Statements and messages

Statement by SRSG Mizutori, ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Side Event on De-Risking Investments for People, Planet, and Prosperity

The current approach to development assistance is not responsive to the increasing levels of risk within economic, social, and environmental systems. We must support the most vulnerable countries to attract finance for climate action and resilience.

With the world approaching a system-wide crisis point, the SG’s recommendations on strategic foresight to address major catastrophic risks are extremely timely. These recommendations were given further credence by the recent IPCC report.

The UN Joint Study on the Status of Gender Equality and women’s empowerment leadership in disaster risk reduction found that inadequate attention has been given to the mutually reinforcing nature of gender inequality and disaster risk.

We are grateful to the World Meteorological Organization for collaboration toward the important goal of mitigating risk from climate and change and extreme weather.

A few weeks ago, the IPCC released their latest report with unsettling findings. Disasters, which have doubled over the last 20 years, could conceivably double again.

I express my solidarity with the people of Ukraine and call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. This escalating violence -- which is resulting in civilian deaths, including children – is totally unacceptable.

UNDRR advocates for full inclusion of persons with disabilities and their leaders in developing and implementing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction - our guiding document adopted by Member States in 2015 - repeatedly mentions their involvement. While much has been achieved, much more still needs to be done.

As many of you know, the work of UNDRR is guided by this global blueprint for risk reduction and resilience adopted unanimously by all Member States in 2015. With the changing face of risk as the back drop, the Mid-term Review of the Sendai Framework is underway, and the timing could not be better. Not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also the climate emergency is making clear that shocks from disasters cannot be substantially reduced unless the dynamic and systemic nature of risk is better understood.

In the last few years, our world has been pummeled by a disease we were not prepared for, in spite of the fact that in 2015 when UN member states came together to negotiate and agree on the global blue print for disaster risk reduction and resilience, the Sendai Framework for DRR, biological hazards were　incorporated as the next big hazard we need to protect ourselves from. COVID-19 has left hardly anyone or any aspect of our lives untouched. Losing loved ones, becoming ill, struggling with isolation, loss of livelihoods and changing social norms.