The Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction（Sendai City Edition）
In 2023, which marked the halfway point of the implementation period of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, countries around the world conducted assessments of their progress. To take the lead in promoting the Framework at the local level—one of its key principles—the City of Sendai carried out its own midterm review in collaboration with the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University.
This initiative has been internationally recognized as the world’s first of its kind at the local government level and has been highly regarded internationally.
The results were presented by the Mayor of Sendai City at the High-Level Meeting held at United Nations Headquarters in New York in May 2023. The City will continue to share both the review results and its evaluation methodology domestically and internationally.
Summary of the Midterm review of the sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
The Midterm Review in relation to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction Report
Sendai City’s Initiatives Related to the Four “Priority Actions”
List of Priorities 1 : Understanding disaster risk
To prepare for future disasters, it is important to understand and learn about the lessons and knowledge from past disasters or regarding disaster risk reduction. We also need to use a variety of networks and means, and to promote the collection and sharing of disaster risk reduction-related information.
List of Priorities 2 : Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
Disaster risk can be reduced if both the government and local regions understand their respective roles in disaster countermeasures and manage related plans and schedules well. It is necessary for all stakeholders to take part in disaster risk reduction, and cooperate with each other.
- Local Disaster Preparedness Measures
- Support for Disabilities
- Support for Businesses in Developing Business Continuity Plans (BCP)
- Disaster Countermeasures for Sewerage Facilities
- Support for Disabilities
- Training of Women Disaster Preparedness Leaders
- Support for Non-Japanese Residents
- Sendai City Disaster Prevention Plan
- Disaster Memorial Project
- Hosting Study Visits and Briefings
List of Priorities 3 : Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
Prior investment in structural measures such as improving the earthquake resistance of critical facilities, constructing coastal embankments and evacuation facilities, and also in non-structural measures such as formulating disaster prevention plans and disaster prevention education, will protect our citizens, the environment and our assets from disasters, and enables us to achieve rapid recovery and reconstruction after disasters. This kind of prior investment in disaster risk reduction is more cost-effective than investing money after the disaster has occurred, and they must be actively pursued to strengthen a society’s capabilities to respond to disasters.
- Zero Carbon City
- Information Provision during Disasters
- Sendai City’s Plan for the Processing of Disaster Waste
- Disaster countermeasures for critical infrastructure
- Seismic Retrofitting of Buildings
- Multiple Defenses to Minimize Tsunami Damage
- Expansion of Stockpiled Disaster Supplies
- Signing of Mutual Support Agreements for Disaster Response
- Support for Disabilities
- Local Disaster Preparedness Measures
- Support for Non-Japanese Residents
- Disaster Countermeasures for Sewerage Facilities
List of Priority 4 : Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
The key to improving disaster risk reduction is to use both structural and non-structural measures to improve the capabilities of each stakeholder to respond to disasters. In particular, the recovery and reconstruction phase after disasters is an important opportunity to promote “Build Back Better” by using the experiences and lessons learned from disasters to strengthen the capacity to respond to disasters in all areas of the city.