Image Source: Government of Montenegro

The 2024 Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction officially opened today in Budva, Montenegro, bringing together over 700 leaders, experts, and practitioners from 55 UN Member States. Running from November 6-8, the event is designed to accelerate the region's collective response to the escalating risks posed by climate change, including floods, wildfires, extreme heat, and earthquakes. With a focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience, the platform aims to align regional priorities ahead of the highly anticipated COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this year.

Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, delivered a powerful call for unity in his opening remarks. "As we face the increasing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters, it is imperative that we work together to strengthen our resilience and preparedness," he said, underscoring the need for regional collaboration to mitigate the human and economic costs of future disasters.

Montenegro Launches Call for Action on Earthquake Preparedness

During the opening session, Prime Minister Spajić also launched the Montenegro Call for Action on Earthquake Preparedness and Recovery, urging governments to take decisive steps to reduce the impacts of seismic events. This initiative highlights the country's commitment to addressing disaster risk in a region prone to both natural and man-made hazards.

Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasized the platform's role in moving the region toward a "prevention-first" approach. "This is a critical moment for the region to commit to embedding resilience in all sectors and investments," Kishore said. "By focusing on disaster prevention, we can stop risks from escalating into disasters. The alternative is more lives lost and spiraling recovery costs."

The 2024 platform, themed "Empowering Communities, Building Resilience," aims to drive action that prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable communities. Participants will engage in diverse sessions exploring infrastructure resilience, multi-hazard early warning systems, and strategies for inclusive risk governance, with an emphasis on integrating youth, women, and persons with disabilities into disaster risk management efforts.

A Unified Commitment to DRR and Climate Action

The platform is set to culminate in a political declaration that will outline key commitments to enhance DRR and climate action across the region. This declaration will focus on scaling up investments in disaster resilience, strengthening early warning systems, and advancing the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Image Source: UNDRR Europe & Central Asia