The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 was organized by the Geneva (Switzerland) based United Nations (UN) Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) from June 2 to 6, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was hosted by the Government of Switzerland. The event is co-chaired by the Government of Switzerland and UNDRR.
- The theme of 8th session of GPDRR (2025) is “Every Day Counts: Act for Resilience Today,” which underscores the urgency of taking bold action to safeguard communities and build a sustainable future
About GPDRR:
i.The GPDRR constituted an important milestone between the High Level meeting on the midterm review of the Sendai Framework (May 2023) and the five final years before the Sendai Framework came to an end.
ii.The progress made in the implementation of the recommendations put forward through the Political Declaration, adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in May 2023, was assessed and discussed in the event.
Background:
i.Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) was established by the UNGA in 2006.
ii.GPDRR is organized by UNDRR every two-three year.
iii.The objective of the event is to assess the global progress on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), share knowledge, and guide implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).
Note: The 7th session of the GPDRR was held in Bali, Indonesia.
PK Mishra Represented India:
On 5 June 2025, during the event, Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, represented India in the G20 (Group of Twenty) DRR Working Group Roundtable on the margins of the GPDRR 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
- He highlighted India’s robust DRR financing system, cumulatively exceeding USD 28 billion and called for concrete, time-bound outcomes and the creation of a global facility for catalytic funding, technical assistance and knowledge exchange.
- He held productive discussions with Stine Renate Haheim, Deputy Minister for International Development, Norway, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in disaster risk reduction.
- He discussed the G20’s unique role in advancing GDRR by combining economic capacity with development imperatives.
IMD DGM Mrutynjay Mohapatra awarded UN’s Sasakawa Award 2025
On 6 June 2025, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, popularly known as “The Cyclone Man of India”, Director General of Meteorology (DGM), New Delhi (Delhi) based India Meteorological Department (IMD), was awarded the United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in individual category.
- The 2025 theme of the award was “Connecting Science to People: Democratizing access to innovation and technology for disaster-resilient communities”
- Other winners are Harkunti Pertiwi Rahayu, Professor of Disaster Aspect in Planning at the Institut Teknologi Sumatra and Chair of the Indonesian Disaster Expert Association (Indonesia) in individual category and the United Kingdom (UK) based Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) in the organizational category.
About UN Sasakawa Award:
i.The award was established in 1986 with the support of Tokyo (Japan) based Nippon Foundation.
ii.It is the most prestigious international recognition in the field of disaster risk reduction.
iii.It honours individuals and institutions that made outstanding contributions to building disaster-resilient communities.
About Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra:
i.The honour underscores the groundbreaking effort of Dr.Mrutyunjay in minimizing deaths due to any cyclone over the north Indian Ocean region.
ii.He pioneered impact-based forecasting, tailoring warnings for farmers, fisherman, infrastructure, and disaster managers.
About United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):
Head – Kamal Kishore
Headquarters – Geneva (Switzerland)
Formed – 1999
