2022 International Conference on Innovative Emergency Management
Remarks by Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China (pre-recorded)
A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent Video
H.E. Mr. Gong Weibin, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee; Vice President of the Chinese National Academy of Governance,
H.E. Mr. Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee; Vice President of the Chinese National Academy of Governance,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and the Chinese National Academy of Governance for inviting me to address the opening of the 2022 International Conference on Innovative Emergency Management.
Wide-ranging conflicts from Ukraine to Yemen to Somalia to Afghanistan and Syria have left no corner of the world untouched.
From heat waves in Florida, devastating floods in Pakistan and the worst drought in four decades in the Horn of Africa, the world is now being ravaged by increasing disaster events fueled by the climate crisis.
These disasters have had tremendous human and economic costs that threaten decades of development gains and further derail global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2021 alone, the world saw 432 disastrous events related to natural hazards, with an estimated US$ 252 billion of economic damage reported.
If current trends continue, the number of disasters per year globally may increase to 560 per year by 2030, and under a “worst-case” or no action scenario on climate change, an additional 100.7 million people will be pushed into poverty by this time, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
In the growing number of catastrophic events causing undue suffering around the world, there lies an uncomfortable truth.
As the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, said in his opening remarks to the COP27 Summit, “Those who have contributed least to the climate crisis are reaping the whirlwind sown by others.”
We need to be better prepared, especially for the most vulnerable groups, to address systemic risks, invest in more resilient societies, and leave no one behind.
We are not short of international cooperation mechanisms in preventing and reducing disaster risk.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.
The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, and ultimately the SDGs, in particular SDG 13: on Climate Action.
Here, UNDRR oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing what works in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk.
Innovation and cooperation are clearly essential to the effective management and mitigation of emergencies.
But we need further action through enhanced political will, public policy and partnerships to operationalize our internationally agreed commitments and mechanisms.
On political will.
At COP 27, the world reached a breakthrough agreement on a new Loss and Damage Fund for Vulnerable Countries.
However, Member States still need to ramp up their climate ambition and take concrete steps to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund as soon as possible.
We count on major powers, including China and the United States, to lead the way and work together to reduce potential losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure in line with the international agreement for reducing global disaster risk and losses.
On public policy.
The COVID-19 pandemic shows us how people and societies can adopt new behaviours when the challenges and priorities are clearly set out by governments.
But this experience also shows us that the best defence against future shocks is to build resilience today by reducing vulnerabilities and inequalities that help drive disasters
Here, increasing the availability of people-centred and multi-hazard early warning systems along with disaster risk information can help countries with their national and local strategies to enable early action that minimizes harm to people, assets, and livelihoods.
On partnerships.
Investing in disaster risk reduction requires international cooperation and partnerships, particularly in assisting developing countries with their resilience efforts.
This can occur through useful frameworks, such as Official Development Assistance, South-South and Triangular Cooperation, along with the efforts of all sectors of our societies, including governments at every level, the private sector, civil society, academia, and youth, to leverage their much-needed resources and innovations.
Often at the frontlines of disaster, we can also better rely on the knowledge of local and indigenous communities while enabling their meaningful participation towards building resilience globally.
On all of these fronts, the UN in China stands ready to offer its support, technical expertise, and network to facilitate further cooperation on emergency management and disaster risk reduction.
I wish today’s forum every success.