Disaster Risk Reduction & The Environment

Directorate for Disaster Risk Reduction

Introduction 

The Directorate for Disaster Risk Reduction serves to foster co-operation among the organizations responsible for disaster planning and relief in the region. This allows for the prevention and mitigation of risks, for the purpose of incorporating knowledge on prevention, education and planning with respect to the effects of disasters.

VI Summit 

The VI Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States was held on April 30^th, 2014, in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the organization.  

During this Summit, the Declaration of Mérida was adopted wherein specific articles guide the work of the ACS in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Through Article 12, Member States express their satisfaction at significant advancements recorded by the implementation of the Plan of Action of Pétion Ville, noting: “the convening of the International Workshop on Disaster Risk Management Associated with Natural Phenomena, held on November 25 and 26, 2013 in Mexico City; and the implementation of the second phase of the project on strengthening hydro-meteorological operations and services in the Caribbean small island developing states (SHOCS)–Early Warning System”.

In Article 13, Member States pledge to “promote a vision that would allow disaster risk to be managed using a comprehensive approach, consistent with the policies of the countries of the region that would reduce risk, while transforming us into sustainable countries and territories”.

Further, in Article 14, Member States agree to “exchange experiences for the integration of information systems that would allow us to advance toward the implementation of a platform for a territorial information system in the Greater Caribbean for natural disaster prevention that would contribute to our efforts for comprehensive risk management”.

Main Projects 

• Complementary Project of the SIDS Caribbean SHOCS I & II Project (COPS)
• Territorial Information Platform for Disaster Prevention (PITCA)
• United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)
• Strengthening Hydrometeorological Operations in the Caribbean SIDS, Phase II (SHOCS II)
• International (Virtual) Diploma in Disaster Risk Reduction Management
• Regional Master Degree in Sustainable Development with a Focus on Disaster Risk Reduction

Key Frameworks for Disaster Risk Reduction 

• The Sendai Framework

“The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted by UN Member States on 18 March 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The Sendai Framework is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and four priorities for action.”

• Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

The work of the Directorate is in line with the International Agenda that was established with the approval of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). This is characterised by five priorities for action approved by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction convened in 2005.  

• The Saint Marc Plan of Action for Disaster Reduction

This was the main result of the ACS High Level Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Haiti on November 14-16, 2007 and adopted by the 13^th Meeting of the Ministerial Council and in that way it became the Work Programme of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters. It reinforces the role of the ACS as the principal forum in the Greater Caribbean for the exchange of experiences, lessons learnt and best practices in the development of national and regional coordination mechanisms.