Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030)

The Sendai Framework is a global plan, agreed by United Nations member countries, to reduce the damage that disasters cause. It was adopted on 18 March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, and runs until 2030. Its main idea is that countries should not just react after a disaster, but should reduce the risk before it strikes. It sets 7 global targets and 4 priorities for action. It is voluntary and non-binding, which means countries are encouraged, not legally forced, to follow it.

Why does it exist?

Disasters like floods, cyclones, earthquakes and heatwaves kill people, destroy homes and wipe out years of development in a few hours. For a long time, the world's approach was mostly "relief": send rescue teams, food and money after the event. But this is like mopping the floor while the tap is still running. The Sendai Framework asks countries to close the tap: understand the risk, build safer, and prepare in advance.

Where did it come from?

The Sendai Framework is the third in a series of global agreements:

• 1994, Yokohama Strategy: Adopted at the first UN World Conference on disaster reduction in Yokohama, Japan. It focused on making the world safer through prevention and preparedness.
• 2005, Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015): Adopted at the second conference in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, shortly after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It moved the focus towards building resilience.
• 2015, Sendai Framework (2015–2030): Adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (14–18 March 2015). It shifted the focus from managing disasters to managing disaster risk.

It was the first of the major global agreements of 2015. The others were the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (September 2015) and the Paris Agreement on climate change (December 2015). The three are meant to work together.

The 4 priorities for action

1. Understanding disaster risk: Know which hazards exist, who is exposed and how vulnerable they are.
2. Strengthening disaster risk governance: Clear laws, plans and institutions at national and local levels.
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience: Spend money on prevention, such as strong buildings, embankments, insurance and ecosystems.
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The 7 global targets (to be achieved by 2030)

• (a) Reduce global disaster deaths.
• (b) Reduce the number of people affected.
• (c) Reduce direct economic losses in relation to global GDP.
• (d) Reduce damage to critical infrastructure (like hospitals and schools) and disruption of basic services.
• (e) Increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies (this target had an earlier deadline of 2020).
• (f) Increase international cooperation to support developing countries.
• (g) Increase access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information.

An easy way to remember: the first four targets reduce (deaths, affected people, losses, damage); the last three increase (strategies, cooperation, early warnings).

Who looks after it?

The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), earlier called UNISDR, based in Geneva, supports and tracks the Framework. Countries report progress through an online Sendai Framework Monitor. A midterm review was held in 2023, the halfway point of the Framework.

India's position and examples

• India's National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), 2016, prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was India's first national disaster plan. It was aligned with the Sendai Framework. It was later updated in 2019.
• At the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in New Delhi in November 2016, India put forward a ten-point agenda for disaster risk reduction, including risk coverage for all, women's leadership, and using technology.
• India launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in September 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. CDRI helps countries build infrastructure, like power lines, roads and hospitals, that can survive disasters.
• Odisha's cyclone preparedness is often cited worldwide as a success. Deaths fell from nearly 10,000 in the 1999 super cyclone to a few dozen in later cyclones, thanks to early warnings, shelters and mass evacuation.
• Ahmedabad's Heat Action Plan (2013), India's first, became a model for other cities.

Commonly confused concepts

• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) vs disaster management: DRR is about preventing new risk and reducing existing risk (before the event). Disaster management covers the whole cycle, including response and relief.
• Hazard vs disaster: A hazard is a natural or human event that could cause harm (like an earthquake). It becomes a disaster only when it hits people who are exposed and vulnerable and they cannot cope on their own.
• Mitigation vs preparedness: Mitigation reduces the impact itself (for example, building houses on raised plinths). Preparedness gets people ready to respond (for example, evacuation drills and early warnings).
• Sendai Framework vs Paris Agreement: Sendai covers all disasters (including earthquakes and pandemics) and is non-binding. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty under the UN climate convention focused on climate change.
• Hyogo (2005) vs Sendai (2015): Hyogo had 5 priorities and no measurable global targets. Sendai has 4 priorities and 7 measurable targets.

Issues, criticism and the way forward

• Money still goes mainly to relief: Globally and in India, much more is spent after disasters than before them.
• Data gaps: Many countries, including parts of India, lack detailed local data on losses and risks, which makes it hard to track the targets.
• Climate change is raising risk faster: Heatwaves, cloudbursts and extreme rain are becoming more frequent and intense.
• Local action is weak: National plans exist, but districts and villages often lack funds, skills and updated plans.
• Way forward: Experts recommend a bigger share of disaster budgets for prevention, risk checks for all major public projects, early warnings that lead to clear local action, and support for communities and ecosystems that act as natural shields.

Concepts to Know

• Resilience: The ability of people, buildings or systems to absorb a shock and recover quickly.
• Exposure: People, homes and assets that are located in a hazard-prone area.
• Vulnerability: How easily people or things can be harmed by a hazard. For example, a mud house is more vulnerable than a concrete house in a cyclone.
• Build Back Better: Rebuilding after a disaster in a safer way than before, so the next disaster causes less damage.
• Early warning system: A system that spots a coming hazard (like a cyclone) and warns people in time to act.