Indian Council of World Affairs

At the inception of India’s Presidency of the G20 group it was clear that the nation would introduce some novel aspects for inclusion in the Group’s agenda, those that would impact a large part of humanity. As part of the spread of inclusiveness and greater universality was the outreach to Africa and to the Global South. India’s civilizational philosophy of sharing and the larger understanding of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan – “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (through support of all, development for all) was bound to transcend the continents in a year which was the mid-point of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR is for the duration 2015-30). The Indian Presidency of G20 recognized that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is one of the central development issues of the 21st century. Overall, in most parts of the world, disaster risks are increasing at a rate higher than the rate of economic growth thus wiping out all development gains. This is the reason why under India’s guidance the G20 agenda included DRR as the 13^th vertical to be discussed by a Working Group and pursued during the year. The rationale was simple; risks are being created faster than they are being reduced. The Group met thrice in 2023, at Gandhinagar, Mumbai and Chennai under the guidance of Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India whose experience in DRR is difficult to match. The aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with a poly crisis of war, debt, and food insecurity are putting the world’s collective ability to cope to the test. And all against the backdrop of the climate crisis, driving the extreme weather events that are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity, across the globe. We in India are witness to the fury of cyclones, floods and Glacial Lake Outburst flood (GLOFs). 

Even before reference to the issues of disaster risk governance that India has adopted and would like to share with the world and in turn learn from the vast experience of the G20 nations, it would be appropriate to draw attention to the Ten Point Agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi given to the Asian DM community at the Ministerial Meeting on DRR in 2016 at New Delhi. It gave a virtual code of priorities in DRR which nations could adopt to professionalize the entire concept of DM. India was a late starter too but through such visionary interventions the path was corrected. It is the exchange of experience of such challenges to human existence that India brought to the G20 group. 

India has made significant progress in disaster risk governance, with all 28 states and eight Union Territories having prepared their own Disaster Management Plans (DMPs) in recent years. Most of the Ministries and Government institutions under the Government of India have also prepared heir DMPs or are in the process of doing so. Accordingly, preparedness is of a higher order and response is far more professional and organized.  Mortality from extreme weather events has reduced drastically in recent years.  In just the recent cyclone on the west coast (Cyclone Biparjoy) the newly launched Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) had 32 million mobile messages of warning across the networks. This contributed to the zero-fatality situation achieved by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). 

The new Working Group’s activities focused on five high-impact areas for disaster risk reduction:

• Global Coverage or Early Warning Systems
• Disaster and Climate Resilient Infrastructure
• Financing Frameworks for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Disaster Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
• Nature-Based Solutions and Ecosystem-Based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction

Each of the above have their relative significance and contribution.

Global Coverage of Early Warning Systems

As of 2022, only fifty per cent of countries are protected by multi-hazard early warning systems. In March 2022, the UN Secretary-General launched the Early Warnings for All initiative which aims to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by the end of 2027. It estimated that achieving universal early warning coverage will require investments of at least $3.1 billion over the next five years. The DRRWG aimed with a focus on strengthening the role of G20 countries as leaders in knowledge sharing, technology and capacity support, and advocated for financing and resources for early warning systems. India’s early warning system for cyclones covers the entire coastline and has helped reduce cyclone-related mortality by 90% over the last 15 years, while heat wave action plans at the local level have reduced heat wave deaths by over 90%. The recent zero casualty death toll of Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat demonstrates what can be achieved through effective preparedness, response, early warning and action systems.

Disaster and Climate Resilient Infrastructure

Taking note of the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, robust and resilient infrastructure can save lives and livelihoods, safeguard development gains and is a key driver of economic growth. The G20 DRRWG promoted a common understanding and mainstreaming of risks, standards, resilience principles and approaches to guide planning, governance and scaling up of resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and quality infrastructure systems, investments and development assistance programs. The Working Group focused on facilitating the exchange of good practices, capacity building, technical expertise and collaborative research, inclusive of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches in developing countries including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The G20 New Delhi Declaration took note of India’s initiative of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and its contribution to augmenting capabilities and promoting resilient infrastructure.

Financing Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction

There has been a chronic underinvestment in disaster risk reduction over several decades. Consequently, the impact of disasters has become a systemic financial risk with macroeconomic implications. There is an urgent need for a new approach to financing DRR and de-risk investments. The DRRWG’s actions in this area aimed to ensure that G20 countries consider robust national financing frameworks for DRR and support developing countries including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to do the same. Actions would also focus on strengthening collaboration with the private sector, capital market actors, credit ratings agencies and international financing institutions to accelerate work to de-risk investments in all sectors and better integration of DRR int the policy and practice.

