The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the first of which is “no poverty”, namely: end poverty in all its forms everywhere. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are seven targets, the fifth of which is “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.”

●  Current Situation

About the World

The Toll of Climate-related Disasters is Rising, with Poorer Countries Most Affected

No matter the measure — whether loss of life or economic loss — disasters cause enormous suffering the world over. From 1998 to 2017, direct economic losses from disasters were estimated at almost $3 trillion, of which climate-related disasters accounted for 77 percent of the total (a rise of 151 percent from 1978 to 1997). Over that period, climate-related and geophysical disasters claimed an estimated 1.3 million lives. More than 90 per cent of all disasters were caused by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves or other extreme weather events.

Poverty is a major underlying driver of disaster risk, so it comes as no surprise that the poorest countries are experiencing a disproportionate share of damage and loss of life attributed to disasters. More than 90 per cent of internationally reported deaths due to disaster occur in low- and middle-income countries. Disasters kill 130 people for every one million people in low-income countries compared to 18 per one million in high-income countries. Economic losses resulting from disasters are also much higher in poorer countries, when measured as a percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP). Among the 10 worst disasters in terms of economic damage (when expressed relative to GDP), eight occurred in low- or middle-income countries.

（United Nations）

About China

China Makes Remarkable Achievements in Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Relief

In reviewing the past 30 years of UN’s disaster reduction, the Chinese government has established concepts of disaster risk management and comprehensive disaster reduction concept, basically formed a natural disaster management system with Chinese characteristics, significantly improved the emergency response capacity to major and severe disasters, minimized casualties and property losses caused by disasters, and made remarkable achievements in China’s disaster prevention, mitigation and relief work.

In order to actively respond to the severe situation and challenges faced by natural disasters, the Chinese government will further strengthen the comprehensive prevention of disaster risks, improve the system and mechanism of disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, improve the laws and regulations of natural disasters, strengthen disaster monitoring and early warning, enhance emergency rescue ability, consolidate the basic foundation of disaster prevention and mitigation, and comprehensively improve the integrated prevention ability of the whole society to resist natural disasters.

(www.5tu.cn)

Test source: www.un.org, www.ndrcc.org.cn

●  Cases

About the World

Extreme Weather Hit 60 Million People in 2018

Mami Mizutori, UN secretary-general’s special representative for disaster risk reduction, , said: “No region of the world was unaffected by extreme weather events last year. Floods, droughts, storms and wildfires affected 57.3 million people, which again highlights that if we want to reduce disaster losses, we must improve the way we manage disaster risk. ”

According to the International Disaster Database from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, the number of deaths due to natural disasters in 2018 is 13,373, which is significantly reduced comparing to an average of 77,144 deaths per year from 2000 to 2017.

But the mass deaths from several catastrophic events from 2000 to 2017 have increased the average number, including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the Nargis tropical storm in 2008 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010. No such major disaster occurred in 2018. At the same time, the loss of life caused by major natural disasters seems to have decreased due to the improvement of living standards and disaster risk management.

Mami Mizutori points out that we must we take the same positive actions to adapt to climate change, which means to reduce disaster risk in our cities, avoid the creation of new risk by better land use, strengthen planning regulations and building codes, safeguard protective eco-systems, reduce poverty, and take active measures to reduce exposure to rising sea levels.

Data shows that geological activities, including earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, disrupted 3.4 million people’s lives last year and claimed more lives than any other type of disaster, including 4,417 deaths in Indonesia, 425 and 145 deaths in Guatemala and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

The number of people affected by storms was as high as 12.8 million in 2018, which caused 1593 deaths and severe economic losses. Preliminary estimates indicate that Hurricane Florence, which swept Carolina, US, caused US $ 14 billion in damage; Hurricane Michael, which affected Florida, US, caused US $ 16 billion in damage, and Typhoon Swallow caused US $ 12.5 billion in damage to the Philippines.

The streets of Gonaives, Haiti after Hurricane Thomas. （UNICEF photo/Marco Dormino）

About China

Shenzhen Emergency Management Bureau Holds Special Lecture on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Knowledge 

The Shenzhen Municipal Emergency Management Bureau held an annual special lecture on disaster prevention and mitigation in the Civic Center of the city on August 29, 2019.

A scene of shenzhen’ special lecture on disaster prevention and reduction for 2019. (Source: www.xinhuanet.com)

The lecture was proceeded from four aspects: new challenges, new requirements, new missions and new initiatives in the work of disaster prevention and mitigation. The lecture summarized new challenges in the work, shared the responsibilities and missions that the cadres of disaster prevention and mitigation should have in the new era, explained new ways and methods, and constructively put forward new initiatives to improve the capacity of disaster prevention and mitigation.

This lecture further enhanced the participants’ ideological understanding of the new situation and challenges of disaster prevention and mitigation, and promoted the development of disaster prevention and mitigation in Shenzhen.

Li Canfeng, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of Shenzhen Municipal Emergency Bureau, asked relevant departments and areas to use the new concepts, methods and ideas put forward in the lecture in guiding and summarizing their disaster prevention and mitigation work. They should also find problems, shortcomings and solve them, strengthen risk management of emergencies, monitor wind, rains, disasters and dangers well, and make every effort to ensure the safety of people’s lives and properties. They should strive to make effective efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation, and provide solid security for Shenzhen to build the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

Text Source: www.un.org, www.xinhuanet.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.