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自然災害抑制: 多一分準備 少一分損失

2011年02月14日
摘譯自2011年2月10日ENS美國,紐約報導;張桂芳編譯;蔡麗伶審校

遭遇洪水侵襲的巴基斯坦難民。圖片來自: UN-HABITAT。聯合國大會於2月1日首次針對降低自然災害風險議題進行討論。會議中指出去年一整年發生的自然災害,造成的傷亡人數和基礎設施毀壞程度刷新過去記錄。隨著氣候變化引發的極端天氣事件頻率不斷增加,由192個國家所組成的聯合國團體呼籲各國加強學校、醫院和城市建設的安全,以減少生命傷亡和財務損失。

地震、熱浪、洪水和暴風雪波及世界各地2.08億人,造成近30萬人死亡,以及 1100億美元的損失。但據全球再保險公司估計,其中有購買保險部分只佔370億美元。

聯合國祕書長潘基文。圖片來自:聯合國。秘書長潘基文提出:「當中兒童是最脆弱的。去年數千人因地震、洪水或颶風將學校夷爲平地而喪命。透過預先規劃,本來可以挽救這些生命的 -- 提高學校、家庭、醫院、社區和城市建築物防災標準。這些降低風險措施的重要性,將隨著氣候變化和極端氣候事件更加頻繁和劇烈,而與日俱增。」

窮國家往往受害最深,並在災後重建上面臨的挑戰最大。潘基文表示,最近澳洲和和巴西發生嚴重的洪水顯示,沒有一個國家或城市,無論貧富,當災難來臨無一倖免。

潘基文引述澳洲為例,説明事前做好準備對降低災害風險的重要性。上週,昆士蘭州在經過了可説是記憶中,史上幾個威力最強大龍捲風之一的侵襲後,幾乎毫髮無損地逃過一劫。他繼續說道,部分原因是由於運氣,因為人口最密集的地區並沒有遭到襲擊,但同時更多虧了災前周密的策劃和準備所發揮的「關鍵作用」。

潘基文說,聯合國推行的全球災害風險降低活動,吸引了各地區近600個鄉鎮和城市,承諾按活動所提出的10個項目為指標,落實防災工作。

他還強調:「儘管如此,未來要完成的工作還有很多。 需要憑藉著勇氣、遠見和領導才能,還有大家的參與和投入。」

此外,大會中許多發言者提到於2005年1月,海嘯發生1個月後,在日本由168個國家參加的聯合國世界災害抑制會議中所通過的兵庫行動綱領:2005 - 2015年。

該項10年計劃呼籲各國把抑制災害風險作爲國家政策的綱領,加強易受災國家應對風險的能力,並投入災難防備的工作。

UN General Assembly: Invest in Natural Disaster Risk Reduction
NEW YORK, New York, February 10, 2011 (ENS)

Natural disasters last year set a record for lives lost and infrastructure destroyed, the UN General Assembly acknowledged Wednesday during its first-ever debate on disaster risk reduction. With increasing risk from extreme weather events triggered by climate change, the 192-nation UN body urged investments now to reduce the toll of deaths and damage by building safer schools, hospitals and cities.

Earthquakes, heat waves, floods and snowstorms affected 208 million people around the world, killing nearly 300,000, and costing $110 billion in losses, only $37 billion of which were insured, according to global reinsurance company estimates.

"Children are among the most vulnerable," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared. "Thousands died last year as earthquake, flood or hurricane reduced their schools to rubble. These deaths could have been prevented. Lives can be saved by advance planning - and by building schools, homes, hospitals, communities and cities to withstand hazards. Such measures to reduce risk will grow ever more important as our climate changes and extreme events become more frequent and intense."

While poorer countries often suffer the most and have the biggest recovery challenges, Ban said that recent severe floods in Australia and Brazil show that no country or city, rich or poor, is immune to disaster.

Ban cited Australia as an example of the importance of investing in disaster risk reduction. Last week, the state of Queensland escaped relatively unscathed from one of the largest cyclones to hit the country in living memory, partly due to luck since the densest population areas were spared, he said, but also thanks to the "key role" played by planning and preparedness.

Ban said the UN's global disaster risk reduction campaign has attracted nearly 600 towns and cities from all regions that have committed to a 10-point checklist for making them more resilient.

"But so much more needs to be done," he stressed. "It will require courage, vision and leadership, and will need everyone's participation and investment."

Many speakers referred to the Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005 - 2015, adopted in January 2005 a month after the tsunami, by 168 countries attending the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Japan.

The 10-year plan calls for putting disaster risk reduction at the center of national policies, strengthening the capacity of disaster-prone countries to address risk, and investing in disaster preparedness.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS報導

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.