Special Parallel Event on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction

Introduction:

Protecting the environment and ecosystems has been shown to prevent damage and deaths from disasters. Furthermore, protection of natural resources can prevent conflict, as the degradation of land and the misuse of resources often lead to tensions. Investment in ecosystems and in resilience projects, including “Building Back Better”, is a major opportunity for development and climate finance, including for the private sector, as these investments can have a major positive impact.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on DRR in March 2015. The importance of enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction are highlighted as one of four priorities for action.

Disaster Waste normally refers to solid and liquid waste generated from a disaster. Common examples include: concrete, steel, wood, clay and tar elements from damaged buildings and infra- structures; household furnishings; parts from the power and telephone grids such as electrical poles, wire, electronic equipment, transformers; parts from water and sewage distribution systems; natural debris such as clay, mud, trees, branches, bushes, palm tree leaves; chemicals, dyes and other raw materials from industries and workshops; waste from relief operations; damaged boats, cars, buses, bicycles; unexploded ordnance (e.g. landmines); waste from disaster settlements and camps including food waste, packaging materials, excreta and other wastes from relief supplies; pesticides and fertilizers; household cleaners; paint, varnish and solvents; and healthcare waste.

In view of the increasing number of disasters, both natural and manmade, there is a need for enhanced action to support national and local partners to be better prepared for managing waste in the aftermath of disasters and/or conflict. Coordination structures for management of disaster waste vary according to the context but must be incorporated within existing governance structures. There is a need to find simple, fast and pragmatic solutions for Disaster Waste Management, which respond to the reality of disaster environments, including specific options to “Build Back Better”.

• Disaster waste management - more than debris removal: There is a need to address disaster waste and the management of the same in broader terms i.e. moving beyond debris removal to a more integrated, environmentally sound and preparedness-recovery based approach – in post disaster contexts as well as during or post protracted crisis. If well planned, DWM can be a means of bridging humanitarian and long-term interventions.
• Disaster waste - an asset: Disaster waste/debris/rubble, whether generated by an environmental hazard or during a protracted crisis, can be used as a resource for recovery through “Build Back Better”. Evidence-based communication on best practices is however necessary to get buy-in from concerned authorities, donors and humanitarians.
• Disaster waste management - institutionalization: There is lack of institutional ownership in disaster waste management, which needs to be institutionalised both within the humanitarian architecture and at the country level. It is an inter-sectoral and multi-cluster issue that needs to be addressed as such and coordinated.

Agenda:

10:30-10:50 Opening statements and video messages

• TSERENBAT Namsrai, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia
• OYUN Sanjaasuren, IETC Advisory Board member
• Video message from Ministry of Environment of Japan
• Video message from Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

10:50-12:30 Interactive panel

• Sanny JEGILOS, Regional team leader, UNDP DRR Bangkok, Thailand
• Satoru MIMURA, JICA Deputy Director General, Tohoku, Japan  Kim DeRIDDER, Environment Director, The Asia Foundation
• Paul ROSENBURG, UNISDR Associate Programme Officer, International Recovery Platform (IRP) Secretariat, Kobe, Japan
• Masataka WATANABE, Chuo University, Japan  Representative of Ministry of Environment and Tourism and/or NEMA, Mongolia
• Adoracion M. NAVARRO, Undersecretary, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippines
• Mayumi TAMIYA, Japan Society of Material Cycle and Waste Management
• Mahesh PRADHAN, UN Environment International Environmental Technology

For more information about the conference: https://www.unisdr.org/conference/2018/amcdrr