India

India Urges Global Collaboration to Strengthen Disaster Risk Reduction

By HT Correspondent

At a Meeting of Senior Officials on Disaster Risk Reduction organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and co‑chaired by India and the United Kingdom, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra called for stronger global cooperation, resilient infrastructure and outcome‑based financing to reduce disaster risks. Mishra said that over the next decade efforts must focus on protecting development, limiting economic losses and saving lives. He highlighted the links between climate change, urbanisation, infrastructure expansion and environmental degradation, noting that while early warning systems, preparedness and emergency response have saved lives, economic losses from disasters remain high. Mishra urged a comprehensive approach that moves beyond departmental silos and accounts for interconnected risks and their cascading consequences. He referred to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and called for accelerating its implementation through 2030, with greater investment in prevention, mitigation and institutional capacity. Mishra cited India’s Ten‑Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction introduced in 2016 and amendments to the Disaster Management Act in 2025 as examples of national progress. He stressed that disaster financing must deliver measurable outcomes and called for resilient infrastructure, stronger urban institutions and the integration of nature‑based solutions into development planning. Mishra also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning and multi‑hazard early warning systems in strengthening preparedness, insisting that early warnings must translate into timely action and financing to minimise impact. He urged advance planning of recovery mechanisms so that reconstruction reduces existing vulnerabilities instead of reproducing them. Reaffirming India’s commitment to international cooperation, Mishra noted the establishment of the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and continued efforts to strengthen global collaboration during India’s BRICS chairship. In his closing remarks, Mishra outlined three priorities: improving understanding of emerging and interconnected risks; making more effective investments in resilience across public finance, infrastructure, cities and natural systems; and strengthening institutions through practical international cooperation. He called for consolidating the achievements of the Sendai Framework and accelerating its implementation through 2030, emphasizing that the next decade must demonstrate the ability of countries to protect not only lives but also the assets, infrastructure and development built by communities.