GNDR joins global partnership to protect one billion people from extreme weather

GNDR has joined the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), a global initiative to protect one billion people at-risk from extreme weather and climate-related disasters like floods, heatwaves and typhoons.

Launched at the UN Climate Summit in New York on 23 September 2019, the partnership brings together 15 countries and 19 agencies including humanitarian, development and climate change organisations.

The group aims to expand early action financing and improve early warning systems in developing countries.

As part of the Partnership, GNDR will work with national governments to involve civil society, local authorities and people at-risk in the planning and delivery of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and early warning systems.

Bijay Kumar, GNDR Executive Director said:

“Risk-informed thinking and decision-making should be the norm. People who are at-risk must have the power to make decisions and take actions that reduce the risk they face. This requires the transfer of resources to the local level; an enabling institutional environment; and the participation of communities in identifying threats and making action plans.”

Risk-informed action saves lives

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural hazards. In the past 20 years, 4.5 billion people have been affected by disasters, 90% of which are caused by weather and climate-related events. But risk-informed thinking can prevent these natural hazards from becoming disasters.

REAP has four main goals: to strengthen the laws and policies on disasters; ensure finance reaches people when extreme weather is forecasted; early action connected to early warning; and preparedness for heatwaves.

By sharing data, best practice and expertise across the 50 countries targeted by REAP, it is expected that existing programmes and initiatives which aim to address challenges concerning climate risk, will be better coordinated, scaled and therefore impactful.

As a network we will share lessons learned and provide technical advice on developing financing mechanisms that reach communities at the local level.

GNDR will engage members to collaborate with national governments to develop integrated climate change adaptation and DRR plans and frameworks at the national and local level.