Conference: Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience

When: 26 May 2022 09:00 - 10:30 (WIB+07)

Where: Hybrid. Remote participation available to those registered for the conference, here. Live stream available to all

Over the last twenty years, 7,348 major disaster events were recorded, claiming about 1.23 million lives, affecting 4.2 billion people and costing the global economy approximately US$2.97 trillion. At the heart of these systemic risks as well as non-systemic disaster risks is our disconnected relationship with nature as well as the strong socio-economic inequalities between and within countries. This session is designed to: 

(i) Showcase how and why Nature-based Solutions (NbS) need to be an integral part of decision-making for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), and how NbS can help address root causes of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as climate risks and socioeconomic inequalities; 

(ii) Generate commitment to further mainstream NbS into risk-based decision-making in all sectors by identifying means of action and success factors; 

(iii) Share knowledge and best practices to address existing challenges and the potential and current barriers of implementation. 

Session Objectives

This session will discuss how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be implemented in order to reduce systemic risks. More specifically, it will aim to: 

• Raise awareness and knowledge on the use of NbS for reducing and managing systemic risks 
• Encourage governments, policy makers, Civil Society Organisations and private sector to step-up their commitments in implementing, reporting and financing Nature-based Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as in using technology transfers for the design and implementation of NbS for DRR and CCA 
• Inspire donors to allocate more considerable funds for the implementation of projects and initiatives aimed at promoting good practices using NBS. 

Documents

• Words into Action Guidelines on Nature-based Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction.pdf
• Disaster-related losses of ecosystems and their services. Why and how do losses matter for disaster risk reduction.pdf
• The role of ecosystems in disaster risk reduction.pdf

Learn more

Read this section to learn more about the topic of Nature-based Solutions for disaster risk reduction, ensuring you come prepared for the session. 

Where do we stand 

NbS for DRR and CCA are being implemented worldwide. Yet, their inclusion in national and local DRR and CCA strategies is still rare, and no country has reported on them in the Sendai Framework Monitor. This session will be an opportunity to identify and tackle the main challenges related to NbS implementation in DRR: 

• Lack of financing, technology transfers and innovative solutions for the implementation of NbS in DRR/CCA 
• Lack of awareness on the benefits provided by NbS 
• Lack of knowledge on efficacy parameters (i.e. thresholds) and key performance indicators 

NbS offer the following opportunities for reducing disaster risk: 

• Improved knowledge and awareness of dynamics of hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities and resilience of both societies and ecosystems 
• Synchronization of NbS for DRR/CCA with programmes targeted to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate risks and socioeconomic inequalities; 
• Integration of risk-based decision making in sectoral policies and planning, e.g. agriculture, fishery, aquaculture and forestry 
• Better harmony of individuals and communities with nature 

Session guiding questions

• What is the added value of NbS implementation to systemic risk reduction? 
• How can we scale up NbS good practices for DRR/CCA under different institutional and disaster contexts? 
• What is needed to strategically integrate NbS in DRR/CCA decision-making that also contributes to the achievement of multiple societal objectives? 
• What are the barriers to the implementation of NbS for DRR and how can we strategically address these through innovative approaches? 
• Which financing mechanisms are available to enable NbS? 

Organizing Team members

• Cameroon, Ministry of Environment 
• People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Natural Resources 
• Colombia, Gestion del Riesgo 
• Sri Lanka, National Building Research Organization  
• Asian Disaster Preparedness Center 
• Canadian Institute of Planners 
• Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, University of the Free State 
• HelpAge International 
• Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk Reduction Network 
• InsuResilience Global Partnership 
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH 
• Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) 
• The World Farmers’ Organisation 
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Learn more about the event here.