World Conference on Disaster Reduction
18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Hyogo Framework for
Action 2005-2015:*
Building the Resilience of Nations and
Communities to Disasters
www.unisdr.org/wcdr
*Extract from the final report of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction
(A/CONF.206/6)
International Strategy
ISDR
for Disaster Reduction
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
, Contents
Paragraphs
I. Preamble .......................................................................................................... 1–9
A. Challenges posed by disasters ..................................................................... 2–5
B. The Yokohama Strategy: lessons learned and gaps identified .................... 6–9
II. World Conference on Disaster Reduction: Objectives, expected outcome and
strategic goals ......................................................................................................... 10–12
A. Objectives ................................................................................................... 10
B. Expected outcome ....................................................................................... 11
C. Strategic goals ............................................................................................. 12
III. Priorities for action 2005-2015 .............................................................................. 13–20
A. General considerations ................................................................................ 13
B. Priorities for action ..................................................................................... 14–20
1. Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority
with a strong institutional basis for implementation ........................ 16
2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early
warning ............................................................................................ 17
3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of
safety and resilience at all levels ...................................................... 18
4. Reduce the underlying risk factors .................................................. 19
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels 20
IV. Implementation and follow-up ............................................................................... 21–34
A. General considerations ................................................................................ 21–29
B. States .......................................................................................................... 30
C. Regional organizations and institutions ...................................................... 31
D. International organizations .......................................................................... 32
E. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction ...................................... 33
F. Resource mobilization ................................................................................ 34
Annex
Some multilateral developments related to disaster risk reduction ......................... 20
, I. Preamble
1. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held from 18 to 22 January 2005
in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, and adopted the present Framework for Action 2005-2015:
Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (here after referred to as
the “Framework for Action”). The Conference provided a unique opportunity to promote a
strategic and systematic approach to reducing vulnerabilities1 and risks to hazards.2 It
underscored the need for, and identified ways of, building the resilience of nations and
communities to disasters.3
A. Challenges posed by disasters
2. Disaster loss is on the rise with grave consequences for the survival, dignity and
livelihood of individuals, particularly the poor, and hard-won development gains. Disaster
risk is increasingly of global concern and its impact and actions in one region can have an
impact on risks in another, and vice versa. This, compounded by increasing vulnerabilities
related to changing demographic, technological and socio-economic conditions, unplanned
urbanization, development within high-risk zones, under-development, environmental
degradation, climate variability, climate change, geological hazards, competition for scarce
resources, and the impact of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, points to a future where
disasters could increasingly threaten the world’s economy, and its population and the
sustainable development of developing countries. In the past two decades, on average more
than 200 million people have been affected every year by disasters.
3. Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical, social, economic and
environmental vulnerabilities. Events of hydrometeorological origin constitute the large
majority of disasters. Despite the growing understanding and acceptance of the importance
of disaster risk reduction and increased disaster response capacities, disasters and in
particular the management and reduction of risk continue to pose a global challenge.
4. There is now international acknowledgement that efforts to reduce disaster risks
must be systematically integrated into policies, plans and programmes for sustainable
development and poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral, regional and
international cooperation, including partnerships. Sustainable development, poverty
reduction, good governance and disaster risk reduction are mutually supportive objectives,
and in order to meet the challenges ahead, accelerated efforts must be made to build the
necessary capacities at the community and national levels to manage and reduce risk. Such
1
Vulnerability is defined as: “The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of
hazards”. UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004.
2
Hazard is defined as: “A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that
may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or
environmental degradation. Hazards can include latent conditions that may represent future threats
and can have different origins: natural (geological, hydrometeorological and biological) or induced by
human processes (environmental degradation and technological hazards)” UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004.
3
The scope of this Framework for Action encompasses disasters caused by hazards of natural origin
and related environmental and technological hazards and risks. It thus reflects a holistic and multi-
hazard approach to disaster risk management and the relationship, between them which can have a
significant impact on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems, as stressed in the
Yokohama Strategy (section I, part B, letter I, p. 8).
