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Sendai Framework

The Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) is an ambitious agreement that sets out the overall objective to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.
It pursues the following goal: "Prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of 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, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience."
The Framework recognizes that the strong commitment and involvement of political leadership in every country is crucial. State level governments share their responsibility to reduce disaster risk with other stakeholders such as local government, the private sector and other non-State actors. It puts in place 4 clear priorities for action and 7 global targets for the substantial reduction of disaster risk.
The Sendai Framework covers technological hazards, in addition to natural hazards, which represent an evolution compared to its predecessor, the Hyogo Framework for Action. These technological hazards include chemical/industrial hazards further to radiological, nuclear, biological, and others.
Postcard on the Convention's linkages with the Sendai Framework  ENG  RUS
The UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention helps its Parties and committed countries to follow up on the priorities for action set out in the Sendai Framework. Effective implementation of the Convention contributes to achieving the Sendai objectives, while the priorities for action under the Sendai Framework directly support prevention, preparedness and response to industrial and chemical accidents. This mutual relevance translates into concrete activities of the Industrial Accidents Convention, in particular:
1. Understanding disaster risk

The Convention stresses the importance of identifying potentially hazardous activities to be able to target actions for prevention, preparedness and response. It sets out preventive measures to be carried out by national authorities and operators, including legislative and institutional measures. The Convention also deals with the siting of hazardous installations as part of land-use planning policies and measures to minimize risks to the population and the environment.
2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk

The Convention provides a framework for Parties to set up their legal and institutional frameworks at local, national and regional levels to address the prevention of, preparedness for and response to industrial accidents. It focuses on disaster risk reduction arising from hazardous activities which can cause a transboundary effect in case of accident. The Convention can be regarded as a mechanism for regional and subregional cooperation, as it addresses local and transboundary disaster risk reduction in case the consequences of an accident travel across borders and supports capacity development.
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience

The Convention promotes the prevention of technological disaster risks through institutional, legislative and practical measures adopted by authorities and operators. This comes with an obligation to adopt legislation for disaster risk reduction, requiring operators of hazardous installations to ensure and demonstrate the safe performance of their activities. To ensure implementation of these measures, Parties need to include financial means as well. The Convention therefore also promotes coherence across sectors by stipulating cooperation among national authorities, which includes the private sector. Proper investments in all elements of DRR and industrial accident prevention are critical in order to strengthen resilience.
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

The Convention promotes the organization of transboundary exercises to train relevant authorities and the population on preparedness and response. More specifically, in line with the Sendai Framework, the Convention contains obligations to:
(a)    Prepare, review and periodically update disaster preparedness and contingency policies, plans and programmes, ensuring the participation of all sectors and stakeholders, in particular when preparing on- and off-site contingency plans as required by the Convention
(b)    Promote regular disaster preparedness, response and recovery exercises
(c)    Develop and strengthen, as appropriate, coordinated regional approaches and operational mechanisms to prepare for and ensure rapid and effective disaster response, for example, through the use of the UNECE Industrial Accident Notification System to request and render mutual assistance in a cross-border context.
UNECE DRR-related activities under the Industrial Accidents Convention: