Conference on “Calamities: Nature or Human Action?

Challenges and Responsibilities”March 05, 2014, New Delhi

Rising Calamities: Impact and ChallengesG. Padmanabhan, UNDP

• Total direct losses in 40 low and middle income countries amount to US$305 billion over the last 30 years; of these more than 30 percent were not internationally reported.

• The impact of disasters travel across boundaries in a globalised world - EQ/Tsunami in Japan and Floods in Thailand

• Insurance may enable businesses to compensate for both direct loss as well as supply chain interruption

• When disaster strikes the impact on business is much larger - skilled workers, market share, relationships with suppliers and partners.

• Risks to natural capital compromise future wealth• The required shift to anticipate risks in public and

private investment remains a challenge• Tourism investment comes with high levels of disaster

risk• Out of trillions of dollars to be invested in future

development, around 70% will come from non – Government partners

Global Assessment Report -2013

• Assessing risk: Economic losses of hundreds of billions of dollars are projected to double by 2030. Everyday local events and chronic stresses involving multiple risks are making communities vulnerable.

• Urban risk needs to be more fully understood. • Leading at the local level: Disasters happen locally and

solutions are to be found locally. National governments to establish a framework and enabling environment for local action.

• Recognizing the private sector as actor and partner: Steering private investment towards greater resilience makes good business sense.

• Strengthening scientific and technical support.• There is an unmet demand for data, tools, methods and

guidance on implementing risk reduction, and a shortage of specialists educated and trained for the task. There is a critical need to include disaster risk across all disciplines.

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

India-Human loss (2005-2006 to 2009-2010)

Himachal 379

Uttarakhand 488

Maharashtra 749

Kerala 763

Andhra 770

West Bengal 921

Karnataka 990

Gujarat 1199

Bihar 1684Uttar Pradesh

2763

Others 2340

Total 13046

India- Houses lost (2005-2006 to 2009-2010)

Gujarat22166

4

Rajasthan26925

2

Orissa47561

8

Assam49322

8

UttarPradesh51719

8

Maharashtra72332

5

Andhra 85702

7

Bihar10896

76

Karnataka11340

80

West Bengal20966

65

Others92131

4

Total87990

47

Orissa Gujarat Rajasthan Bihar MaharashtraUttarPradesh Tamil nadu Andhra West Bengal KarnatakaOthers

India - Crop Area (Lakh Ha) affected 2005-2006 to 2009-2010

Orissa 12.36

Gujarat 12.85

Rajasthan 17.36

Bihar 21.37Maharashtra

21.52

UttarPradesh

22.87

Tamil nadu 23.34

Andhra 29.21West Bengal

31.38

Karnataka 32.46

Others 34.43

Total259.1

5

States needing attention

Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal need special attention.

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh accounted for 83 % of NDRF release over the last 16 years.

CHALLENGES

Changes in climate presenting new trends and patterns Capacity of functionaries and institutions not adequate to

understand risk and address mitigation through sectoral activities

How do we reduce existing risk Rigid guidelines on unit costs prevent approval of

incremental costs required for incorporating safety features Partnership with non-Government development partners not

adequate, and Government alone cant reduce risk Weak legal provisions Overcoming inadequate enforcement capacities Last Mile connectivity still a distant possibility Dearth of professionals and inadequate training capacities Addressing specific requirements of the vulnerable people Inadequate platforms for sharing of knowledge and information

• Development and resilience are unlikely to be sustained unless disaster risk is explicitly addressed in all development initiatives.

• Target the root causes of risk (Priority 4 of the Hyogo Framework for Action): Tackle risk drivers

• Connect mutually reinforcing agendas: Both the accumulation and reduction of disaster risk are closely intertwined with the fields of sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change as well as human mobility.

Emerging Trends

THANK YOU