By Kamal Kishore and Yi Han-kyung
Because the local weather disaster continues to create extra excessive climate occasions, and with it extra harmful disasters, it has grow to be important for each nation to put money into catastrophe threat discount. This requires sustained political dedication, constructing of institutional capability, allocation of assets, and cautious planning and implementation.
On this regard, the Republic of Korea is a shining instance for international locations all over the world.
Nearly 10 years after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Catastrophe Threat Discount, which is the worldwide roadmap for decreasing catastrophe dangers and losses by the yr 2030, the nation’s file speaks for itself.
As an example, within the space of threat governance, which is the method by which governments assess and act on dangers, Korea has developed a complete Grasp Plan for Nationwide Security Administration that’s up to date each 5 years. This Grasp Plan gives the idea for all 243 native governments in Korea to yearly develop and implement their very own security administration plans.
This mosaic of nationwide and native plans is praiseworthy as a result of correct threat governance is foundational to saving lives and defending livelihoods, because it governs roles and duties, allocation of assets, and the engagement of all authorities companies and segments of society, so nobody is left behind.
One key final result of those efforts is that Korea has made nice progress in strengthening preparedness for early motion in response to instant threats.
A notable instance is the flood warning system that makes use of real-time statement information similar to rainfall and water ranges to tell residents of harmful conditions in threat areas. Moreover, the world’s first LTE-based catastrophe security communication community (Protected-Internet) has been established to share actions between response companies.
These are a few of the examples of the commendable work that’s being led by Korea’s Ministry of the Inside and Security (MOIS) to maintain the folks of Korea secure.
That mentioned, threats and dangers don’t all the time originate or stay inside a rustic’s borders. Actually, a key lesson of the pandemic is that dangers are interlinked, and the impacts of a catastrophe can cascade throughout borders and sectors. This implies a neighborhood catastrophe occasion in a faraway nation can evolve into a worldwide disaster.
This understanding, coupled with Korea’s dedication to worldwide growth help – having itself been a former support recipient, has propelled Korea to grow to be a worldwide chief in selling catastrophe threat discount and local weather resilience.
From the instance of its resilient cities, similar to Incheon Metropolitan Metropolis, which grew to become the primary metropolis in Asia-Pacific to be acknowledged as a Resilience Hub below the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative, to its internet hosting of worldwide cooperation initiatives, such because the Inexperienced Local weather Fund and the World Inexperienced Development Institute.
Certainly, MOIS has been proactive in working with growing international locations to share its finest practices and applied sciences, together with the know-how behind its flash flood warning system which has now been utilized within the Philippines, Laos, and Vietnam.
This dedication to worldwide cooperation and excellence in catastrophe threat discount is why the United Nations Workplace for Catastrophe Threat Discount (UNDRR) has been proud to think about the Republic of Korea one in every of its strongest world companions.
As a part of this partnership, Korea not solely gives monetary assist to UNDRR’s world efforts but in addition lends its mental capital to form the worldwide agenda on catastrophe threat discount. For instance, Korea hosts the one devoted world coaching institute for catastrophe threat discount capability growth, which is UNDRR’s Workplace of North East Asia and the World Schooling and Coaching Institute. Final yr alone, the institute delivered technical coaching to six,289 authorities officers, nearly all of whom have been from growing international locations.
The institute has been instrumental in working with MOIS to export Korea’s success in catastrophe threat discount to different international locations. One instance is the Korean College Security Programme, which UNDRR has been managing since 2016. In that point, the variety of college students reached by the programme elevated tenfold from 1,099 college students in 2016 to 10,168 in 2023, for a cumulative attain of 46,279 college students.
Furthermore, UNDRR co-hosted with Korean companions the primary and second editions of the Worldwide Catastrophe Resilience Leaders Discussion board Incheon, which final yr introduced collectively over 370 contributors, together with 75 leaders and representatives of nationwide and native governments from 25 international locations.
Final however not least, UNDRR has been glad to assist the work of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat and the Trilateral Ministerial Conferences on Catastrophe Administration between the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Individuals’s Republic of China, together with by publishing studies on finest practices from the international locations.
The Authorities of the Republic of Korea and UNDRR share a typical want and dedication to see the world grow to be extra affluent by means of resilience. Now could be the time for each Korea and UNDRR to broaden and speed up their partnership to achieve underserved nationwide and native governments, and different stakeholders, in probably the most susceptible international locations. We name on all like-minded international locations and organizations to affix us on this pursuit.
With lower than six years left for the achievement of the Sustainable Improvement Targets and the Sendai Framework, growing international locations can not afford to lose any extra floor to preventable disasters. Allow us to work collectively for a future that’s local weather and disaster-resilient, and the place no nation is left behind.
Kamal Kishore is particular consultant of the UN Secretary-Normal for Catastrophe Threat Discount and head of the UN Workplace for Catastrophe Threat Discount (UNDRR). Yi Han-kyung, is vice minister for Catastrophe and Security Administration of the Republic of Korea.
