The costs associated with the efforts to mainstream disaster risk reduction into development should be recognized as savings against future losses caused by disasters, states the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC).

In the official statement released as an outcome of the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management’s annual meeting on 1–3 April 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, the RCC member countries emphasized the need to incorporate climate change adaptation into future development planning.

“Considering the growing role of climate change as a driver of disaster events (…) and in response to the ongoing growth and development of our societies and economies and the growing urbanization in our countries, we firmly believe that sustainable development has to be risk-sensitive”, the delegates of the meeting stated.

With representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, the meeting stated it wants to see the mainstreaming of disaster reduction into development to become an integral part of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction and the sustainable development goals.

“Mainstreaming should also take place at sub-national and local levels. In this regard, greater collaboration, facilitation and support from national governments are required”, the delegates stated.

In the final statement, the delegates also stress that building partnerships between the government, civil society, and the private sector is essential for effective mainstreaming. They valued the ongoing support and involvement of development partners as crucial for effective mainstreaming.

Read the Nay Pyi Taw Statement here.