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Disaster Risk Reduction as means of Climate Change

Adaptation

-The Africa Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction

-The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015

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The occurrence of disasters triggered by natural hazards is rising in Africa

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Global and RegionalStrategies and Frameworks:

Africa Strategy, Programme of Action 2005-2010 and Guidelines(AUC, NEPAD, AfDB/F, ISDR)Negotiated and approved by 53 African countries in 2004

The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the resilience of Nations and Communities to disastersNegotiated outcome of the WCDR, Kobe January 2005, by168 governments.

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Africa Strategy and Programme of Action

Overall goal:To reduce the social, economic and

environmental impacts of disasters on African people and economics, thereby facilitating the achievement of the MDGs and other development aims in Africa.

Strategic Areas of Intervention 1. Increased political commitment to disaster risk

reduction.2. Improved identification and assessment of disaster

risks.3. Increased public awareness of disaster risk

reduction.4. Improved governance of disaster risk reduction

institutions.5. Integration of disaster risk reduction in emergency

response management.6. Overall coordination and monitoring of the

implementation of the Strategy.

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Mechanisms for implementationlevels of action (“platforms”)

National PlatformsNational frameworks, multi-stakeholders, and multi disciplinary with

Support from UN country team – when appropriate

Regional(Africa Min. Conf. &Regional Platforms)

Based on existing regional and sub-regional strategies and mechanisms

ThematicBuilding on existing networks, clusters, programmes and other mechanisms

Global Platform report to GAEvery two years, June 2009 in Gva:

Governments, International, UN, regional organisations, experts, NGOs and practitioners

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Linkages between Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

Disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change share the same ultimate goal of reducing vulnerability to weather and climate related hazards.

Natural hazards by themselves are not disasters – it is the combination of an exposed, vulnerable and ill-prepared population or community with a hazard event that results in a disaster.

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Climate change will affect disaster risks in two ways:

– Firstly through the likely increase in weather and climate related hazards

– Secondly through increases in the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards, particularly through ecosystem degradation, reductions in water and food availability, changes to livelihoods, and rapid unplanned urban growth.

Linkages between Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

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The programme of Action for the Implementation of the African Regional

Strategy of Disaster Risk Reduction should be accorded high priority as

existing policy document in addressing Climate Change issues.

Conclusion

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Thank you for your attention.

Let us work together in order to reduce the impacts of disaster in Africa.