Post on 21-May-2020
Dr. Karen Sudmeier, Senior Adviser Disaster Risk Reduction,
Crisis Management Branch, UN Environment
Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction,
UN Environment perspective
@UNEP, Haiti/Rep Dominican border
27 Feb, 2019, UNESCO Expert meeting: Advancing the agenda
Opportunity: Eco-DRR is often cost effective
• New York City «Green infrastructure plan» US$ 5.3 billion in green
versus US $ 6.8 billion in grey infrastructure
Green benefits
accrue over
time
© REUTERS/KYODO
Natori City, Japan
2011 Earthquake (8.9 magnitude) and
Tsunami (10 m)
• Depends on type
and intensity of
hazard
• Health and
composition of
ecosystems
• Importance of
evidence-based
approaches
• Performance
standards?
However, ecosystem limitations?
Message 2
Many opportunities for
ecosystem-based
approaches in reducing
disaster and climate risks,
however…
Message 3
Ecosystems bring multiple
benefits and are often
most effective when
combined with grey
infrastructure…
❖Established in
2008
❖Now a global
alliance of 24
UN,
international,
and civil
society
organizations
- and growing
Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction
Bridging Science and Policy on Eco-DRR
1. Global Advocacy
2. Science/ Knowledge Products / Publications
3. Technical Assistance / Capacity Building
4. Partnerships
5. Pilot Demonstrations/ models for upscaling Eco-DRR in countries
4th PEDRR Science–Policy workshop, Bonn 12-14 Feb 2019
Key conclusions:
Science gaps/opportunities:
- Low quantitative evidence for
coastal ecosystems
- Green/hybrid infrastructure
performance standards needed
- Benefit – cost analysis for
various types of ecosystems still
lacking
Policy gaps/opportunities:
- Green infrastructure entry points
for uptake in Sendai Framework
for DRR
- Technical guidance on Eco-DRR
to support international
framework agreements
17
Upscaling community resilience
through Ecosystem-based
Disaster Risk Reduction
• EC – DG- DEVCO funded project 2019-2021• 10 countries in collaboration with Partners for Resilience• 3 additional countries with support from Government of Norway• Models for up-scaling Eco-DRR
18
Each cell (10 x 10 km)
contains:
• Exposed population for each
hazard
• Surface covered by each
ecosystem
• Needed type of action for
given combination
hazard/ecosystem
Opportunity mapping for ecosystem-based DRR
Key messages:
Ecosystems bring multiple benefits and
are often most effective when combined
with grey infrastructure…
Prevent disasters – work with nature not
against it
Many opportunities for ecosystem
approaches in reducing disaster and
climate risks, however…
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Karen.Sudmeier@un.org
Thank you !
10th
Anniversary
PEDRR
Dec. 2018