International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023 (IDRLF2023)

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International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023 - Final Report

Overview

Halfway through the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, progress in scaling up disaster risk reduction action can be seen in many countries and cities around the world. Yet, increasingly more efforts and investments are required at national and local levels around the world to make countries and communities resilient, as climate change, economic crises and conflict continue to undermine sustainable development gains and drive increased vulnerability of the most disadvantaged communities. 

The Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 highlighted some achievements made in the area of disaster risk reduction globally since 2015, as well as key implementation gaps in relation to understanding risk, risk governance, financing, investment, and early warning systems. The Political Declaration adopted at the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework in May 2023 reaffirmed the commitment of governments to the full implementation of the Sendai Framework and reiterated its call for the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, health and assets. The Declaration recognized the need for a broader and more people-centered preventive approach to DRR, reflecting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and for multi-hazard and multisectoral, inclusive, and accessible policies and practices. It also stressed the importance of local level action and called for coordination, coherence and strengthened comprehensive disaster risk governance.

Recognizing the key role of local and national governments in driving disaster risk reduction efforts and enabling change and innovation, Incheon Metropolitan City, a MCR2030 Resilience Hub, in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea and UNDRR ONEA & GETI, is convening the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum as an annual platform for local leaders from around the world to share experience and possible solutions for greater urban and local resilience in the face of disasters and climate change. Bringing together leaders from Northeast Asia, the Southeast Asia region and other continents, the Forum seeks to promote cross-regional exchange of knowledge and expertise. 

Following a first edition of the Forum held in 2022 under the theme of “The Role of Cities in Reducing Complex Risk”, the second edition in September 2023 will focus on opportunities and challenges for application of technology for climate and disaster risk reduction at the local level. 

As demonstrated by the leading experience of countries in Northeast Asia, technology can play a critical role in all areas of disaster risk reduction, from understanding and assessing risk, to early warning and saving lives. In fact, technology solutions can support local resilience efforts across all Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient. Yet, access to and application of advanced technological solutions may be challenging for many local governments, particularly in developing countries. 

The Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework recognizes the instrumental role of science, technology and innovation in strengthening the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction efforts. It calls upon States to promote cooperation and enhance technology transfer and investment into research, digital technological innovation and emerging technologies, including to improve multi-hazard forecasting and early warning systems. It further calls for the sharing of lessons from past disasters and exchange of experience and good practices between countries to improve the understanding of risk, strengthen disaster risk governance and enhance disaster preparedness.

Building on these recommendations, the sessions of the Forum will highlight examples of application of technology for disaster risk reduction in different regional, national and local contexts. They will also explore enabling governance modalities as well as opportunities for innovative partnerships and inclusive approaches towards more accessible and people-centered technological solutions for disaster risk reduction, including to ensure early warning for all.

By promoting knowledge exchange on inclusive and innovative approaches, the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023 is aligned with global commitments to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement through inclusive, all of government and all of society approaches. It will also seek to gather insights in support of the implementation of the UN Global Early Warning Initiative announced by the UN Secretary-General in 2022.

Hosted in Songdo Smart City, the Forum also offers an opportunity to learn from Incheon Metropolitan City’s experience in the area of disaster risk governance and application of smart technologies for disaster risk reduction.

The International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023 is organized by Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Institute and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute) on 18 and 19 September 2023, in Incheon, Republic of Korea, with the support of the Ministry of Interior and Safety and in cooperation with the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat.

More information about the event can be found here: International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023

About Organizers

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) is responsible for general affairs of the State Council, promulgation of Acts and subordinate statutes and treaties, government organization and prescribed number of public officials, awards and decorations, government innovation, administrative efficiency, e-government, personal information protection, management of government buildings and support for elections and referendums. Furthermore, the MOIS actively promotes local autonomy and decentralization by supporting business, finance and taxation of local governments and mediating disputes among local governments. In addition, the MOIS takes charge of establishing, supervising and adjusting policies related to safety and disaster management such as emergency countermeasure, civil defense and disaster prevention. 

Incheon Metropolitan City is the third largest city in the Republic of Korea with an international airport and harbor. The city has 168 islands and an area of 707.64 km2, with a population of approximately 3 million people. The administrative units consist of 2 counties and 8 districts. The city’s budget for 2023 is KRW 11 trillion (USD 8.305 billion). Incheon is Korea's first smart city to manage disasters, traffic, crimes, fires, and environmental pollution 24 hours a day through CCTV and IOT sensors installed throughout the city. Incheon has hosted International Organizations such as the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations. Incheon invited UNDRR to Songdo and established UNDRR ONEA & GETI in 2010. Incheon Metropolitan City was recognized as MCR2030 Resilience Hub in 2021 based on its continuous contribution and commitment to international cooperation for disaster risk reduction and urban resilience.

The Incheon Institute conducts systematic and reality-based research, as well as being responsible for carrying out surveys and analyses on various tasks and general issues regarding Incheon Metropolitan city, all in the pursuit to help the city establish and implement regional policies. The Incheon Institute conducts surveys and research projects regarding mid- and long- term development plans as well as for discovering major current issues affecting the city government administration. The Incheon Institute also carries out research projects entrusted by governments, government-invested agencies, and private organizations and engages in exchanges and cooperation with research institutes both at home and abroad. 

UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (UNDRR GETI) was established in 2010 to develop a new cadre of professionals in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to build disaster resilient societies. GETI has a global mandate to provide capacity building support to mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into sustainable development; convene and support inter-city learning to strengthen resilience (Making Cities Resilient); and to provide capacity building and best practice sharing support to national training institutions working on resilience issues. Based in Incheon, the Republic of Korea, UNDRR GETI is also the global secretariat of the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030).

Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) is a unique cross-stakeholder initiative for improving local resilience through advocacy, sharing knowledge and experiences, establishing mutually reinforcing city-to-city learning networks, injecting technical expertise, connecting multiple layers of government and building partnerships.  Through delivering a clear 3-stage roadmap to urban resilience, providing tools, access to knowledge, monitoring and reporting tools. MCR2030 will support cities on their journey to reduce risk and build resilience. MCR2030 aims to ensure cities become inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by 2030, contributing directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, and other global frameworks including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and the New Urban Agenda.

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) is an international organization established with a vision to promote peace and common prosperity among the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.