Sendai City's Midterm Review of its own implementation of the Sendai Framework
Sendai City conducted its own Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework, considering the importance of the local government level implementation of the Sendai Framework.
Description
In 2015, the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in Sendai City, where the Sendai Framework was adopted.
As we approach the midpoint in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR, we, Sendai City conducted its own Midterm Review of the implementation as the city where the Framework was adopted.
We collaborated with Tohoku University for this review.
As Sendai City has been carrying out various activities and initiatives along with the Four Priorities of Action of the Sendai Framework, the review has concluded that the City is on track with the achieving all of the seven Global Targets.
However, at the same time, the increasing severity of storms and flood damages experienced in recent years is also a growing concern for the City.
By conducting this review, we were once again reminded of the importance of disaster statistics in managing progress for the Sendai Framework.
Sendai City believes that our own Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework will contributes to further accelerating the implementation of the Sendai Framework by providing an example of the Sendai Framework implementation at local government levels. Demonstrating such an example should be useful for other cities working on the implementation of the Sendai Framework. Sendai City is committed to continue our efforts for achieving the goals for the Sendai Framework.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
The targets, priorities for actions, and the role of stakeholders in the Framework have been influencing to City’s policies for implementing our city concepts “Environment-Friendly City” and “Disaster-Resilient City”, from the perspective of disaster prevention and environmentalism in each civic field, including following perspectives.
- Passing down memories and experiences of the major disasters to the future generation and sharing lessons leant with the world
- Disaster prevention mechanisms by applying multiple-defense measures and evacuations.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
Sendai City conducted a Midterm Review of its own implementation of the Sendai Framework, as the city where the Framework was adopted.
It is a pioneering initiative as a joint project with a research institute.
As the findings from our own review have shown that the efforts we made so far have contributed to the promotion of the Sendai Framework and identified our future direction, further measures will be implemented by the City building on the recognition that DRR is a never-ending task.
Furthermore, it is significant that we have been able to identify detailed data items and whereabouts that are unique to local governments by conducting this Midterm Review.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
Sendai City conducted its own Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework and published a Report on Sendai City’s own Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework.
Porgress report
Each target can be said to be going well in terms of their achievements. However, these results are greatly impacted by the fact that they are being compared to severe damages caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a part of the City of Sendai’s original review, assessment and analysis per types of disaster was conducted. In terms of storm and flood damage, an increase in house damages and agricultural damages has been observed. A steady growth has been observed for international cooperation, however the number of overseas visits has dramatically decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2023, the Mayor of Sendai City participated in the "United Nations High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030" held at the United Nations Headquarters. During the panel session, the mayor gave a presentation on the independent midterm review conducted by the City of Sendai and the City’s efforts to create a safe, secure, and comfortable "Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally-Friendly City."
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
- International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University 東北大学 災害科学国際研究所
- 仙台市(宮城県) Sendai City