This follows the release of a joint report by UNISDR and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) on Economic Losses, Poverty and Disasters, which showed that even though the number of deaths from natural hazards had decreased over the last twenty years, economic losses had increased by 2.5.

Reducing economic losses from disasters is Target c of the roadmap for reducing disaster loss, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and also the theme of the upcoming International Day for Disaster Reduction, celebrated on 13 October. It will be the central theme of the upcoming Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, taking place in May 2019.

Earlier in the week, in its latest report, the Intergovernmental Platform on Climate Change (IPCC) issued dire warnings about the need for expedited action to reduce carbon emissions and limit the global temperature rise to under 1.5 degrees. Under current trends, natural hazards related to climate are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity.

Date:

11 Oct 2018

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

Themes:

Capacity Development, Climate Change, Advocacy & Media, Disaster Risk Management

Hazards:

Drought, Earthquake

Regions:

Africa, Asia, Oceania