HAII and UNISDR: Seience and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction Ready to share with the world
This afternoon March 10, 2016), Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of science and Technology and Dr. Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The United Nations office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) chaired and witnessed the signing ceremony of th Statement of Cooperation on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction between Ministry of Science and Technology's Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute HAlI and UNISDR at Ballroom 1,2 floor, Royal orchid Sheraton Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Ministry of Science and Technology's HAll organized the signing ceremony of the Statement of Cooperation on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction with UNISDR. This cooperaion aims t o promote the application of science and technology in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The partnership will foster a comprehensive approach to promote coherence and linkages between climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable livelihoods at community level. It will also share HAll's many examples of community-level good practice in disaster risk management to the wider development community regionally and globally. The statement of Cooperation was signed by Dr. Royol Chitradon, Director of HAll, and Dr. Feng Min Kan, Head of Regional office for Asia-Pacific, UNISDR. It was witnessed by Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Science and Technology, and Dr. Robert Glasser, special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR.
Dr Glasser said the sendai Framework was an important tool to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk It will do this by implementing integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal. social health. cultural. educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increasing preparedness for response and recovery and thus strengthening resilience. The Royal Thai Government is, currently, providing a global lead in implementing disaster risk reduction and community resilience in line with the Sendai Framework This partnership will ensure that this impressive development is shared globally so that others are able to learn from Thailand's example. By applying appropriate, and often simple, technology, science and technologies can empower community to reduce their disaster and climate risk, and protect diversify, and sustain their livelihoods. Many initiatives of His Majesty the King of Thailand are innovative and they have captured th to effectively deal with floods and droughts Thailand has enormous experience to share with the rest of the world on how to manage disaster risk.
Dr. Pichet mentioned that Thailand learned a lot from the big flood in 2011, which showed the ignificance of data and technology to efficiently support decision making and management. Developed by All Thailand, now has the National Hydroinformatics and Climate Data Centet (NHc) to integrate water data from all relevant organizations. All partners can use the center's data for water management both in normal times and situations HAll also translates the concepts of science and technology for disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, srstainability and resilience into reality on the ground Thailand is facing the worst drought disaster in recorded history. It has had the lowest rainfall for 34 years, and the lowest ble storage level on record in dams of the central and northeastern Thailand water resource management at community level is a key factor to overcome this situation. At present, with the collaboration of almost 30 private sector entities, government agencies, and international organizations, 60 good pract from over 600 villages have been gathered. 98% of these villages have successfully secured their watcr supply and their food security. This shows how science-informed policies and action really Iranslate to strengthened community can resilience at the ground level, in both times of drought and flood. Now, Thailand is rendy to share its lessons learned to its neighbours in the Mekong, ASEAN, and wider Asia Pacific region,
This signing ceremony follows the UNISDR Science and Technology Conference on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 on January 27-29, 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference together a diversity of science and technology community and partners from all regions and disciplines. More than 700 scientists, experts. policy makers, rescarchers relevant practitioners attended the conference Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj. Minister of Science and Technology, Thailand, participated as a panelist in the opening ceremony under the topic of "Introductio the Science and Technology Partnership and Road Map for the implementation of the Sendai Framework" this conference, presented the notable success Thailand in applying science, technology, and data of to support disaster risk resilience at the community level. Hence, UNISDR and HAll agreed to collaboratively documenting best practices gathered from Thailand, and share examples of community-level good practice in disaster risk management to the wider development community regionally and globally. To regionalize the outcome of the International Science and Technology Conference in Geneva, UNISDR and HAll will jointly organize a regional conference on science and technology network for disaster risk reduction for the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific region in August 2016
