UN MEMBER STATES URGED TO ADOPT EARLY WARNING CHECKLIST

By: UNDRR

GENEVA, 23 March 2018 – The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) today welcomed the creation of a Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Checklist as a major contribution to saving lives in an age of increasing exposure to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

The UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, said: "Advances in early warning systems are important as they make an enormous contribution to reducing the death tolls in disasters."

Ms. Mizutori congratulated the World Meteorological Organization and its members on the creation of the checklist. She urged countries to incorporate it into national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction which are scheduled to be in place by 2020 in accordance with a key target of the global plan for reducing disaster losses, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.  

Published today on World Meteorological Day, the checklist focusses on engagement and education at community level, disaster preparedness, and effective dissemination of warnings so that early action and evacuation as necessary takes place in a timely manner.

Ms. Mizutori said: "Disaster preparedness and understanding of disaster risk has never been more important. Climate change is driving major changes in the frequency, intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather events. A multi-hazard approach to early warnings is an essential part of building the resilience of communities and nations to disasters."

The checklist is available here: https://bit.ly/2INNhfp