Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is an integral part of social and economic development, and is essential if development is to be sustainable for the future. This has been recognized by several global documents on DRR and sustainable development. The Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (1994), as the first major international framework for disaster risk reduction, recognized the interrelation between sustainable development and DRR. Ever since, this close interrelation was continuously strengthened within the key global agreements, from MDGs to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (Johannesburg, September 2002), to the “Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015)” and to the “Future We Want” (Rio, June 2012), to the Sendai Framework for DRR (Sendai, Mach 2016) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (New York, September 2015).

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) addressed risk management and vulnerability in the context of its thematic issues of water, sanitation and human settlements in its 2004-2005 cycle and then in the context of drought and desertification in its 2006-2007 cycle.

On the occasion of World Water Day 2004, Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses was launched. This inter-agency publication, led by DESA aimed at providing decision-makers with a range of options to consider for reducing losses associated with flooding.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai, 14-18 March 2015), and as the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action, is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement, with seven targets and four priorities for action.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes and reaffirms the urgent need to reduce the risk of disasters. In addition to direct references to the outcomes of the Third UN Conference on DRR (Sendai Framework), there are specific opportunities to achieve SDGs through reducing disaster risk. For example, by reducing exposure and vulnerability of the poor to disasters or building resilient infrastructure. There are also several SDGs and targets that can contribute to reducing disaster risk and building resilience, even where disaster risk reduction is not explicit.

Targets related to promoting education for sustainable development under SDG# 4, such as building and upgrading education facilities and ensuring healthy lives, as well as targets under SDG#11 (cities) and under SDG# 9 (building resilient infrastructure) reaffirm the interrelationship between disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. amongst others can be cited.