SUMMARY. European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 3

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1 Francesca Piantella

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3 SUMMARY International Strategy for Disaster Reduction...6 Overall objective of the European Forum...9 Why develop a European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction...10 Who is part of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction...11 How the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction functions...12 What the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction addresses...15 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 3

4 European Union, European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

5 The European region is exposed to a wide range of natural hazards such as storms, droughts, heat waves, fl oods, earthquakes, avalanches and landslides which continuously cause human and economic losses. Despite the European wealth of expertise, knowledge and know-how in disaster risk reduction (DRR), statistics show that vulnerability to hazards in the region is increasing. In Europe most of the economic and human losses are due to weather-related disasters such as fl oods and storms. This is a concern for the future since, as highlighted by the IPCC 4th Assessment Report, the impact of climate change is likely to increase the severity and frequency of weather-related hazards with negative consequences especially impacts on livelihoods and the environment. European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 5

6 INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a strategic framework adopted by United Nations Member States in The ISDR guides and coordinates the efforts of a wide range of partners to achieve a substantive reduction in disaster losses. It aims to build resilient nations and communities as an essential condition for sustainable development. Johan Eklund EFDRR 1st Annual Meeting 2010, Sweden The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN- ISDR) is the secretariat of the ISDR system. The ISDR system comprises numerous organizations, States, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, fi nancial institutions, technical bodies and civil society, which work together and share information to reduce disaster risk. UNISDR serves as the focal point for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) a ten year plan of action adopted in 2005 by 168 governments to protect lives and livelihoods against disasters. The HFA highlights the need to exchange and collaborate on disaster risk reduction issues at the national, regional and international level. 6 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

7 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 7

8 Johan Eklund 8 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

9 OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN FORUM 1. Serve as a forum to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among participating National HFA Focal Points and Platforms and regional/sub regional partners. 2. Provide advocacy for effective action to reduce disasters, by contributing to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action : Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters (HFA), in particular by promoting and supporting the creation of new National Platforms. 3. Facilitate exchanges among European nations on the implementation of the HFA, for expanding the political space devoted to the issue and promoting innovative ideas in the fi eld of DRR. 4. Create a safer Europe by reducing the impact of natural hazards to reduce vulnerability, and increasing the ability to minimize consequences of disasters. European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 9

10 WHY DEVELOP A EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION In Europe several regional and sub-regional organisations (Council of Europe, European Commission and the South East European cooperation process) have disaster risk reduction activities at their core and cooperate actively with the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction. These high-level political commitments are complimented by active exchanges and collaboration within the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction. Johan Eklund EFDRR Former Chair (Sweden) with current Chair (the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia), current Co-Chair (Croatia) with UNISDR and EUR-OPA (EFDRR Secretariat) The European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR) was established during the Meeting of European National Platforms and HFA Focal Points, November 2009 in London, UK. Following the offi cial launch of the EFDRR, a concept paper was developed in May 2010 and fi nalized in December EFDRR is intended to serve as a forum to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among participating National HFA Focal Points, National Platforms and regional/sub regional partners: it facilitates discussion and advances on disaster risk reduction issues in a coordinated way at the regional level. 10 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

11 WHO IS PART OF THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION Johan Eklund Salvano Briceño, Director, UNISDR The European Forum includes: HFA Focal Points and representatives of National Platforms in the European region, UNISDR-Europe, regional organizations and sub-regional organizations/institutions as agreed by the forum. The following summary of sub-regional organizations and institutions is not meant to be exhaustive but includes the main institutions that are collaborating with UNISDR, National Platforms and HFA Focal Points: Council of Europe (CoE) - EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement 2 European Commission/European Union (EC/EU) 3 The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE) 4 The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 5 A European Network of National Platforms European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 11

12 HOW THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION FUNCTIONS To create a rational structure for operation, the functions of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction will be based on the following fi ve principles: 1. Bottom-up and participatory approach : This will ensure that National Platforms and HFA Focal Points in Europe will be at the core of the European Forum. Their participation, active exchanges and engagement will shape the agenda and activities of the European Forum. 2. Building on existing institutions/organizations : This will allow for the above mentioned key institutions/organizations to be part of the European Forum. These will be able to contribute to the forum by building on their ongoing meeting opportunities, work plans, activities and working groups. Johan Eklund 12 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

