More than 4,000 delegates – representing governments, international organisations, the private sector, academia and NGOs – have begun four days of activities, during which they will share the latest innovations in terms of natural hazard disaster reduction and management and the relevant early warning systems.
The Swiss government delegation, led by Mr Cassis, comprises specialists from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP). Representatives of Swiss civil society and academia and the Swiss private sector will also be in attendance.
Science-based decision-making
Switzerland – a pioneer when it comes to developing innovative solutions – is calling for additional investments in science-based disaster risk reduction. Mr Cassis urged delegates to “entrench action in the fields of science and innovation, including artificial intelligence”. Mr Cassis talked about what had happened to the village of Blatten in the canton of Valais. He highlighted the fact that, despite the village very much embodying humans' extreme vulnerability to disasters, an early warning system had meant the 300 residents could be evacuated in time. “Just one person is missing – which, given the severity of the event, is almost a miracle,” he said. Mr Cassis stressed the importance of reinforcing partnerships, particularly those between the public and private sectors – words with resonance for business, especially the insurance sector, which is under pressure from the increasing number of natural disasters.
Early warning systems
Early warning systems play a key role in saving lives and limiting the economic impact of natural disasters. It is estimated that an efficient, high-performance network of such systems worldwide would save up to CHF 14 billion each year, which is what prompted the United Nations to launch an ambitious project to establish a comprehensive global network of early warning systems by 2027.
Local authorities also have a crucial role to play in the platform's work, as they are often on the front line when it comes to disaster reduction and management. That is why their experience with forest fires, floods and heatwaves in an urban setting is so important.
The spirit of Geneva
This type of global meeting enables major progress to be made in terms of disaster risk reduction, in particular by adopting specific policy recommendations and engaging in national capacity building. This is a collective effort to which Geneva is a leading contributor. GP2025 is a platform where international organisations can rely on the collaboration of academia and the public sector, and on an ongoing dialogue with civil society. In this light, Mr Cassis ended his speech with the following words of inspiration: “May the spirit of Geneva inform your discussions and nurture your creativity, so that together you can find the best ways forward.”
Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (fr)
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