The Commonwealth has announced the launch of the Commonwealth Disaster Resilience Centre (CDRC), which is a holistic approach designed to strengthen the resilience of member countries, especially those most vulnerable to the consequences of the climate-related impacts on health, on infrastructure and on local populations.
The Commonwealth has announced the launch of the Commonwealth Disaster Resilience Centre (CDRC), which is a holistic approach designed to strengthen the resilience of member countries, especially those most vulnerable to the consequences of the climate-related impacts on health, on infrastructure and on local populations.
Launched at a side event during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the online platform, aligned with the UN’s Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, provides a wealth of resources, tools and assistance to help countries to strengthen their adaptiveness and preparedness. Resources include policy guidance and evidence-based solutions, and case studies will be added over time.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, welcomed a host of high-level speakers from Commonwealth countries, including the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hon. Philip Davis, the Foreign Minister of Malawi, Hon. Nancy Tembo, and Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Permanent Under Secretary of State responsible for the Commonwealth.
Opening the event, the Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, said:
“This is a real-world resource that all Commonwealth members are invited to make use of, not least island states, which are on the frontline of the climate crisis.
“The new Commonwealth Disaster Resilience Centre is about futureproofing Commonwealth nations so they can mitigate and adapt, recover, and strengthen in the face of extreme weather and climatic unpredictability, and the impacts these are having on their people and economies. It is unacceptable that women and children are already suffering most from these disastrous impacts. The role of the Centre is to provide action-focused solutions that actively help protect the most vulnerable people in the most vulnerable places.”
The Commonwealth Secretariat intends to work with every Commonwealth member country to familiarise them with the CDRC to maximise the resilience benefits it offers.
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