The Fifth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction convened from 24-26 May 2017 in Cancún, Mexico. Under the banner “From Commitment to Action,” over 5,000 delegates from over 170 countries representing governments, stakeholder groups including people with disabilities, UN partners, the private sector, national platforms for disaster risk reduction (DRR), regional organizations and academia attended the meeting.

Meeting for the first time since the adoption of the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 at the Third World Conference on DRR in March 2015, delegates participated in a Leaders Forum, Ministerial Roundtables, four plenaries, two special sessions and 15 working sessions, as well as numerous side events, special events, and field visits. They also heard presentations on DRR projects and initiatives in a centralized venue called the Ignite Stage, and engaged in informal discussions in the Market Place exhibition, which was set up to foster new partnerships.

A key outcome of the meeting was the release of the Cancún High-Level Communiqué, the result of a closed-door Leaders Forum on Wednesday afternoon. Under the theme “Ensuring the resilience of infrastructure and housing,” the Communiqué commits to, inter alia, implement the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 in coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the New Urban Agenda; and promote people-centered, gender-sensitive, accessible and resilient urban development that supports all of society, including the vulnerable, poor and marginalized.

Another outcome of the 2017 Global Platform was the Chairs Summary, which addressed the priority action areas that emerged from the meeting, and will be forwarded to the High Level Political Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council, set to meet in New York, US, in July 2017.

Delegates left Cancún with high expectations for continued constructive engagement at the local, national and regional levels on further integrating inclusive, participatory DRR and disaster management strategies in development planning, and in addressing climate change.

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