- UNISDR Global Platform meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 16th to 19th (http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2009/). GRCers contributed to several events within the meeting (Harsh Gupta on an panel, Kuniyoshi Takeuchi supplied a side event, Gerd Tetzlaff a booth in the framework of the German delegation).
- The preparations for the “Conference of the Parties 15” (COP 15) in Copenhagen from 07th to 18th December 2009 become more visible with every day. With respect to georisk aspects the field of adaptation to climate change is of interest. Such adaptation comprises long term preparedness with respect to extreme weather events and finally DRR (disaster risk reduction). The Hyogo Framework for Action and the Nairobi Work Program (for detail see the Bonn climate secretariat homepage : unfccc.org) give frameworks for the whole process. At this moment it is not clear, whether or not adaptation and DRR will be part of the COP 15 results. The preparatory meetings (Havana, Cuba 10-12 March 2009, Bonn 01-12 June 2009, Bonn 10-14 August 2009) signal how difficult it might be to bring DRR the necessary weight within the climate change decisions. Gerd Tetzlaff participated in the meetings. The importance of the matter is emphasized by the decision of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) to produce a special volume on “Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation“ The expert nomination phase is terminated by the end of the month of July 2009.
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