BACKGROUND
In recent years, the increasing instances of disasters have exerted an enormous toll on the socio-economic development across the globe. The recurrence of hazards like floods, drought, storms, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, pest infestations, and epidemics are having a detrimental impact on humans. This is primarily due to population growth, urbanisation, rising poverty and the onset of global environmental changes. The annual economic losses associated with disasters averaged US$ 75.5 billion in the 60s', US$ 138.4 billion in the 70s', US$ 213.9 billion in the 80s' and US$ 659.9 billion in the 90s'. Most policy makers and academics acknowledge that poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create conditions of vulnerability. This results in insufficient capacity to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk. Thus, hazards only result in disasters if high risk conditions are present. Many experts consider that poverty is the root cause of disaster vulnerability and risk reduction is now essential in order to achieve UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
In 1989, the UN General Assembly declared the 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). One of the main outcomes of the IDNDR was the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action , adopted in 1994 that set guidelines for action on prevention, preparedness and mitigation of disaster risk. These guidelines were based on principles that stressed the importance of risk assessment, disaster prevention and preparedness, the capacity to prevent, reduce and mitigate disasters. The principles stemmed from the recognition that preventive measures are most effective when stakeholders at all levels are involved in the mitigation process.
The UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held in January 2005, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Hyogo Declaration adopted thus recognises the intrinsic relationship between disaster reduction, sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the importance of involving all stakeholders . The Declaration also recognises that a culture of disaster prevention must be fostered at all levels and that resilience of nations must be built further through people-centered early warning systems, risks assessments, education and other proactive, integrated, multi-hazard and multi-sectoral approaches. The Conference also takes leads from the Global Compact , the initiative spearheaded by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well as Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM) which emphasises on the role of involving all stakeholders in the mitigation process.
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, scheduled in Mumbai (Bombay), India, in November 2005 aims to take this global agenda further, by specifically focussing on corporate sector need and involvement in mainstream disaster management.
In recent years, the increasing instances of disasters have exerted an enormous toll on the socio-economic development across the globe. The recurrence of hazards like floods, drought, storms, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, pest infestations, and epidemics are having a detrimental impact on humans. This is primarily due to population growth, urbanisation, rising poverty and the onset of global environmental changes. The annual economic losses associated with disasters averaged US$ 75.5 billion in the 60s', US$ 138.4 billion in the 70s', US$ 213.9 billion in the 80s' and US$ 659.9 billion in the 90s'. Most policy makers and academics acknowledge that poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create conditions of vulnerability. This results in insufficient capacity to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk. Thus, hazards only result in disasters if high risk conditions are present. Many experts consider that poverty is the root cause of disaster vulnerability and risk reduction is now essential in order to achieve UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
In 1989, the UN General Assembly declared the 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). One of the main outcomes of the IDNDR was the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action , adopted in 1994 that set guidelines for action on prevention, preparedness and mitigation of disaster risk. These guidelines were based on principles that stressed the importance of risk assessment, disaster prevention and preparedness, the capacity to prevent, reduce and mitigate disasters. The principles stemmed from the recognition that preventive measures are most effective when stakeholders at all levels are involved in the mitigation process.
The UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held in January 2005, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Hyogo Declaration adopted thus recognises the intrinsic relationship between disaster reduction, sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the importance of involving all stakeholders . The Declaration also recognises that a culture of disaster prevention must be fostered at all levels and that resilience of nations must be built further through people-centered early warning systems, risks assessments, education and other proactive, integrated, multi-hazard and multi-sectoral approaches. The Conference also takes leads from the Global Compact , the initiative spearheaded by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well as Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM) which emphasises on the role of involving all stakeholders in the mitigation process.
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, scheduled in Mumbai (Bombay), India, in November 2005 aims to take this global agenda further, by specifically focussing on corporate sector need and involvement in mainstream disaster management.