Context –

• Recently, the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRR WG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency took place.

Role of G-20

• India has highlighted the importance of disaster risk reduction by initiating a new work stream in G20.
• The midterm review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 mentions the importance of G20's efforts in the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The five priorities outlined in the meeting of the working group were:

• Coverage of early warning systems to all,
• Focus on disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure,
• Improving financing frameworks for national disaster risk reduction,
• Improving systems and capabilities for response to disasters and
• Application of ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk.

Disaster Risk Reduction Measure

• Disaster risk reduction measures can play an important role in preventing losses.
• Reducing risk can be achieved by better economic and urban development, protection of the environment, reduction of poverty and inequality, etc.
• Setting up early warning systems, undertaking periodic risk assessments, constructing disaster-resilient infrastructure, etc., are important strategies.

Way Forward

• Access to early warning systems should be treated as global public goods.
• The UN Secretary General's initiative on early warning for all should be the guiding principle.
• We must view disaster risk reduction as a multi-tiered, multi-sectorial effort.
• Bringing convergence of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts.