Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Ambassador Kairamo
Ambassador Thongphakdi
Special Representative Wahlström
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates:

A very warm welcome to International Geneva and to the Palais des Nations for the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. I had the pleasure of being part of the first session in July, and I appreciate being able to support the important preparatory work leading up to the Conference in Sendai next year. And let me in my opening remarks commend the strong efforts of the Co-Chairs – Ambassador Kairamo and Ambassador Thongpakdi – and Special Representative Wahlström in taking this work forward, and express my deep appreciation to our Host Country, Switzerland, and the Host Country of the Conference, Japan, for their support.
Today, I have the privilege of sharing with you the message of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for this session of the Preparatory Committee.

The message goes as follows:

“I am pleased to send greetings to all participants at this Second Session of the Preparatory Committee of the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Natural hazards and climate risk can take a potentially enormous toll on our societies if countries do not agree on wise, action-oriented measures to save lives, preserve livelihoods and reduce economic losses.

The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction must take up where the Hyogo Framework for Action leaves off, providing the world with the necessary tools and guidance to reduce risk levels and avoid new dangers. This will be important to our broader development efforts as the world strives next year to adopt a new universal climate agreement and a set of sustainable development goals.

I wish you a most productive session as you pave the way for a successful Third United Nations Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.”

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.

At the first session in July, I highlighted how disaster risk reduction cuts across the three dimensions of our work here in International Geneva: peace, rights and well-being. I firmly believe that we need to connect better our work on sustainable development and resilient societies by working across these dimensions in a more coherent manner, not least when it comes to disaster risk reduction. This is needed for a truly preventive approach.

Disasters are destructive to people, economies and the stability of States and communities. Natural hazards and climate risk have the potential to seriously undermine global and national efforts to eradicate poverty and build peace.

Today, as we open the second Prep Comm session, we also mark the beginning of Geneva Peace Week, which consists of a series of events that all are aimed at bringing together the many actors working on different aspects of peace promotion, and to expand the space for dialogue about building peace and resolving conflict across these different communities.

Geneva Peace Week is in its own right an example of a multistakeholder partnership and is a reminder of the multi-faceted connections across the challenges we face, and the need for a comprehensive approach. Conflicts can increase disaster risk, together with other compounding factors and underlying risk drivers, all of which together can escalate the levels of disaster loss.

Placing sustainable development and risk reduction at the heart of domestic and international strategies will better contribute to the promotion of lasting peace and security, while peace building will contribute to sustainable development. If we do not take into consideration these links, we will miss the opportunity to craft the creative and forward-looking solutions that we need.

The United Nations Office at Geneva is pleased to facilitate and support your important work, and I wish you all very fruitful deliberations over the coming two days.

Thank you very much.