13 3. Avoiding the creation of bureaucratic layers and rigid structures : The creation of complex and time consuming bureaucracy will be reduced and the principle will allow maximizing the existing regional organizations forum and gathering. 4. Not acting as a political forum : This principle will allow all countries to express their views and interests through their respective national government. The same principle used to convene National Platforms and HFA Focal Points meetings shall be applied. 5. Meeting on an annual basis : Continuity will be ensured by having meetings of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction on an annual basis. The venue or date for the European Forum gatherings is decided by the Steering Group. Regional Organizations Working Groups EFDRR Sub-regional Organizations Chair & Co-Chair Steering Group Friends of the Chair Organisational structure of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 13

14 Steering Group The Steering Group consists of the Chair and Co-Chair, UNISDR (Regional Coordinator) and the Council of Europe s EUR-OPA (Executive Secretary). The Steering Group can invite a representative of the European Commission. Friends of the Chair Previous chairs of the EFDRR and chairs of earlier HFA Focal Points and national platform meetings, together with the Council of Europe (EUR- OPA), UNISDR, the European Commission, and DPPI form the Friends of the Chair group that acts as an advisory group to the presiding Chair and Co-Chair. Working groups The possibility of developing working groups addressing identifi ed areas related to disaster risk reduction will be stimulated within the European Forum. Working groups develop proposals or perform tasks and the results are presented to the Forum. Sub-regional organizations The role of the sub-regional organizations is to inform the EFDRR on current issues embraced by the organization and promote coherence discussion on the relevance for the EFDRR. Progress and good examples from sub-regional organizations can be useful for other countries within the EFDRR. In turn the Forum can provide insight on how a similar challenge was addressed by other member countries. 14 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

15 WHAT THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION ADDRESSES Based on the objectives of the EFDRR, the outcomes of previous National Platforms and HFA Focal Points meetings, and the conclusions of the Implementing the HFA in Europe report, the following focus areas have been identifi ed: Johan Eklund Pande Lazarevski, Chair of the EFDRR 2011 Increased awareness on disaster risk reduction as an integral aspect of sustainable development and adaptation to climate change, recognizing that it is everybody s business ; Enhanced commitment of policy and decision-makers to implement the HFA; Stimulated engagement of national and regional actors to promote joint activities towards disaster risk reduction; Enhanced coordination of relevant national and regional actors in disaster risk reduction; Fostered understanding of the HFA reporting mechanisms; Identifi ed specifi c opportunities for cross-fertilization between countries and sub-regions for exchanging knowledge and information, as well as inter-government and inter-sector cooperation. European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 15

16 The focus areas will be evolving based on achievements obtained and/ or on new focus areas emerging within the European Forum. Johan Eklund Göta River Valley, Sweden Together with highlighted outcomes and focus areas, the European Forum will serve as venue for: Facilitating the identifi cation of common needs and action programmes; Information sharing, exchange of knowledge and ideas and facilitation of cooperation; Stimulating exchanges among HFA focal points and NPs and facilitating joint activities and twinning among European National Platforms and with other regions; Learning from past experiences and sharing good practices; Providing practical suggestions for regional and sub-regional initiatives in support of national and community efforts to reduce disaster risk; 16 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

17 Benchmarking where countries can seek guidance from others who have already achieved desired results; Fostering the use of innovative technologies in DRR within member countries; Reviewing the development of regional reports on HFA implementation and advocating national reporting on HFA through the UNISDR monitoring tool; Promoting the development of key events that can promote disaster risk reduction; Serving as venue for preparation for Global Platform sessions. European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 17

18 Contact : Supporting organisation : UNISDR Regional Offi ce for Europe UN House 14 Rue Montoyer B-1000 Brussels, Belgium isdr-europe@un.org EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement Avenue de l Europe F Strasbourg Cedex, France europa.risk@coe.int default_en.asp

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