Call for Action to Accelerate the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction at the GPDRR 2025

With only five years remaining to achieve the goals outlined in the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2025 edition of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) was held at a critical point in time. With the official motto ‘Every day counts, act for resilience today’, the platform emphasised the need to speed up efforts to achieve the Sendai Framework's goals and reignited political momentum for risk-informed development. The GPDRR also actively fostered exchanges linking disaster risk reduction to broader global agendas, such as the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).

GPDRR 2025 concluded with the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction – a shared appeal to act with urgency, intelligence, and solidarity. The Call sets out eight priorities to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the remaining five years to 2030:

• Better data to understand risk
• Use technology to leapfrog progress
• Promote integrated risk governance and cooperation
• Seeing prevention as an investment
• Risk-inform ALL investments
• Scale-up early warning systems
• leave no one behind
• Prepare to ‘Build Back Better’

Switzerland's strong presence – including various branches of the Swiss Federal Administration (i.e.  SDC, FOEN,  FOCP, SECO, MeteoSwiss, PLANAT and LAINAT), as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society and academia – showcased its long-standing expertise in risk governance and reaffirmed Geneva's role as a global hub for prevention and resilience. This commitment was further illustrated by a series of Swiss-organized field visits on 7 June, which provided participants with practical insights into local disaster risk management practices, as well as continued to consolidate the strong social links between the participants and amongst the organisers themselves.

The way forward requires inclusive, coordinated and forward-looking action – not only to achieve the goals of the Sendai Framework by 2030, but also to prepare for the challenges and opportunities beyond.

Links

1. Global Platform 2025 Co-Chairs’ Summary: Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction
This summary serves as both a guide and a rallying call to governments and stakeholders, urging them to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework within the next five years.

2. Official Conference Website of GPDRR 2025
The official website provides recordings of the individual sessions held at the GPDRR 2025.

3. UNDRR Global Assessment Report 2025 – Resilience Pays: Financing and Investing for our Future
The UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction is the United Nations' flagship report on DRR efforts. This year's edition focuses on how smarter investment can break the destructive cycle of disasters, debt, un-insurability, and humanitarian need that threatens our climate-changed world.

4. Field Visit: How does Geneva tackle the critical challenge of water management to prevent flooding and build resilience in urban and rural areas? (one of several Swiss field visits)

As climate change is leading to increasingly intense weather events, urban areas have especially vulnerable, requiring innovative strategies to cope with these challenges. One of Geneva’s key responses is to restore the natural water cycle within the city. Through a forward-thinking project, previously buried and canalized rivers are being uncovered and re-naturalized. This not only improves flood management across both urban and rural landscapes but also creates attractive new public spaces that enhance community well-being and recreational opportunities.

This interactive field visit aimed to:

• Explore a large-scale rural project that is restoring the riverbed and is improving natural water flow before reaching urban zones.
• Examine the consultation processes used to engage stakeholders and the public in the project’s development.
• Discuss the critical role of collaboration between municipal, cantonal, and federal authorities in protecting the region’s water systems.

The visit also offered valuable insights into the implementation of the sponge city concept in a newly developed urban neighborhood. With population density expected to rise significantly in this area, integrating sponge city principles into early planning is essential. These measures will help mitigate the growing risk of flooding caused by increasingly frequent and intense rainfall events.