Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness

Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia Pacific Region: 2009 to 2015

Background • 2005 endorsement of the ‘Strategy APEC on response to and preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies’ on response to the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. • Creation of the Task Force for Emergency Preparedness (TFEP). • Commitment to protect economies with actions to reduce the impact of future disasters and enhance response capacities.

Background • The 14 th APEC Leaders Meeting (Viet Nam, November 2006) urged Economy Members to strenghten cooperation, including the private sector • The first CEOs’ Seminar of the TFEP (Cairns August 2007) recommended a 3 – 5 year Strategic plan. • The 15 th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting Sydney 2007: To strenghten efforts to build community resilience and emergency and disaster preparedness. Human security is essential for economic growth and prosperity.

Regional need for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response • 21 APEC economies represent 41% of the world population, 55% of the world GDP and 49% of the world trade. • 52% of the earth surface and more than 70% of disasters. • more than 75% of the world volcanoes and source of 90% of the earthquakes of the world • Every year the South Pacific Region experiences the ENSO or its counter version La Niña • Impacts of these phenomena clearly affect APEC Economies and is a challenge that needs to be recognized.

Proposal for a 2009 -2015 strategy Peru has promoted the proposal “Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia Pacific Region : 2009 2015, ” (PRERED).

Methodology used • Building of a high level technical consultant and advisory team. • Exchange with the APEC Secretariat • Virtual fora with high participation quota • Discussion and integration of comments from economies

Coordination with the APEC Process

Coordination with the APEC Process About APEC • First Ministerial Meeting in Canberra in 1989 • First Leaders’ Meeting in Seattle in 1993 • APEC operates according to consensus and nonbinding agreements – underwritten by peer review • Three Pillars of APEC: Trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation and economic and technical cooperation • Increasing focus in recent years on behind-the-border barriers to trade

Coordination with the APEC Process APEC and Emergency Preparedness • In 1997 ministers called for collaboration on emergency preparedness and response that led to the formation of the Emergency Preparedness Virtual Task Force • Concluded the following year after the Task Force presented its report to ministers that included suggesions of: – The creation of a framework for longer-term capacity building cooperation for emergency preparedness – Recommendation to direct all APEC fora to explore emergency preparedness technical cooperation initiatives through information sharing exercises • Momentum lost with Asian Financial Crisis • Virtual Task Force on Emergency Preparedness launched in 2005 following Boxing Day Tsunami

Coordination with the APEC Process Proactive Engagement - Private Sector • Engaging the business community is important for APEC to identifying potential economic threats and to obtain feedback on the consequences of policy decisions • The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is a strong conduit to the business community • APEC is able to hold a number of workshops and seminars in economies • The APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting and Working Group recognize threats posed by disasters and are open to engagement

Coordination with the APEC Process Proactive Engagement - APEC fora • APEC fora operate across numerous sectors • Cross-fora interaction and cooperation is encouraged to strengthen research capacity, deliver more comprehensive projects at a community level and share resources • Activities for cooperation cover a broad area such as human resource development, telecommunications, scientific and technological research, standards and conformance, tourism and government procurement. • Materials and activities already developed can be adapted and incorporated for use by the TFEP such as: - AICST Tourism Risk Management Strategy - Pandemic Flu Planning Guide for Small Businesses - Desk-top Pandemic Response Simulation Exercise

Coordination with the APEC Process Proactive Engagement - International organisations • APEC is not an international aid agency and does not want to dupiclated current efforts of other organisations • APEC’s strength is in its capacity to coordinate with government agencies in Member Economies and inrternational organisations • APEC has already developed strong linkages with origanisations such as the UN, ADB, World Bank, IMF, OECD, ASEAN and the Pacific Islands’ Forum • A number of projects have already been undertaken with these organisations • Ongoing and increasing interaction with organisations such as the Red Cross and Oxfam

Coordination with the APEC Process Similarities and Experiences of the Counter Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) • September 11 attacks in 2001 focused attention on the dangers posed by terrorism to the regional economy. In October 2001 in Shanghai Leaders released statement on Counter-Terrorism • Other attacks in the region occurred including Bali bombings, Moscow theatre siege and planned attacks uncovered in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines • CTTF launched in 2003 • Engaged in extensive public-private partnership activities • Engaged with other APEC fora • Engaged with international organisations • Faced resistance from economies on a range of issues relating to sensitive internal capacity matters

Objectives and Strategic lines

Objectives 1. To provide APEC economies with solid information and criteria relating to the economic and social costs of disasters that have occurred in the APEC Region and, from this information, develop projections of economic and social costs if action is not taken to strengthen resilience. 2. To identify gaps in disaster risk reduction and preparedness from information provided by APEC member economies. 3. Contribute to develop practical mechanisms, instruments and communication products for capacity building activities that can be undertaken by Member Economies.

Strategic lines (1) Develop joint disaster preparedness actions • • • Development of technical capacities in preparedness and response. Promotional and advocacy activities to enhance awareness and to learn form other experiences in the region. Collective training, including computer supported simulation programs. Based in the application and assessment of the Stocktake Template (2008), promote exchanges of good practices and build or reinforce capacities through horizontal cooperation. Development of information systems or geospatial data infrastructure for regional hazard monitoring, early warning and disaster response in real time. Strengthening of local communities resilience capacities, considering that local communities are the most affected and the first line of response.

Strategic lines (2) Support to recovery processes in disaster affected economies through long-term development approach • Long-term recovery of economic activity in affected sectors. • Recovery and enhancing of resilience capacities of small and medium businesses. • Encourage private and non-government sector support for the protection and strengthening of critical public facilities and physical infrastructure • Public-private partnerships. • Effective private sector programs to address enterprise risk management, business continuity management and crisis management

Strategic lines (3) Prospective Risk Management • Establishment of risk indicators relating to the disruption of: – Social services provided at a community level – Essential government services – Commercial products and services • • • Promotion of public policy and development planning based on successful risk reduction case studies. Financial mechanisms and the promotion of diversified income options for populations in high-risk areas. Development of joint research on risk, vulnerability and specific instruments for risk reduction and control Promote the inclusion of existing information related to El Niño Phenomenon (ENSO) into the public and private development planning process, with specific emphasis on ECOTECH initiatives. Development of integrated information systems.

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action - HFA

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action - HFA • The HFA was agreed by 168 United Nations members at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction ( Kobe, Japan, January 2005) • HFA is a strategic and systematic approach for the mitigation of disaster effects. • Will be in force until 2015 (PRERED Strategy matches this time horizon) • Stresses the need to increase the resilience of nations and communities to disasters • Establishes a general commitment to significantly reduce losses caused by disasters.

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action This international strategy has set five Priorities for Action: • Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. • Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning. • Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels. • Reduce the underlying risk factors. • Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action These priorities for action may be articulated with the APEC agenda, and include the following key issues, which are stated in the Hyogo Framework: • Sustainable development, through disaster risk reduction and adequate environmental management. • Resilience to adverse situations by strengthening capacities. • Preparation plans for action in emergencies, contingency plans.

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action Key Issues • Recovery after a disaster through cooperation and financial risk reduction programs by promoting the use of insurances. • Scientific and technologic development for an adequate monitoring and early warning (information systems) • Alliances, such as the coordination between the public and private sector. • Social responsibility translated into humanitarian support in crisis situations. • Development of indicators for measuring progress.

Coordination with the Hyogo Framework for Action • It is important to restate that the aim of this strategy proposal is not to duplicate what has already been identified under the Hyogo Framework, but to develop actions that are more consistent with APEC’s structure of actions.

Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia Pacific Region: 2009 to 2015