, saving livelihoods, saving homes, and saving on wasteful expenditure by ensuring that our built environment is able to endure seismic shocks and weather-related disasters. There are a host of other emerging challenges when it comes to tackling man-made hazards which include technological hazards such as nuclear accidents, chemical and oil spills. Pandemic preparedness is also critically important in a world where mobility is growing along with population size. The Global Platform will set the seal of approval on the way forward in this important area of work for the UN system and the world as a whole.

The 2017 Platform, organised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), will take place 22-26 May in Cancun, Mexico and there will be multiple opportunities to get involved remotely. Accessible web-conferencing will be available for selected special events, side events and working sessions for the duration the conference.

Remote participants will need to connect using a personal computer (Chrome browsers are recommended) or the free mobile app called “Bb Student” (which must be installed in advance), and join the virtual room at http://tinyurl.com/gp-2017. From here remote participants will be able to watch the conference live with closed-captioning, and engage via online messaging or video/audio.

Ministerial roundtables
Two ministerial roundtables will take place during the 2017 Global Platform providing an opportunity for interactive and focused discussions on key progress, priorities, actions and commitments in support of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The themes of the two roundtables will be:

A. “Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Overall Economic Planning” on Thursday 25 May from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Expo Center 5 of the Moon Palace Resort.

B. “Incorporating Disaster Risk Reduction Considerations into Sectorial Planning” on Friday 26 May from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Expo Center 5 of the Moon Palace Resort.

The outcomes of the roundtables will provide substantive input into the Global Platform Chair’s Summary that will be presented to the President of the Economic and Social Council as a contribution to the 2017 High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF),  to be held in New York in July.
Participation in the roundtables will include ministers and high-level representatives of International Organizations, International Financial Institutions, UN organizations and stakeholders accompanied by one adviser.

Official programme
The official programme of the Global Platform is now available on line through the following link: http://unisdr.org/go/gp2017/programme.