Sign in Subscribe
Cabinet officials

G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Aims to Integrate Risk Reduction Measures into Investment Decisions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, established under India's G20 Presidency in 2023, aims to reduce existing risks, prevent new ones, and build resilient economies, societies, and natural systems. This year's Fourth Working Group and Ministerial Meeting focused on strengthening disaster preparedness and resilience through solidarity and global cooperation. The event highlighted the importance of international collaboration on early warning systems, a core component of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) flagship initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2022.

Key Takeaways:

  • The G20 DRR WG aims to integrate risk reduction measures into public and private sector investment decisions and policy making.
  • The early warning systems initiative, EW4All, has been identified as a key mechanism for achieving Priority 2 of the G20 DRR WG: Global Coverage of Early Warning Systems.
  • The EW4All initiative is a G20 legacy project, and the UN Secretary-General launched it in 2022.
  • WMO and the CREWS initiative are key contributors to area 1 of the G20 DRR WG action plan, supporting the goal of universal early warning coverage by 2027.
  • CREWS helps fund and implement early warning services in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
  • Thomas Asare, Assistant Secretary-General of WMO, emphasized the urgent need to accelerate early warning systems to protect people, national development, and the future.
  • South Africa has launched its national EW4All Roadmap, making it the first G20 country to unveil a national strategy at the G20 DRR WG event.
  • The launch of the South Africa's EW4All roadmap demonstrates visionary leadership and technical cooperation, showing how scientific excellence, data sharing, and institutional coordination can be transformed into actionable resilience.
  • CREWS is calling on G20 countries to help turn the ambition into reality by 2030, ensuring that all LDCs and SIDS have the essential early warning and climate services needed to protect lives and livelihoods.

Statistics:

  • Regionally, Africa recorded 2,883 disaster events between 2000 to 2020, resulting in over 139,000 deaths, affecting more than 311 million people, and causing economic damages exceeding USD 18 billion.
  • The extreme Durban floods in April 2022 and Eastern Cape floods in June 2025 claimed over 600 lives and widespread disruption affecting people's well-being and livelihoods.
  • CREWS has been working with countries and partners to support the goal of universal early warning coverage by 2027.
  • By 2030, all LDCs and SIDS are expected to have the essential early warning and climate services needed to protect lives and livelihoods.

Sources:

  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • United Nations (UN)
  • Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative
  • UN Secretary-General
  • South African Weather Service
  • G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (G20 DRR WG)
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Assistant Secretary-General, Thomas Asare
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Read more