UN Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction

The UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) is the flagship report of the United Nations on worldwide efforts to reduce disaster risk. The GAR is published biennially by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and is the product of the contributions of nations, public and private disaster risk-related science and research, amongst others. During the period of implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015, a total of four Global Assessment Reports were produced between 2009 and 2015. Since 2015, two new reports were published, offering an update on progress made in implementing the goals, targets and priorities of the Sendai Framework and disaster-related Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, the GAR also provides regular strategic policy guidance to countries and the international community.

In particular, the 2015 edition of the GAR presents the case for a broad reinterpretation of disaster risk reduction. As the HFA was drawing to a close, the GAR underlines the need to move from managing disasters to managing risks. GAR 2019 provides the first update on how governments are doing in relation to the seven targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction It provides an analysis of how risk science is changing, presents areas for additional endeavour, and explores aspects of understanding and managing systemic risk. It presents innovative research and practice for pursuing risk-informed sustainable development, and provides an introduction to the wider scope and nature of hazards and related risks to be considered. The role of climate change as a great risk amplifier is explored. Moreover, in Chapter 13, the current national practices and policies to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are examined, linking the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.