Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor to present this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends for Disaster Risk Reduction, comprised of over 40 Member States, noting that one member has chosen not to associate with this particular statement.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the Permanent Missions of Belgium and Morocco and to the Secretariat for their diligent efforts in preparing the Zero Draft of the Political Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
Since the Copenhagen Declaration 30 years ago, the global risk landscape has evolved considerably.
Emerging and compounding risks are undermining progress towards sustainable development.
Disasters can push millions into poverty overnight.
Without robust and adaptive social protection systems, people in vulnerable situations remain trapped in cycles of
disaster > response > recovery > repeat.
Shock-responsive social protection mechanisms, investments in prevention, early warning systems, anticipatory approaches and disaster-responsive safety nets must be considered in our collective commitment to sustainable development.
These measures are not simply reactive; they are investments in our shared ability to anticipate, plan for, reduce and prevent disaster risk to safeguard resilient social development everywhere.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) emphasizes multi-hazard risk reduction, urging all governments to implement integrated and inclusive social measures that prevent and reduce exposure and vulnerability to disasters and strengthen resilience.
We reaffirmed in the Political Declarations of the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework and of the 2023 SDG Summit our commitment to promote a disaster risk-informed approach to development at the local, national, regional and global levels, and to accelerating progress on integrating disaster risk reduction into policies, programmes and investments at all levels.
We welcome the efforts to include disaster risk reduction in the text, in section 5 on Climate Resilience, Just Transition and Disaster Risk Reduction.
However, it’s important to recognise that disasters are not solely a consequence of climate change.
While climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, and extreme weather events are undeniably significant, disaster risks extend far beyond the climate sphere.
Earthquakes, pandemics, technological failures, and cascading systemic risks affect people worldwide, causing immense human and economic loss.
The scale and complexity of these challenges demands a focus on disaster risk reduction that covers the full scope of hazards and disasters.
Excellencies, we urge disaster risk reduction to be mainstreamed across the Political Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development and its implementation.
It is a foundational element of sustainable development that protects lives, strengthens communities, and ensures that no one is left behind.
We look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that this essential priority is fully reflected in the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
Thank you.