THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED PRESENTATION. PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE OR CITE WITHOUT PERMISSION
Reducing the Impacts of Disasters on Sustainable Development in SIDS
The Pacific Islands
Dr. Eberhard Weber The University of the South Pacific School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment Suva Fiji Islands Phone: +679-32-32222 Email:
[email protected] Presentation held at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) Rio de Janeiro, June 2012
THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED PRESENTATION. PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE OR CITE WITHOUT PERMISSION
R d i th t off Di t Reducing the IImpacts Disasters on Sustainable Development p in SIDS The e Pacific ac c Islands s a ds Eberhard Weber The University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji Islands
[email protected]
Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development June 20 – 22, 2012
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Structure of Presentation • Natural Hazards in the Pacific Islands • Economic Impact • Social vulnerabilities of Pacific Islanders • Policy Response
http://across.co.nz/OceaniaMap.html
Natural Hazards and Disasters in h P ifi IIslands l d the Pacific When it comes to disaster statistics the Pacific Islands and Asia are often put together. This disguises g the very y particular nature of disasters in the Pacific Islands. They are Î
Î
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Causing g less casualties and less damage g in absolute terms Theyy are casing g more casualties and more damage g in relative terms, measured as share of GDP or population affected or Govt. revenue A single or few disasters can destroy development achievements of decades.
Guha-Sapir D, Vos F, Below R, with Ponserre S. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2010: The Numbers and Trends. Brussels: CRED; 2011, p.33
Guha-Sapir D, Vos F, Below R, with Ponserre S. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2010: The Numbers and Trends. Brussels: CRED; 2011, p.33
Total
3,967
1,163,983
4,791,044
823,041
East & NE Asia
908
162,804
2,567,214
578,602
North & Central Asia
297
34,644 ,
17,231 ,
15,636 ,
South & SW Asia
1,283
566,423
1,914,696
141,506
South-East Asia
1,069
394,687
272,777
48,220
406
5 5,425 425
19 126 19,126
39 078 39,078
197
978
P ifi Pacific Australia + NZ
16,832
36,252
Source:The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report, 2010
Taken from: World Bank 2006,Adapting to natural hazards in the Pacific Islands Region; also in: Lal et al. (2009), Review of Economic and Livelihood Impact Assessment
Taken from: World Bank 2006,Adapting to natural hazards in the Pacific Islands Region
Impact of Disasters Direct Impacts / Damages such as Fatalities / people affected ff Direct economic costs in form of damages to infrastructure, crops, health and educational services, water and power supply
Indirect Impacts such as Disruption Di ti iin th the flflow off goods d Job losses Water and vector born diseases Fall in tax revenue
Disasters and Poverty Damage of sources of livelihood Destruction of assets Impact on health and ed education cation Psychosocial impacts Gender impacts Accumulation of adverse events Baseline vulnerability is higher after disaster
DRR in the Pacific Islands Adapting the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 to the regional context, leaders adopted a regional framework in 2005. Titled ‘An Investment for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Island Countries – Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management: A Framework for Action 2005-2015’. There are six Themes Theme 11: Governance Th G - organisational, i ti l institutional, i tit ti l policy li andd decisiond ii making framework g , information,, public p awareness and education Theme 2: Knowledge, Theme 3: Analysis and evaluation of hazards, vulnerabilities and elements at risks Theme 4: Planning for effective preparedness, response and recovery Theme 5: Effective, integrated and people-focused early warning systems Theme 6: Reduction of underlying risk factors Source: HFA Progress in Asia - Pacific 2009 - 2011
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The Pacific Islands Framework of Action on Cli t Change Ch 2006 2015 reflects fl t the th Climate 2006-2015 commitments made by leaders from the region in the UN Framework on Climate Change. Change Endorsement of other international instruments such h as the h JJohannesburg h b Pl Plan off IImplementation l i (which led to the Declaration at the World Summit on Sustainable S t i bl Development) D l t) andd the th Mauritius M iti Strategy for Further Implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action also reiterate the significance of disaster risk management as a development concern in the Pacific Islands.
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Source: HFA Progress in Asia - Pacific 2009 - 2011
A Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network (PDRMPN) was formed with the objective of assisting countries to implement this framework and other related commitments. Its role includes supporting countries to develop and implement DRM National Action Plans. Pacific Disaster Net, a regional information database has been launched to assist decision making on DRR issues and was put to use during the tsunami in Samoa and Tonga in 2009.
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Some Pacific island countries have taken steps cross cutting issues of disaster towards integrating cross-cutting risk management / reduction and climate change adaptation. adaptation A number of initiatives to strengthen regional collaboration ll b ti in i DRM iin th the P Pacific ifi is i implemented i l t d jointly by SOPAC, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and UNISDR as part of an MOU signed in 2010. SOPAC hhas also l iinitiated i i d collaboration ll b i with i h the h UNDP Pacific Centre to enhance disaster managementt cooperation ti between b t the th Pacific P ifi andd Caribbean regions. Source: HFA Progress in Asia - Pacific 2009 - 2011
Challenges z
Gaps in research and development of scientific tools
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Sustaining public awareness
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Intra-government t a gove e t coordination coo d at o
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Resource and capacity constraints
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Reach to sub-national levels (up to community level)
© E. Weber, Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati
Acknowledgement of Sources: 1.Tsunami Samoa, Eberhard Weber 2.Alan Resture, USP 3.Alan Resture, USP 4.http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/layout/set/print/News/Tikanga-Pasifika/fiji-s-anglicans
Brining DRR and CCA closer to each other
Source: UNISDR, UNDP, 2012: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific: An Institutional and Policy Analysis. Suva, Fiji: UNISDR, UNDP, 76pp.
Differences between CCA and DRR
Source: UNISDR, UNDP, 2012: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific: An Institutional and Policy Analysis. Suva, Fiji: UNISDR, UNDP, 76pp.