Dear Colleagues,
I am so pleased that Norway has been invited to co-host here today.
And I wish to extend my deepest thanks to Japan for their excellent coordination and bringing us all together.
It is also my pleasure to give the first joint statement on behalf of the Group of Friends for Disaster Risk Reduction!
The co-chairs: Australia, Peru Indonesia, and my own country, Norway, are proud to join in co-sponsoring World Tsunami Awareness Day.
Since it was established by the General Assembly in 2015, World Tsunami Awareness Day marks an important moment in our efforts to raise global awareness about the devastating effects of this natural hazard. One that can lead to: economic loss, environmental damage, and the tragic loss of human and animal life.
The most recent disaster in the Caribbean again highlights how disasters can wipe out hard fought development gains.
Disaster discriminates and leaves people behind.
The Summits held during high-level week this September, highlighted the importance- and urgency- of managing disaster risk.
And, its centrality to the decade for implementation of the SDGs.
We must seize the opportunity to establish policy and programmatic coherence between: disaster risk reduction strategies, national climate change adaptation plans, and nationally determined contributions.
All by 2020.
Disaster risk reduction must be integrated in: policies, strategies, regulations and financing, across all sectors.
Likewise, it is imperative to impart our knowledge, and foster the curiosity of future generations.
Especially since the disaster risk that we create today will have an impact on their lives and prosperity tomorrow.
We owe them the assurance that they will grow up in a safer and more prepared world.
We all have a responsibility to future generations to reduce existing disaster risk and stop creating new risk.
Dear Colleagues,
No country can manage disaster risk alone.
It is necessary to enhance global partnerships to support those most vulnerable. In particular, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, middle-income countries and Small Island Developing States.
Bilateral, and multilateral, development assistance must be risk-informed.
Excellencies,
To close, on behalf of the Co-chairs of the Group of Friends on Disaster Risk Reduction, I wish you all a successful of World Tsunami Awareness Day. And hope that in future years we can mark the occasion in all corners of the globe.
We look forward to working with you all as we continue the movement for Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations.
Thank you.