SUSTAINABILITY: DISASTER RESILIENCE AND RESPONSE //
FIGURE 1: WHAT DOES THE G20 AGREE ON?
Commitments made by the G20, by topic (2008 – 2024)
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
such as those in the Caribbean. More recently, at Rio de Janeiro in 2024, the G20 committed to accelerating international disaster risk reduction cooperation in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Sendai Framework, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, provides the blueprint for this work. This 15-year global agreement guides countries in reducing disaster risks and losses through the four key priorities of understanding disaster risk through better data, knowledge and awareness; strengthening disaster risk governance with clearer policies, laws and institutions; investing in disaster risk reduction by funding safer infrastructure and systems; and enhancing disaster preparedness while ensuring ‘build back better’ approaches to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. FROM COMMITMENT AND CAPABILITY Despite these commitments and frameworks, significant gaps remain in implementation. According to the UNDRR’s Sendai Monitor, many G20 countries with high exposure to
natural disasters lack adequate early warning systems – one of the most fundamental tools for protecting people. South Africa’s situation illustrates this troubling reality: despite over 4 million residents being affected by natural disasters in recent years, the country has the worst multi-hazard warning score in the G20, at just 0.13 out of a possible score of 1 (see table 1).
The global picture for early warning systems remains equally concerning. The World Meteorological Organization reports that only 70% of the world’s population has access to these critical systems. The coverage gap widens dramatically in less developed countries, where populations face some of the highest disaster risks but have the least protection. Even in North America – one of the most technologically advanced regions – only about 83% of those who experienced a disaster in the past five years received at least one warning. To meet disaster risk reduction goals effectively, G20 members must move beyond declarations to concrete action. Evidence-based strategies for increasing compliance should be implemented, including having G20 infrastructure ministers meet regularly. This would elevate infrastructure resilience to the same priority level as finance and other ministerial tracks, ensuring sustained attention and resources. Finance is another critical need. G20 members should declare specific funding pledges dedicated
“To meet disaster risk
reduction goals effectively, G20 members must move beyond
declarations to concrete action”
109 globalgovernanceproject.org
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