Protecting Development From Disaster Risks Must Be Priority for Next Decade: PK Mishra
PM's Principal Secretary PK Mishra calls for resilient infrastructure and global cooperation to protect development assets from disaster risks.
India has issued a strong call for enhanced international cooperation and the creation of resilient infrastructure to ensure that the fruits of development are not wiped out by natural calamities. Speaking at the Meeting of Senior Officials on Disaster Risk Reduction—a session convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and co-chaired by India and the UK—PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, emphasized that the next decade must focus on protecting development from disaster risks.
Beyond Saving Lives: Safeguarding Economic Assets
While acknowledging that advancements in emergency response, preparedness, and early warning systems have successfully saved countless lives, PK Mishra pointed out a critical gap: economic losses continue to remain alarmingly high. He argued that the global community must shift its focus toward limiting these financial blows and protecting the assets that communities have spent years building.
Mishra highlighted a complex web of interconnected challenges, noting that climate change, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and the expansion of infrastructure are all linked, creating a more volatile risk landscape.
A Holistic Approach to Risk Management
The Principal Secretary urged a departure from "departmental silos," calling instead for a comprehensive understanding of risks and the cascading effects they trigger. To achieve this, he stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction through 2030.
Key pillars of this strategy include:
- Outcome-Based Financing: Moving toward investments that deliver measurable results in risk reduction.
- Resilient Urbanization: Strengthening urban institutions and integrating nature-based solutions directly into development planning.
- Technological Integration: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and multi-hazard early warning systems to enhance preparedness.
Mishra noted that an early warning is only effective if it translates into immediate action and available financing to mitigate the disaster's impact.
India's Leadership and Policy Shifts
Highlighting the initiatives taken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Mishra mentioned the Ten-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction launched in 2016 and the significant amendments made to the Disaster Management Act in 2025.
On the global stage, India has continued to lead the conversation. Mishra referenced the establishment of the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction during India's G20 Presidency in 2023, as well as ongoing collaborative efforts during its BRICS Chairship.
The Road to 2030: Three Main Priorities
As the world moves forward, PK Mishra outlined three primary objectives to guide disaster risk reduction efforts:
- Enhanced Understanding: Improving the grasp of emerging and interconnected risks.
- Effective Investment: Directing funds more efficiently into resilience across public finance, cities, natural systems, and infrastructure.
- Institutional Strength: Bolstering institutions through practical and meaningful international cooperation.
Concluding his address, he emphasized that post-disaster recovery must be planned in advance. The goal, he stated, should be to ensure that reconstruction efforts reduce existing vulnerabilities rather than simply reproducing the same flaws that led to the disaster in the first place.