International Symposium "Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction"

In recent years, the severity of climate-related disasters has intensified across the world, and we have seen great damage caused by typhoons and heavy rainfall in Japan. Climate change is predicted to exacerbate disaster risk in the future, and so adaptation to climate change by taking measures on disaster prevention and reduction has become a pressing issue.

An international symposium on “Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction” will be organized to consider how the synergies between three major global agendas (the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the SDGs) can be strengthened, in the context of intensifying climate-related disasters and current domestic and international climate change adaptation efforts.

The keynote speech at this symposium will be given by Ms. MIZUTORI Mami, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, Head of the UNDRR, who will introduce international trends in disaster risk reduction. This will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from related ministries, international organizations and experts. There will then be an open dialogue with Mr. KOIZUMI Shinjiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan, Mr. TAKEDA Ryota, Minister of State for Disaster Management, Japan, and Ms. MIZUTORI Mami, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, Head of the UNDRR who will discuss specific measures being taken by Japan currently and into the future, as well as international contributions.

* This symposium was originally planned to be held on 8 March 2020 in Tokyo, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The organizers have decided instead to hold the symposium using an online webinar system.

* Video and presentation materials available here.