23-26 May 2022 | UCLG ASPAC, together with the City of Denpasar, UCLG ASPAC as the Secretariat of the Global Covenant of Mayors Southeast Asia (GCoM SEA) participated in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR 2022) organised in Bali (Indonesia).
In collaboration with the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Indonesia National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), and UCLG World, UCLG ASPAC co-organised the Local Leaders Forum: Towards Inclusive, Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities. On behalf of the Global Task Force as well as the UCLG Secretary General, the UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi delivered an opening remark and emphasised that “We should work together to accelerate the achievement of Sendai Framework on DRR, we have only seven years to reach 2030, but I trust local governments’ commitment is stronger on resilience.” The welcoming remark was also addressed by Dr. Raditya Jati, Deputy of System and Strategy of BNPB, He pointed out that local leader’s commitment is very important to reach the Sendai Framework target E (Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies) and as well target F (Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this framework by 2030). UNDRR Director, Mr. Ricardo Mena also highlighted that the risk is growing around the world. Considering such a condition, he emphasised the importance for cities around the world to continue to work together to mitigate disasters and reduce disaster risk. More importantly, he stressed, that all cities should become involved in the global effort to reduce disaster risks and participate in the Making Cities Resilient (MCR2030).
The practices were presented by several local leaders such as the Governor of Bali, Mr. Wayan Koster who provided a successful example of prevention efforts to improve the early warning system, and Vice Mayor of Palu, Dr. Reny Lamadjido shared the experience of the 2018 disaster-hit Palu City and the effort of the recovery phase including the importance of local wisdom for disaster prevention. The Mayor of Bontang City, Mr. Basri Rase shared the city experience of joining the MCR2030 programme that opens opportunities to form communication networks and collaborations, not only with fellow local governments, but also with experts, and local activists, and other development partners. By the end of the event, the UNDRR Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori closed the Forum and encouraged more local governments to join MCR2030 and share their experiences with other cities. She encouraged private sector service providers to use MCR2030 to reach out to cities and provide technical services. Finally, she presented the MCR2030 Ceremonial Certificate presentation for the Governor of Bali, Bangladesh National Association of Municipalities (MAB) representative, Potenza Province, Italy, and the Mayor of Matosinhos City, Portugal.
UCLG ASPAC also collaborated with UCLG World in organising the Learning Labs: The Cost of Doing Nothing – Scenarios for Investing in Resilience. The session was intended to once again ensure local governments invest in resilience and develop financing mechanisms for DRR. It also examined challenges local governments face in financing DRR and resilience actions and showcased instruments and examples to develop governance and financing mechanisms to accelerate local DRR and resilience actions. Mayor of Pacitan Regency, Mr. Indrata Nur Bayuaji presented the experience of Pacitan Regency such as establishing a Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (FPRB) with a network of 45 communities that helped during a pre-disaster, response, and post-disaster. He introduced the efforts made under his leadership such as building local resilience, and mobilising various resources and stakeholders, in his long-term vision for achieving the Sendai Framework for DRR by 2030.
UCLG ASPAC, playing a role as the Secretariat of the Global Covenant of Mayors Southeast Asia project funded by the European Union (EU), also organised the GCoM National Training Workshop in Climate Change Adaptation from 24 to 25 May 2022. The workshop completed the series of GCoM Asia Project Workshop on Climate Change held in Yogyakarta taking the theme Climate Change Mitigation.
In the workshop, the Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC, Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, delivered welcoming remarks following the remarks from the representative of the European Union Delegation for Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Henriette Faergemann.
The workshop invited 21 representatives from the Development Planning Agency and Office of Environment from 21 selected cities across Indonesia as training workshop participants. The event provided local government representatives to discuss with speakers from the national government, such as from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development Planning Agency, as well as GCoM SEA’s technical partner Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia Pacific (CCROM-SEAP).
The participants could also virtually discuss best practices on climate change adaptation with Mercociudades and learn deeper about climate finance from Climate City Gap Fund, the Transformative Action Program (TAP) by ICLEI, and the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB).
The representatives of Indonesian cities actively participated in fruitful sessions, shared their best practices, and discussed problems and solutions in dealing with the adaptation to climate change. The training workshop was completed with a study visit to some climate mitigation and adaptation projects in Denpasar City: Tukad Badung, Tukad Bindu, Tukad Rarangan, Subak Teba Majelangu. The participants also took part in the tree plantation programme at Tukad Rarangan.
Some cities have decided to be the GCoM signatories and are committed to fighting against climate change together with the GCoM.
