The International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. It was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.
Sudden onset disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, displace millions of people every year. These disasters, many of which are exacerbated by climate change, have a negative impact on investment in sustainable development and the desired outcomes.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks, and aims to achieve a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health.