Disaster Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction

In the midst of disaster’s loss and destruction, recovery and rehabilitation offer transformative opportunities. By implementing recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction policies and measures following the build back better principle of the SFDRR, the socio-economic risk drivers will be addressed, and the vulnerability and exposure of the affected community will be reduced. The DRRWG strived to strengthen national policy architectures and financial mechanisms for recovery rehabilitation and reconstruction, and promote resilience for present and future generations. 

Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystems-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction

Cost-efficient, effective, and scalable, ecosystem-based approaches can help governments and communities address the growing and interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, increased frequency of extreme weather and natural hazards as well as other human-made environmental disasters. The Working Group sponsored the  promotion of actions that enable G20 countries and support developing countries to scale up ecosystem-based approached and nature-based solutions for DRR, with a focus on enhancing financing for investment. 

The Value of Indian Experience

The five pillars that the Working Group focused upon can be core to the G20 disaster risk reduction approach. In addition, following are some areas where India's experience can be extremely useful for G20 countries, now and in the future:-. 

• Disaster risk governance -  India is one of very few countries in the world, which used its DM Act to address the COVID-19 pandemic. While the SFDRR has expanded the scope of hazards to include biological and technological domains, very few countries have adopted the disaster risk reduction and management framework to address pandemic. India’s entire response to Coronavirus was based upon the empowerment drawn from the DM Act of Dec 2005. There are enough documented analyses in India which the international DM community can access.
• Addressing Complex / Compound Emergencies - The risk landscape is changing. More complex or compound hazards, with two or more of them occurring simultaneously have become common. In 2020, India experienced a major cyclone (Amphan), floods (Assam and other areas of NE), locust intrusion, even as the pandemic raged. These are good examples on how in a complex decision-making system in India (where disaster is a state subject), with proper coordination between national and state governments, the nation can handle complex emergencies. Adaptive governance is a critical issue in this context, which would be the need for the future. However, in a developing nation the priority accorded to DM will always be low as realization of the impact of disasters is normally inadequate.
• Civil Society and People's Power - India's traditional strength is its resilient communities. Local and indigenous knowledge has shown its importance over time, be it in construction in the mountains (earthquake resistant stone constructions), or in the arid area (mud brick) or in the high monsoon area (like bamboo); or be in the traditional water practices, lifestyle in coastal ecosystem like mangroves etc. Transferable Indigenous Knowledge is important, where the principles of local practices can be shared and applied in other areas. Disaster voluntarism is another aspect which India can also promote widely. The efficiency and effectiveness of community response in disaster situations is another area where India has demonstrated its efficacy. The recently conceptualized Aapda Mitra (Friends in Disasters) scheme is  based upon volunteerism and is a nationwide movement in the most risk prone areas. It has already created 100,000 trained volunteers to come to the aid of the civil authorities in 350 districts.
• The Institution of Honours and Awards - In India, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) treats disasters as akin to war where an all of government approach is necessary to overcome the challenges. As in war, where recognition of valour and distinguished service is so necessary, honours and  awards add to self esteem and team work. Understanding this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2019 instituted the Subhas Chander Bose Aapda Prabhandan Puruskar (SCBAPP) which can be awarded to a maximum of three individuals, or three institutions, or a mix of the two, each year. These are usually awards to recognize the overall contribution towards DM and not episodic instances. It’s a practice which is hugely motivating and places the domain of DM high on the list of contributions to the Nation.
  
• Knowledge Proliferation -    It is well understood that DM is a complex domain and unless there is a quest for learning, recording experience, developing technologies and constant research, this cannot expand its footprint. Being a relatively new area for India (although in place for almost 20 years) there is always the necessity of developing best practices and using technologies. India has embarked on this quest and DM is now more acceptable to academic research and analyses. The National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) is a strong initiative which triggers interest in multiple areas of DM every three years. Similarly, the proliferation of workshops and seminars is contributing to enhancement of knowledge. Civil society organizations are coming forward and making their contribution. Their efforts are being regularly recognized through awards and interactions with the DM community at large.
  
  

India has come a long way from the dismal days when DM was limited to response to drought, locusts and floods. Under the leadership provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s understanding of this domain is now at levels where it can safely contribute to international best practices. The G20 opportunity gave India the chance to showcase what it has achieved in a short time and helped focus the professionals and the governments to the proliferating disaster threats and the means of overcoming them. India has no doubt that this work will continue with the same energy and commitment under the chairmanship of Brazil in the year 2024.  

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Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)