High-level event on New Technologies in Disaster Risk Reduction

Time

10:00 CEST

Introduction

This high-level panel event will be co-sponsored by the Czech Republic in its capacity as European Union Council President, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Office (UNDRR).

It aims to engage Geneva permanent missions and agencies in a discussion on best practice in the use of new technology and digitalization in disaster risk reduction with an eye to informing relevant policy making at the trans-national, governmental and agency levels, including upcoming EU Council Conclusions on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Background

Shaping a digital future that belongs to everyone depends more than ever on joint efforts by all of us. Thanks to science, technology, digitalization and other innovations, the world is changing rapidly and inevitably, and new tools are available to reduce disaster risks.

Technologies can be applied in all phases of the disaster risk management cycle. Through technologies, we can anticipate and spread critical risk information more quickly, improve understanding of the causes of disasters, enhance early warning systems, assess damage in new ways and add to the knowledge base of the social behaviors and economic impacts after a crisis strikes. This is recognized in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which encourages better support for innovation and technology as well as increased investment in new innovations that are both cost-effective and beneficial when applied in all disaster risk management phases

Some technologies are considered “traditional”, meaning that they represent incremental improvements in already existing ones and they have been applied in the field since quite some time. Traditional technologies continue to play a critical role in disaster risk management and are also benefitting from digitalization. For example, satellite imagery and seismometers remain important methods for detecting, monitoring and accessing disasters, and text messaging has a wide reach when communicating with the public.

Other technologies are called “disruptive”, as they are completely new and their practical application may not have been proven yet, while they have the potential of significantly influencing the future. Disruptive technologies – such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data – and innovations in such areas as robotics and drone technology are transforming many fields, including disaster risk reduction and management.

Both better use of “traditional” tools and the scaling up of disruptive technologies should be crucial elements of modern disaster risk reduction and management practices.

The pace, scope and impact vary among the technologies. Use of drones and IoT is increasing, as experience is gained and costs fall. While social media are playing a greater role during disasters and the public is using digital technologies such as crowdsourcing map details to support disaster management, many uses of Big Data, robots and AI remain largely experimental. At the same time, there is still a need to bridge the digital divide for risk management actors in many countries, particularly for communities far from business capitals where access to stable electricity, mobile and internet coverage and knowledge in the use of digital tools is not yet assured. Therefore, it has also become crucially important to align digital innovations with the needs in the field and to have robust engagement mechanisms with the national and local actors in planning and delivery.

This session will look to some of the gains that have been made in improving disaster risk management through traditional and disruptive technologies, remaining gaps in practice, and coordination tools such as the updated “Inventory of EU crisis management capabilities” which has just been published (May 2022) and provides an essential overview of tools, instruments, mechanisms, facilities and systems already available at European level, as well as opportunities for growth. It is expected that the discussion will inform the development of relevant policies, including forthcoming EU Council Conclusions on Disaster Risk Reduction.