With the active participation of the Indian delegation, consensus was reached on finalizing the first Ministerial declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at the G20 Ministerial meeting, held in Belém, Brazil, from October 30 to November 1. The meeting concluded on Monday with key advancements in DRR strategies. Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, led India’s delegation and highlighted the progress India has made in reducing disaster risks and enhancing disaster financing mechanisms.
At the meeting, Dr. Mishra emphasized India’s proactive approach to disaster risk reduction, focusing on the five priorities of the DRR Working Group (DRRWG) established during India’s G20 Presidency. These priorities include early warning systems, disaster-resilient infrastructure, DRR financing, resilient recovery, and nature-based solutions. He also discussed the Prime Minister’s global initiative, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which now includes 40 countries and 7 international organizations as members.
The Principal Secretary reiterated India’s commitment to the Sendai Framework and called for increased international collaboration on knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and sustainable development to strengthen global disaster resilience. India’s delegation also participated in a Troika meeting with the ministers of Brazil and South Africa, and held bilateral meetings with ministers from Brazil, Japan, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, and leaders of invited international organizations.
In response to the UN Secretary-General’s call to address extreme heat, Dr. Mishra shared India’s experiences and the steps taken, including promoting traditional practices suited to local conditions. Dr. Mishra congratulated the Brazilian Presidency for continuing the DRRWG and elevating it to the ministerial level and affirmed India’s support for South Africa’s upcoming G20 Presidency and its work on the DRRWG next year.
