Regional leaders convene in Montenegro to strengthen disaster risk reduction and climate resilience ahead of COP29
The 2024 Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction officially opened today in Budva, Montenegro, bringing together civil protection leaders and over 700 participants from 55 UN Member States. The event, running from 6 to 8 November, aims to tackle the urgent need for enhanced action on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.
As the region grapples with increasing climate-related disasters, including floods, wildfires, extreme heat, as well as earthquakes and other risks, the platform aims to align resilience efforts and priorities ahead of COP29 in Baku, reinforcing the commitment to safeguard communities and ecosystems.
At the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, emphasized the importance of unity in stepping up action: "As we face the increasing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters, it is imperative that we work together to strengthen our resilience and preparedness"
The Prime Minister also launched a Montenegro Call for Action on Earthquake Preparedness and Recovery at the platform, urging Member States to take concerted actions to reduce the human and economic toll of seismic events.
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, remarked: "the Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform is a chance for the region to come together and commit to a prevention-first agenda. This means a greater political and financial commitment to disaster risk reduction and to embedding resilience in all investments. This is how we can fully implement the Sendai Framework and stop risks from becoming disasters. The alternative is continued loss of life and unsustainable funding on disaster response and recovery."
Under the theme "Empowering Communities, Building Resilience," the platform aims to drive collective actions that protect and involve communities who are most at risk, strengthen governance, and integrate DRR and resilience-building measures across all sectors and levels of government.
In addition to the Ministerial Roundtable and high-level sessions, participants will engage in learning labs, and expert-led sessions focusing on topics such as private sector engagement, infrastructure resilience, and multi-hazard early warning systems. The platform also emphasizes inclusivity, featuring youth and disability - focused events and innovative approaches to risk communication aimed at combating misinformation and promoting inclusive risk management. A marketplace and an Ignite Stage will engage diverse stakeholders on initiatives for building resilience.
The Regional Platform is expected to result in a political declaration outlining commitments for scaling up DRR and climate action, strengthening inclusive risk governance, supporting investments into disaster resilience, and advancing disaster preparedness and early warning systems, with the goal of meeting the targets of the Sendai Framework by 2030.
About
The Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is the main intergovernmental platform for addressing regional disaster risk challenges in Europe and Central Asia, comprising 55 countries. Held every three years, the Regional Platform has established itself as a unique vehicle to address regional disaster risk challenges, gathering stakeholders across governments, civil society, and the private sector, enabling knowledge-sharing and making commitments to reducing disaster risk tangible.
The 2024 Regional Platform is hosted by the Government of Montenegro, with support from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Further information is available on the website: https://efdrr.undrr.org/
The last Regional Platform in Matosinhos, Portugal, in 2021, led to the endorsement of the 'EFDRR Roadmap for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021-2030', which outlines four priority areas and sixteen action areas for the region to achieve the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The Sendai Framework is the global agreement offering Member States concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster, working hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.