1
18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Hyogo Framework for
Action 2005-2015:*
Building the Resilience of Nations and
Communities to Disasters
www.unisdr.org/wcdr
*Extract from the final report of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction
(A/CONF.206/6)
International Strategy
ISDR
for Disaster Reduction
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
, Contents
Paragraphs
I. Preamble .......................................................................................................... 1–9
A. Challenges posed by disasters ..................................................................... 2–5
B. The Yokohama Strategy: lessons learned and gaps identified .................... 6–9
II. World Conference on Disaster Reduction: Objectives, expected outcome and
strategic goals ......................................................................................................... 10–12
A. Objectives ................................................................................................... 10
B. Expected outcome ....................................................................................... 11
C. Strategic goals ............................................................................................. 12
III. Priorities for action 2005-2015 .............................................................................. 13–20
A. General considerations ................................................................................ 13
B. Priorities for action ..................................................................................... 14–20
1. Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority
with a strong institutional basis for implementation ........................ 16
2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early
warning ............................................................................................ 17
3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of
safety and resilience at all levels ...................................................... 18
4. Reduce the underlying risk factors .................................................. 19
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels 20
IV. Implementation and follow-up ............................................................................... 21–34
A. General considerations ................................................................................ 21–29
B. States .......................................................................................................... 30
C. Regional organizations and institutions ...................................................... 31
D. International organizations .......................................................................... 32
E. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction ...................................... 33
F. Resource mobilization ................................................................................ 34
Annex
Some multilateral developments related to disaster risk reduction ......................... 20
, I. Preamble
1. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held from 18 to 22 January 2005
in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, and adopted the present Framework for Action 2005-2015:
Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (here after referred to as
the “Framework for Action”). The Conference provided a unique opportunity to promote a
strategic and systematic approach to reducing vulnerabilities1 and risks to hazards.2 It
underscored the need for, and identified ways of, building the resilience of nations and
communities to disasters.3
A. Challenges posed by disasters
2. Disaster loss is on the rise with grave consequences for the survival, dignity and
livelihood of individuals, particularly the poor, and hard-won development gains. Disaster
risk is increasingly of global concern and its impact and actions in one region can have an
impact on risks in another, and vice versa. This, compounded by increasing vulnerabilities
related to changing demographic, technological and socio-economic conditions, unplanned
urbanization, development within high-risk zones, under-development, environmental
degradation, climate variability, climate change, geological hazards, competition for scarce
resources, and the impact of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, points to a future where
disasters could increasingly threaten the world’s economy, and its population and the
sustainable development of developing countries. In the past two decades, on average more
than 200 million people have been affected every year by disasters.
3. Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical, social, economic and
environmental vulnerabilities. Events of hydrometeorological origin constitute the large
majority of disasters. Despite the growing understanding and acceptance of the importance
of disaster risk reduction and increased disaster response capacities, disasters and in
particular the management and reduction of risk continue to pose a global challenge.
4. There is now international acknowledgement that efforts to reduce disaster risks
must be systematically integrated into policies, plans and programmes for sustainable
development and poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral, regional and
international cooperation, including partnerships. Sustainable development, poverty
reduction, good governance and disaster risk reduction are mutually supportive objectives,
and in order to meet the challenges ahead, accelerated efforts must be made to build the
necessary capacities at the community and national levels to manage and reduce risk. Such
1
Vulnerability is defined as: “The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of
hazards”. UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004.
2
Hazard is defined as: “A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that
may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or
environmental degradation. Hazards can include latent conditions that may represent future threats
and can have different origins: natural (geological, hydrometeorological and biological) or induced by
human processes (environmental degradation and technological hazards)” UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004.
3
The scope of this Framework for Action encompasses disasters caused by hazards of natural origin
and related environmental and technological hazards and risks. It thus reflects a holistic and multi-
hazard approach to disaster risk management and the relationship, between them which can have a
significant impact on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems, as stressed in the
Yokohama Strategy (section I, part B, letter I, p. 8).
1
