1. The Hyogo Framework for Action and related international mechanisms for early warning governance and organisation
Reid Basher, UN Secretariat of the ISDR, and Platform for Promotion of Early Warning
The Hyogo Framework for Action and the ISDR System - a response to growing disasters
The global survey of EW systems - a global EW system?
Systematic, international, multi-hazard approaches needed
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

2. Growth over period; 1990s versus 1960s
What is a disaster?
Natural hazard +
Vulnerability
DISASTER
Over last decade: 900,000 dead, US$ 570B losses, 2,600 million people affected
Growth over period; 1990s versus 1960s
Number of events
2.3
Economic losses
7.0
Insured losses
15.7
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

3. Agreed through an open ended inter-governmental
Hyogo Framework for Action Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters
Agreed through an open ended inter-governmental
process concluded at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, 18 – 22 January, 2005
Decides to establish an open-ended intergovernmental preparatory committee for the Conference to review the organizational and
substantive preparations for the Conference
- - Decides to approve the programme of work of the Conference and to propose rules of procedure for adoption by the Conference
- - Decides that the preparatory committee will meet in Geneva following the 2004 semi-annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Task
- - Force for Disaster Reduction, for up to 2 days each time
- - Decides the preparatory committee will hold a one-day meeting at Kobe during January 2005
Decides that the intergovernmental preparatory committee will have a bureau consisting of five representatives of Member States elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation (regional groups to nominate their candidates for the bureau of the preparatory committee by the end of January 2004)
Requests the ISDR Secretariat to coordinate preparatory activities in close cooperation with the host country and the preparatory committee for the Conference, with the full support of the relevant departments of the Secretariat
Invites Member States, all United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the Conference, as well as its preparatory process
Strategic goals
Disaster reduction as part of sustainable development
Strengthen institutions (especially in communities) to build resilience
Build risk reduction into emergency management and recovery
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

4. Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters
Priorities for action
Disaster risk reduction as a priority with strong institutional basis for action
Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning
Knowledge, innovation, education for culture of safety and resilience
Reduce the underlying risk factors
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response
Decides to establish an open-ended intergovernmental preparatory committee for the Conference to review the organizational and
substantive preparations for the Conference
- - Decides to approve the programme of work of the Conference and to propose rules of procedure for adoption by the Conference
- - Decides that the preparatory committee will meet in Geneva following the 2004 semi-annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Task
- - Force for Disaster Reduction, for up to 2 days each time
- - Decides the preparatory committee will hold a one-day meeting at Kobe during January 2005
Decides that the intergovernmental preparatory committee will have a bureau consisting of five representatives of Member States elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation (regional groups to nominate their candidates for the bureau of the preparatory committee by the end of January 2004)
Requests the ISDR Secretariat to coordinate preparatory activities in close cooperation with the host country and the preparatory committee for the Conference, with the full support of the relevant departments of the Secretariat
Invites Member States, all United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the Conference, as well as its preparatory process
Implementation and follow-up
Roles of states, international and regional organisations, UN secretariat
Importance of monitoring and reporting, and indicators of progress in risk reduction
Resources
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

5. Strengthened ISDR System - to support implementation of the Hyogo Framework
Wider participation for governments and other stakeholders (development banks, UN, regional bodies, NGOs, private sector, etc)
Integrated joint work plan on priority issues by ISDR partners
Groupings (clusters, platforms, etc) to address regional interests and specific thematic topics (like early warning)
Systematic approaches - monitoring of commitments, status of risk reduction, targets, tools, etc
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

6. Strengthened ISDR System - to support implementation of the Hyogo Framework
Proposed ISDR System bodies
Global Platform for Risk Reduction (the “parliament”)
Programme Advisory Committee (the “executive”)
Secretariat (the support)
Management Oversight Board (the custodians)
National Platforms for risk reduction
UN General Assembly still to endorse new system
Global Platform to meet in May 2007
Planning underway by “Reference Group” and Secretariat
Note: Early warning organisation mandates remain unchanged
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

7. Heat is now on for better early warning systems
Kofi Annan calls for warning systems for all countries, all hazards
Hyogo Framework for Action sets action toward better EWS
Launch of new International Early Warning Programme (IEWP)
Tsunami warning system under development for Indian Ocean and for other basins (UNESCO-IOC, WMO, ISDR)
Mr Annan requests ISDR to undertake global survey of EWS
British Government Natural Hazard Working Group recommends new UN-based panel on hazards, and extension of WMO’s role
G8 supports British proposals
Germany and ISDR organize third International Conference on Early Warning (27-29 March 2006), with focus “from concept to action”
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

8. Global survey of early warning systems
Requested by UN Secretary General, with view to establishing a global early warning system
Guided by IATF and a WG co-chaired by WMO and OCHA
Based on material provided for EWC II and the WCDR, plus further request for updates
No surprises - main points are already well known
Report launched by USG Jan Egeland at 3rd International Early Warning Conference, Bonn, March, 2006
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

9. Main results of global survey of EW systems
Many gaps and shortcomings in EW systems, especially in developing countries
Dissemination, preparedness and response is the weakest link worldwide
Weaknesses in political commitment, EW institutions, and public participation
BUT great capacities upon which to base a globally integrated system
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

10. Five recommendations of global survey
Develop a globally comprehensive EW system, rooted in existing early warning systems and capacities
Build national people-centred early warning systems
Fill the main gaps in global early warning capacities
Strengthen the scientific and data foundations for early warning
Develop the institutional foundations for a global early warning system
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

11. Main institutional/organisational recommendations
Affirm global system through UNGA; facilitate planning and coordination through ISDR system
Identify, affirm and strengthen governance roles for different hazards (WMO, UNESCO, UNEP, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, etc)
Assess and build on WMO capacities and experience
World Bank and UNDP to pursue EW systems in national development mechanisms
UNOOSA and GEO to prepare long term data plan for EW
Upgrade WMO-GTS for multi-hazard data and warnings
Basin-wide data exchange agreement (e.g. for floods)
National multi-party “roundtables” to coordinate EW for all hazards
Do systematic national surveys and long term plans
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

12. An integrated systems model for early warning
Knowledge of hazard
Institutional commitment and mechanisms
Mitigation, education, preparedness
Research
Communities
Monitoring
(initial state)
System model
(time evolving)
Response behaviours
Prediction (probabilistic)
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006

13.
Presentation to Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, WMO HQ, Geneva, May 2006