WORKING SESSION
Applying Science and Technology to Disaster Risk Reduction Decisionmaking
Brief & Concept Note
Brief
1.
Why is this topic important ?
As impacts of natural and human-induced disasters continue to increase, action is
necessary across sectors from the local to the global scale. Achieving disaster risk
reduction and increased resilience require increased collaboration across
governments and key actors to generate, share and make a more effective use of
scientific data and information, identify knowledge and capacity gaps, and co-produce
solutions that can effectively support decisions and actions towards disaster risk
reduction and resilience building. A oost-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction
includes requests from Member States for science and technology knowledge transfer
and capacity development.
2.
What gaps need to be filled?
Scientific data and information are critical to underpin well-informed policies and
decisions, across the public, private and voluntary sectors. A lot of scientific evidence
already exists but better links into policy-making are needed to continuously deepen
our ability to forecast, reduce and respond to disaster risks. Science needs to become
more relevant to decision-makers. Equally, communities need to engage in the process
of knowledge generation and in the application of science and technology to disaster
risk management. This is partly about connecting the dots and enhancing
coordination, collaboration, and dialogue towards a shared goal of reducing disaster
risks and building resilience of societies.
3.
What (new) commitments are expected to be achieved?
Scientific and technological communities are keen to engage in a stronger dialogue
and collaboration with policy-makers and disaster risk reduction practitioners to
identify knowledge gaps, co-design and co-produce knowledge, and make science
more readily available and accessible, in line and to support the implementation of a
post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. To this end, the scientific and
technical work on disaster risk reduction should be enhanced through the mobilization
of existing networks of scientific and research institutions at national, regional and
international levels.
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Concept Note
Schedule
Sunday 15 March 2015, 14:00-15:30
Room and Venue
Main Hall, Sendai International Conference Centre.
Organizing team
Japan Cabinet Office, International Council for Science (Organizing Partner of
the Science and Technology Major Group), ISDR Science and Technology
Advisory (STAG), Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), Science Council
of Japan (SCJ), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and many other science
organisations worldwide working locally, nationally and internationally.
UN: WMO and UNESCO with input from UNESCAP, UNOOSA, ITU, UNITAR and
under the aegis of the UN High Level Programmes Committee Senior Managers
Group on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience.
UNISDR Focal Point
Pedro Basabe
Background and Rationale
The relevance of science and the effective use of scientific evidence are
fundamental to improve disaster risk reduction and support decision-making
aimed at disaster risk reduction. This was already stated in in the Hyogo
Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015 and is now reinforced in the process of
developing a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. A call for
stronger scientific underpinning of actions towards disaster risk reduction and
resilience building has been articulated by many member states and
stakeholders in numerous consultations.
In order to maximize the benefits of science and technology for disaster risk
reduction related decision making, national platforms for disaster risk
reduction could be empowered as focal fora with respective regional and
international partners to incorporate science and technology into real practice.
In this regard, the science and technology community is mobilizing to scale up
the use and application of science and technology on disaster risk reduction
around a revitalized Science and Technology (Engagement) Partnership for
disaster risk reduction that will strengthen the science-policy interface.
The enhanced contribution of science and technology in the implementation of
the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction will focus on the following
four main functions:
1) Assessment of current state of data availability and scientific knowledge on
disaster risks and resilience (what is known, what is not known, what are
the uncertainties, etc.).
2) Synthesis of scientific evidence in a timely, accessible and tailor-made
manner.
3) Scientific advice to decision-makers through close collaboration and
dialogue to identify needs from policy and decision-makers at national and
local levels, and review policy options based on scientific evidence.
4) Monitoring and review, ensuring that scientific data and information can
support and be used in data collection and monitoring progress towards
disaster risk reduction and resilience building.
In addition, two cross-cutting capabilities would need to be strengthened to
ensure an effective science-policy interface:
 Communication and engagement of policy-makers and stakeholders in
science and technology to ensure needs are identified and met, and
conversely, a stronger involvement of scientists in policy processes to
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provide scientific evidence and advice.
 Capacity development to ensure that all countries can have access and use
effectively scientific information.
Session Objectives
The session will:
 Highlight particular successes in applying science and technology for
disaster risk reduction decision-making and confirm requirements from
Member States.
 Announce commitments of the Scientific and Technological Community to
support the implementation of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk
reduction.
 Identify next steps (road map) for the Scientific and Technical community
to implement the proposed commitments.
 launch the ISDR Science and Technology Advisory Group March 2015
report: Science is used for disaster risk reduction
Discussion agenda
 This session will be comprised of an introduction of the role of science and
technology for disaster risk reduction, followed by information from
different regions on application and needs of science and technology for
disaster risk reduction policy implementation and decision making. The
session will conclude with the announcement of commitments of the
Scientific and Technological Community to support the implementation of
the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
 Speakers and discussants from member states, the scientific community,
representatives from the major stakeholder groups will be balanced across
gender, region, and developing and developed countries.
Expected outcomes

Commitment / special
announcement in support
of a post-2015 framework
for DRR
Special announcement on revitalizing the ISDR Science and Technology
Advisory Group to support an international science and technology advisory
engagement partnership for disaster risk reduction and to strengthen
resilience in support of the implementation of the post-2015 framework for
disaster risk reduction with specific commitments by its (potential) partners
(governments, organizations, academia networks, etc.).
Expected number of
participants
300
Background documents

Recognise the role of science and technology agreed by Member States in
the Post-2015 Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction
 Benefits from the many science and technology conferences including
Tokyo Conference Statement from the International Study for Disaster Risk
Reduction and Resilience held in Tokyo Japan on 14-16 January 2015 and
share commitments from science and technology community and other
stakeholders around the following four functions (i) assessment, (ii)
synthesis, (iii) advice, and (iv) monitoring and two cross-cutting capabilities
(i) communication-engagement and (ii) capacity development.
 How to support the implementation by identifying next steps (road map)
for the scientific, policy, and practitioner communities how to revitalize,
further develop and implement the proposed international science and
technology engagement partnership for disaster risk reduction and
strengthening resilience, including strengthening ISDR Science and
Technology Advisory Group and national government coordination fora
(for example National Platforms) to practice evidence-based disaster risk
reduction.
Science and technology voluntary commitments to support the
implementation of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
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


Tokyo Statement -Towards a new science and technology to consolidate
disaster risk reduction and sustainable development and Tokyo Action
Agenda.
ISDR STAG Reports, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Reid Basher. Science and Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction: A review
of application and co-ordination needs. Geneva: UNISDR, 2013.
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