The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Abstract Disasters disproportionately affect conflict-affected regions, where approximately two billion people reside, posing significant challenges for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This reality has increasingly spurred calls for violent conflict to be included in the global DRR agenda. However, c...

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Main Author: Laura E. R. Peters
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Disaster Risk Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00596-0
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author Laura E. R. Peters
author_facet Laura E. R. Peters
author_sort Laura E. R. Peters
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Disasters disproportionately affect conflict-affected regions, where approximately two billion people reside, posing significant challenges for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This reality has increasingly spurred calls for violent conflict to be included in the global DRR agenda. However, consideration of peace has been lacking, despite that challenges for peace can distinctly impact capacities to set, pursue, and achieve DRR objectives. This study investigated how the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) engages with peace through a document analysis, revealing three key findings. First, the SFDRR does not mention “peace,” mirroring its lack of reference to conflict. Second, while peace-related terms appear throughout the SFDRR in themes related to partnership and all-of-society approaches, this engagement is superficial. Third, the SFDRR’s approach is fundamentally problematic for advancing peace due to its avoidance of the complex social and political dynamics inherent to disaster risk and its reduction. The SFDRR united United Nations Member States in its ambition to “leave no one behind,” but has taken approaches that smooth over diversity rather than strengthen pluralistic connections. A radical, integrated DRR-peacebuilding agenda must take conflict as the new starting point and carve new pathways toward peace including through disaster diplomacy and environmental peacebuilding. By embracing the ambiguity between war and peace and addressing the root causes of risk, societies can cultivate peaceful interactions and collectively advance safety. This study concludes with recommendations for a global DRR policy that not only implicitly relies on peace but actively contributes to peacebuilding in the world’s diverse and divided societies.
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spelling doaj-art-686d1b31242e415aafd54ac5b972a95b2025-08-20T03:41:39ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Science2095-00552192-63952024-12-0116191910.1007/s13753-024-00596-0The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk ReductionLaura E. R. Peters0College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State UniversityAbstract Disasters disproportionately affect conflict-affected regions, where approximately two billion people reside, posing significant challenges for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This reality has increasingly spurred calls for violent conflict to be included in the global DRR agenda. However, consideration of peace has been lacking, despite that challenges for peace can distinctly impact capacities to set, pursue, and achieve DRR objectives. This study investigated how the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) engages with peace through a document analysis, revealing three key findings. First, the SFDRR does not mention “peace,” mirroring its lack of reference to conflict. Second, while peace-related terms appear throughout the SFDRR in themes related to partnership and all-of-society approaches, this engagement is superficial. Third, the SFDRR’s approach is fundamentally problematic for advancing peace due to its avoidance of the complex social and political dynamics inherent to disaster risk and its reduction. The SFDRR united United Nations Member States in its ambition to “leave no one behind,” but has taken approaches that smooth over diversity rather than strengthen pluralistic connections. A radical, integrated DRR-peacebuilding agenda must take conflict as the new starting point and carve new pathways toward peace including through disaster diplomacy and environmental peacebuilding. By embracing the ambiguity between war and peace and addressing the root causes of risk, societies can cultivate peaceful interactions and collectively advance safety. This study concludes with recommendations for a global DRR policy that not only implicitly relies on peace but actively contributes to peacebuilding in the world’s diverse and divided societies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00596-0ConflictDisaster diplomacyDisaster risk reductionEnvironmental peacebuildingPeace
spellingShingle Laura E. R. Peters
The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
International Journal of Disaster Risk Science
Conflict
Disaster diplomacy
Disaster risk reduction
Environmental peacebuilding
Peace
title The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
title_full The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
title_fullStr The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
title_full_unstemmed The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
title_short The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
title_sort peace imperative for the sendai framework for disaster risk reduction
topic Conflict
Disaster diplomacy
Disaster risk reduction
Environmental peacebuilding
Peace
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00596-0
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