Supporting the use of international science advice for DRR: part 2

The UKCDS Secretariat has been continuing to facilitate collaboration between UN and international science organisations concerning the role of science and technology in disaster risk reduction (DRR).

This has included attending the UNISDR Asian ministerial regional platform meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, to support the statement on an international science advisory mechanism to ensure science is used more effectively in DRR and the successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA2). 

The statement, and its message of incorporating more international science advice into disaster policy and practice, was presented by Professor Virginia Murray (Vice-Chair of UNISDR’s Science and Technical Advisory Group and consultant in disaster risk reduction) to various groups at the conference. This included at meetings on the use of geospatial and space-based information in DRR, as well as the conference's main science, research and academia stakeholder meeting.

Many participants at the science and research stakeholder meeting showed enthusiasm for the statement and it was incorporated into the final stakeholder statement in its suggested actions related to evolving HFA2 priorities: "Support the establishment of an international science, academia and technological advisory mechanism for disaster risk reduction to strengthen resilience for the post-2015 agenda."

The conference's final statement did not mention the international science advisory mechanism, but did acknowledge "the important role of science and technologies in promoting risk prevention... as well as collaboration among the science community, decision makers, and practitioners with a view to promoting a stronger science interface with policy and practice for disaster risk reduction and resilience", and called on governments and stakeholders to "contribute to an enhanced monitoring and review mechanism".  

The Conference adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia Pacific 2014 which highlighted the importance of an implementation plan and a strengthened monitoring and review system for HFA2. 

In the build-up to the UN World Conference on DRR in Japan next year, where HFA2 will be decided, only the Arab States and European Regional Platform Meetings remain. UKCDS is pleased to see the role of science and technology featuring prominently in the meetings so far, and hopes it continues to be a big part of discussions .