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International Strategy for Disaster Reduction - ISDR
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In response to the acute rise of natural disasters worldwide, the United Nations adopted the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) to build upon the vital work of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction 1990-99.
 Recognising that natural hazards can threaten any one of us, the ISDR takes a global approach to disaster reduction, seeking to involve every individual and every community towards the goals of reducing the loss of lives, the socio-economic setbacks and the environmental damages caused by natural hazards. In order to achieve this goal, the ISDR has set itself four objectives as tools towards reaching disaster reduction for all:
1. Increase public awareness about disaster reduction globally
2. Obtain commitment from public authorities to implement disaster reduction policies and actions
3. Stimulate interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships
4. Improve scientific knowledge about disaster reduction
Natural hazards themselves do not necessarily lead to disasters. It is only their interaction with people and their environment that generates impacts, which may reach disastrous proportions. Natural hazards have the potential to become natural disasters by the serious disruption to the functioning of societies, causing widespread human, material and environmental losses, often exceeding the ability of the affected society to cope.
Phenomena like climate change, environmental degradation, El Niño/La Niña affect the patterns and intensity of such hazards including floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons. Although societies have always been threatened by natural hazards, in recent years they have been increasingly affected by their impact, leading to major disasters.
By integrating disaster reduction measures into long-term sustainable development planning and action, people's lives of today and tomorrow have the best chance of functioning without being disrupted or compromised by a natural disaster.
Area of expertise:
Disaster (risk) reduction, disaster mitigation, preparedness and prevention, natural hazards, El Niño, early warning, climate change, sustainable development
Media contact:
Nicole Rencoret
Awareness and Promotion Officer
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR)
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel : +41 22 917 2777
Fax : +41 22 917 0563
Email: rencoret@un.org
Websites : http://www.unisdr.org
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 | Living with risk - Turning the tide on disasters towards sustainable development (ISDR website) - 07-05-2003
In keeping with the International Year of Freshwater, ISDR's 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign looks at how we can cope with water-related hazards. Hydrometeorological hazards (such as floods, droughts, landslides, tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons) are noticeably on the rise, affecting more communities than ever due to human activities that increase vulnerability and change the natural balance of ecosystems. More... |
| | World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2003 () - 07-05-2003
In keeping with the International Year of Freshwater, ISDR’s 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign looks at how we can cope with water-related hazards. As the slogan suggests – “Turning the tide” – the 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign aims at changing our perceptions and attitudes towards hydrometeorological disasters More... |
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How to get involved?
