International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025

On 13 October, the global community celebrates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health, while reminding the world that disaster risk is man-made.

About

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

Countries are facing more record-breaking disasters. This is driven by an increase in extreme weather events and by development decisions that are not risk-informed, which increases the exposure and vulnerability of people and economic assets to a range of hazards.

Disasters are becoming significantly more expensive. While direct disaster costs have grown to approximately $202 billion annually, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 estimates that the true cost, is 11 times higher at nearly $2.3 trillion. Developing countries bear the brunt of these impacts due to their smaller economies, even though developed countries suffer the most expensive disasters in absolute value.

At the same time, investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR) have not kept pace with increasing disaster risks. This was one of the key findings from the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and a reason why many countries have been unable to reduce disaster impacts.

Adding to the problem, most economic and investment plans remain blind to disaster risks. This is especially common in the private sector, which is responsible for about 75% of investments through the creation of economic assets.

Official Website

2025 Theme: Fund Resilience, Not Disasters

Disasters are becoming more frequent, more costly, and more devastating. While direct disaster costs have grown to approximately $202 billion annually, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 estimates that the true cost, is 11 times higher at nearly $2.3 trillion.

Despite this, investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) remains far too low in national budgets and international assistance. Under the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”, International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 calls for a decisive shift: fund resilience now to avoid paying for disasters later.

Building on the outcomes of the Oslo Policy Forum, the 2025 IDDRR will emphasize two key calls to action:
1. Increase funding for disaster risk reduction, within public budgets and international assistance.
2. Ensure all public development and private sector investments are risk-informed and resilient.

Responding to these two calls can transform the disaster risk landscape by accelerating the implementation of the Sendai Framework over the next 5 years and reducing the human and economic cost of disasters.

This theme aligns with major global initiatives in 2025, including:
• The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which underscored the importance of financing for resilience.
• The outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, which called for greater investment in disaster risk reduction.
• The G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, which under South Africa’s Presidency is prioritising DRR financing. Key initiatives include the development of G20 Voluntary High-Level Principles for Investing in DRR and a Ministerial on 13 October.
• The focus on scaling up finance to address growing climate impacts at the 30th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 30) in Brazil in November.

Key Messages

“Countries, rich and poor, are facing disasters that are larger and more destructive. This is partially driven by an increase in extreme weather events, but it is also driven by risk-blind investments, which increase the exposure and vulnerability of people and assets”

– Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Environmental Disaster Risk Reduction

Disasters do not occur by accident – they are a result of the combined effects of hazards and vulnerable conditions. Disasters undermine hard-earned development gains and limit development achievements for future generations, with climate change expected to exacerbate the impacts of disasters globally. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.

In the last decade, the role of ecosystems in disaster risk reduction (DRR) has received increased global attention. Sustainable ecosystem management for DRR is now recognized as a priority measure in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Learn more about environmental disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), the Sendai Framework and the Geneva-based organizations active in this field in our update below.

Environmental Disaster Risk Reduction