States need to work together to prevent environmental disasters, say participants of OSCE meeting

VIENNA, 27 January 2014 – The need for participating States to work together to better prepare for, and respond to natural disasters was highlighted at the First Preparatory Meeting of the 22^nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, which started today in Vienna.

The two-day event brings together representatives of OSCE participating States, civil society, international organizations, business and academia to examine how to reduce the risk of environmental disasters and its potential in enhancing and promoting co-operation and security.

“Natural hazards can strike anywhere, at any time, regardless of boundaries, political situations or other circumstances. They can turn into disasters if we are not well prepared,” said Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, in his opening address. “It is our common responsibility to be ready to respond to environmental challenges,” he said, adding that natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts or floods are often trans-boundary in nature, and this makes co-operation between OSCE participating States not only desirable, but necessary.

Josef Hess, Vice-Director of Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and Head of Forest and Hazard Prevention Divisions, said that “natural disasters are a result of our exposure to a hazard, our vulnerability, and an insufficient capacity or measures to cope with the potential negative consequences.” He noted that past disasters offer important lessons in effective disaster risk management.

The OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, noted that the OSCE’s broad membership of 57 participating States means that the OSCE is well placed to contribute to the international community’s efforts to improve co-operation on disaster risk reduction.

“Natural disasters know no borders. In an interconnected world, even disasters of a local nature can have far reaching consequences not only domestically, but also regionally or at times globally,” he said. “Responding to these challenges requires fostering local, national and international capacities for prevention, preparedness, early warning, and response to natural disasters.”

Halil Yurdakul Yigitgüden, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, stressed the need for governments and civil society to work together in disaster risk management. “The increasing importance of sound environmental governance and co-ordinated action to reduce disaster risks require continuous dialogue,” he said.

During the meeting participants will explore different models of disaster prevention, regional and sub-regional mechanisms for co-ordinating disaster risk management, raising awareness among the population and increasing the resilience of societies. They will look at good practices and case studies of successful co-operation between different states and actors.

The meeting will be followed by the Second Preparatory Meeting on 20-21 May 2014 in Montreux, Switzerland, which will include field trips to provide participants with first-hand insights on disaster risk management. The results of these two meetings will pave the way to the Concluding Meeting of the 2014 Forum to take place in Prague in September.