3. Collection and Distribution of Disaster Information

3. Collection and Distribution of DisasterInformation
3-1. Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2010
The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction(ACDR) 2010 was held in Kobe, Hyogo
Prefecture, Japan, from 17 to 19 January 2010,scheduled to coincide with the 15th anniversary ofthe Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake of 17January 1995. It was organized jointly by thegovernment of Japan, the United Nations
Secretariat of the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and the AsianFig. 3-1-1 Opening Address by H.E. Mr. H.E.
Mr. Hiroshi Nakai, Minister of State forDisaster Management, Government of Japan

Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC).
As many as 238 participants attended theconference, including high level government officials from 28 countries, as well as
representatives of 53 international and regional organizations, the academic community, theprivate sector, and civil society organizations.
The ACDR 2010 offered a valuable opportunity for policymakers and practitioners fromADRC-member countries and international/regional organizations to meet together and share theirexperiences and lessons gained during the process of implementing the Hyogo Framework forAction 2005-2015 –Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA). It
therefore provided important insights for the Mid-Term Review of the HFA as well as for ongoing
preparations for the 4th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held inOctober 2010.

3-1-1. Outline of the Conference
The outline of the ACDR 2010 is as follows:(1) Date: 17 to 19 January 2010
(2) Organizers: Government of Japan, the United Nations Secretariat of the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center(ADRC)(3) In Cooperation with: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hyogo InternationalCenter(4) Participants: 238 (high level government officials from 28 countries, representatives of 53
international and regional organizations, the academic community, the private sector, andcivil society organizations)(5) Venue: Kobe Portopia Hotel, Hyogo, Japan

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(6) Key topics addressed at ACDR 2010:
1) Learning lessons from recent disasters in Asia
2) Progress and shortcomings in implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action
2005-2015
3) Expanding applications for space technologies and other technological innovations indisaster risk reduction4) Strengthened sub-regional cooperation for disaster risk reduction

3-1-2. Overview of the Conference
At the opening ceremony on the first day ofthe conference, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Nakai,
Minister of State for Disaster Management,
Government of Japan, and Conference Chair,delivered opening remarks. Remarks were also
given by Mr. Kenzo Oshima, Senior Vice
President of the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), who emphasized the necessityof further promoting international cooperation
on disaster risk reduction given the potential
impacts of global climate change. Prof. Shigeru
Itoh, ADRC Chairman, expressed his highFig. 3-1-2 Keynote Speech by Ms. Margareta
Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary-General in theSecretariat for the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction.

expectations for ACDR 2010.
The keynote speech was given by Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary-General for
Disaster Reduction and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Hyogo
Framework for Action in the Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. In
her presentation, entitled "Five Years of the Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for
Action: Mid-Term Review," Ms. Wahlstrom invited all of the participants to make further
commitments toward achieving the goals of the HFA. She also stressed the importance ofintegrating disaster risk reduction considerations into economic and territorial development
efforts.
During active discussions in the Public Forum and breakout sessions, participants noted thatthe following points should be further explored in a consistent manner in each country andorganization.
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Addressing climate-related natural disaster risks-

Addressing disaster risks in cities-

Transferring experiences and lessons to the next generation so they will not be forgotten-

Boosting efforts to strengthen the capacity to respond to and to deal with natural
disasters not only at national level, but more importantly, at local and community levels-Facilitating better use of space technologies in achieving disaster risk reduction

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objectives by raising awareness of their effectiveness among relevant institutions, andenhancing capacity building and human resource development in this field-

Further promoting the institutionalization of disaster risk reduction activities in enabling
cooperation at the regional or sub-regional levels.

3-1-3. Major Outcomes of the Conference
Several ACDR 2010 follow-up actions were proposed as a result of discussion, especially inrelation to the Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and the 4th
Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held 25-28 October 2010 inIncheon, Republic of Korea to discuss climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
These include:-Integrating or linking climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction at all levels.

-Promoting more active involvement in efforts to mitigate urban risks using such
mitigation measures as land-use planning, the management of disaster-prone humansettlements, and the development of knowledge and capacities for effective disastermanagement.

-Strengthening policy-making, and institutional capacities for the application of advanced
technologies to achieve disaster risk reduction objectives at various levels, from regionaland national, to local and community levels.

-Enhancing the capacity of people and communities through training, education, and thesharing of sound practices, new technologies, and ideas.

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Strengthening cooperative and supportive relationships among countries within andbetween sub regions.

The Conference summary is available at: http://www.adrc.asia/acdr/2010_index.html.

Fig. 3-1-3 Participants of the ACDR2010

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