(4) Mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction and Creating Sustainable Cities
Amid the concern over the effects of climate change that might increase the frequency, scale, and area of disasters, the impact of disasters on the economy and the entire society is becoming increasingly serious in developing countries vulnerable to disasters. Disaster risk reduction efforts are essential to eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. It is necessary to build a disaster-resilient and flexible society to protect human lives from disasters, while making efforts toward sustainable development. Among them, it is important to promote the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction that introduces the perspective of disaster risk reduction in all the development policies and plans.
In recent years, various issues related to the management of cities have received increased attention. They include such issues as handling the disposal of the substantial amount of waste produced in urban areas and suburbs, pollution of air, water, etc., development of infrastructure facilities including sewage and waste treatment systems, and rapid population increases and the consequent rapid urbanization. Addressing these issues and engaging in efforts to realize sustainable cities have become priorities for development cooperation.
Thus, among the SDGs, Goal 11 sets forth the following task: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” As shown by this fact, there are growing international interests in resolving the issues of human settlements that include realizing sustainable cities.
● Japan’s Efforts
■ Cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction
A field survey by Quito city officials and an expert team from Japan into the landslide disaster that occurred in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, in January 2022. Japan supports the capacity building of government agencies to reduce the risk of landslides. (Photo: JICA)
Japan utilizes its enriched knowledge and expertise acquired through its past experiences with disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons, to provide proactive support for disaster risk reduction and post disaster recovery with emergency assistance (see “Featured Project 8” for disaster risk reduction efforts in Honduras and “Featured Project 10” for efforts in the Kyrgyz Republic). The “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework),” which was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (2015), incorporated many ideas proposed by Japan. These include the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction, the importance of investment in disaster risk reduction, the involvement of diverse stakeholders, the concept of “Build Back Better” to build cities that are more resilient to disasters in post-disaster recovery, and the importance of women’s leadership.
As 2023 marks the halfway point of the planning period of the “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework),” the High-Level Meeting on the Mid-term Review of the Sendai Framework Disaster Risk Reduction was held at the United Nations Headquarters in May to assess the progress of efforts in the field of disaster risk reduction. At the same time, the meeting highlighted the need for each stakeholder to accelerate their efforts to achieve the goals by 2030 amid the increasing disaster risks worldwide due to climate change.
In addition, a resolution was adopted to designate November 5 as “World Tsunami Awareness Day” responding to Japan’s call at the UN General Assembly in 2015. Accordingly, the High School Students Summit on “World Tsunami Awareness Day” has been held in various parts of Japan since 2016. The Summit has been held five times so far, and the sixth meeting is scheduled to be held in Kumamoto City in the fall of 2024. Furthermore, on November 7, 2023, Japan co-organized an event to raise awareness of the necessity to reduce the risk of tsunamis at the UN Headquarters with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
Moreover, in close cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Japan implements projects to support the formulation of tsunami evacuation plans and tsunami evacuation drills for countries at high tsunami risk in the Asia-Pacific region. Since the start of the projects in 2017, the institutionalization of disaster risk reduction has been promoted in countries such as Thailand, as seen in the development of guidelines for school evacuation plans and drills, including measures for students with disabilities who have been previously overlooked, and the adaptation of these guidelines by 27,000 schools nationwide. By the end of 2023, the formulation and revision of tsunami disaster management plans, as well as programs for tsunami education, have been implemented at 452 schools across 23 countries, with approximately 190,000 students, teachers, and stakeholders of local governments and communities participating in tsunami evacuation drills (see “Stories from the Field 2” regarding efforts on disaster risk reduction education in Türkiye).
Additionally, every year from 2016, Japan and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Office have worked together to provide support for human resources development targeting female government officials in developing countries vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly focusing on women’s roles and leadership in the event of tsunamis. Under this project, 479 people from 39 countries participated by the end of 2023.
Japan also contributes in the field of overseas deployment of ICT systems for disaster risk reduction. Japan’s ICT systems for disaster risk reduction make it possible to collect, analyze, and disseminate disaster related information in an integrated manner, allowing detailed information to be communicated swiftly and infallibly at the community level. This contributes to the improvement of disaster risk reduction capabilities in developing countries.
■ Realizing Sustainable Cities
Japan takes initiatives to resolve global issues directly related to human settlements, including efforts for disaster risk reduction, recovery from natural disasters, and promoting a sound water cycle. Specifically, drawing on its know-how and experience, Japan develops infrastructure, including water and sewage, waste, and energy facilities. In addition, Japan conducts disaster risk reduction programs, human resources development, etc. based on the concept of “Build Back Better.” Japan also works together with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to further promote sustainable urban development. One example can be seen in collaboration with the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP)-Fukuoka, which supports the introduction of the disaster prevention technology of Fukuoka Prefecture to developing countries.
Following the first meeting in Potsdam, Germany, in 2022, the second G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers’ Meeting was held in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in July 2023 under the Japanese Presidency. Themed “Achieving Sustainable Urban Development Together,” the attendees confirmed the need to address issues such as achieving net-zero and resilient cities, the realization of inclusive cities, and digitalization in cities. In addition to summarizing the outcomes of the meeting in a communiqué, the “Kagawa-Takamatsu Principles,” named after the host city, were announced as guidelines for collaboration with various actors to realize the communiqué.