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G20 Summits • 2025 Johannesburg Summit | Road to the 2025 Johannesburg Summit
Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction

Logo of South Africa's 2025 G0 Presidency

G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Ministerial Declaration

Resilience For All: Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction Through Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability

Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa, October 13, 2025 (published on October 16, 2025)
[pdf]

  1. We, G20 Ministers met under the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa on 13 October 2025, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, alongside Ministers from Invited Countries and Organisations, to reaIirm our shared commitment to disaster risk reduction (DRR).

  2. We underscore the central importance of DRR for protecting people and the communities most at risk and for achieving sustainable development, resilience, economic stability, and prosperity. We highlight the need to pay special attention to those already disproportionately impacted by disasters, including those in vulnerable situations and fragile contexts. In this regard, we aIirm the importance of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution in line with national circumstances and contexts.

  3. We recognise that disasters and shocks are increasing in frequency, intensity and geographical extent which hinders progress towards sustainable development and strains both national capabilities and the international system's ability to respond.

  4. We acknowledge the importance of international collaboration and implementing whole-of-government and all-of-society approaches to DRR, where applicable and appropriate.

  5. We commend the leadership of the Republic of South Africa in steering the DRR Working Group (WG) under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability, and welcome its focus on bringing Africa’s experiences and priorities into the global agenda.

  6. In this context, we underscore the principle of addressing inequalities as a means to reduce vulnerabilities thereby strengthening resilience and ensuring that no one is left behind.

  7. We reaIirm the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and its intrinsic connections to sustainable development and climate change adaptation. We acknowledge the strong synergies between the SFDRR, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. In light of the outcomes of the Midterm Review (MTR) of the SFDRR, we underscore the importance of advancing the recommendations of the Political Declaration (A/RES/77/289).

  8. The Political Declaration of the MTR (A/RES/77/289) remains central to inform our national, regional and global eIorts on DRR.

  9. We appreciate that DRR is being advanced through many recent multilateral forums, including the 2025 Global Platform for DRR, Regional Platforms for DRR, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.

  10. We underscore that integrated, inclusive, people-centred and comprehensive approaches to DRR, sustainable development, ecosystem management, environmental protection, and climate adaptation are essential to build sustainable resilience within and across sectors including humanitarian and development, as appropriate, and ensuring no one is left behind.

  11. We reaIirm the importance of the historic Ministerial Declaration adopted in Belém, Brazil in 2024, the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on DRR which elevated DRR as a policy priority for G20 Members.

  12. This 2025 Declaration, under South Africa’s Presidency, carries forward its priorities and deepens eIorts to translate commitments into action.

  13. Guided by the SFDRR and the 2024 G20 DRR WG Ministerial Declaration, we reaIirm our commitment to addressing inequalities, in line with national contexts, through inclusive, country-specific, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, whole-of-society approaches, as well as empowering the leadership of local communities, Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and the elderly, to reduce risk and build resilience.

  14. We encourage Members to forge and strengthen multi-sector collaboration including public-private sector partnerships.

  15. We endorse the High-Level Voluntary Principles for Investing in DRR and encourage international collaboration on strengthening investment in DRR and for G20 Members, where appropriate, to incorporate these into national and sub-national planning and financial systems across all relevant sectors and at all levels, in line with national circumstances, priorities and needs.

  16. In this context, we emphasise the importance of mobilising resources for DRR from diverse sources including, national and international, public, private and blended finance, as well as from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and institutions, while noting the importance of transparency and mutual accountability in line with national contexts and ensuring that financing is accessible, timely and adequate for the needs and the capacities, particularly of developing countries and those most vulnerable. We also emphasise supply chain resilience.

  17. We acknowledge that the cost of inaction is larger than the cost of action, both in economic and distributional terms. We also recognise that there are clear opportunities for international cooperation, such as knowledge sharing and capacity enhancement.

  18. We encourage the scaling up and greater use of aIordable, inclusive pre-arranged financing, to facilitate ex-ante DRR and preparedness for rapid, flexible, comprehensive and equitable disaster response and recovery. This could include financing that motivates ex-ante DRR such as parametric insurance, risk pools, contingent credit, catastrophe bonds, insurance guarantee facilities linked to eIective delivery mechanisms, particularly adaptive social protection systems. We support monitoring mechanisms that enhance accountability and transparency for such finance and DRR investment. We welcome mechanisms that complement prevention and risk reduction measures to lower entry costs and expand access in underserved markets and to reach those in vulnerable situations.

  19. We encourage the creation of an enabling environment that promotes transparency, accountability, and inclusive scaling of solutions, as appropriate and depending on context.

  20. We reaIirm the urgent need for eIective, accessible, people-centred and inclusive Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) and highlight the importance of the Early Warnings for All initiative.

  21. We recognise the potential of digital public infrastructure as a critical enabler in transforming DRR eIorts, leveraging cell broadcast as a scalable, last-mile communication tool, and other available methods of communication for early warning systems including digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, traditional, and community based – to reach every person at risk, while acknowledging the need to address persistent connectivity challenges in remote, rural, and underserved areas.

  22. We support ongoing eIorts and encourage appropriate future initiatives to close the early warning gap by considering the value of weather and climate monitoring and forecasting services, addressing regulatory and funding barriers, enhancing data sharing and accessibility, engaging the private sector, relevant international organisations and MDBs, and aiming towards raising awareness and understanding of disaster risk at local community level, and ensuring full geographic and demographic coverage.

  23. We highlight the need for and importance of early warning to enable early and anticipatory action that translates into clear, practical steps for communities. We encourage multi-stakeholder engagement that ensures the meaningful participation of people in vulnerable situations. We further encourage multi-platform dissemination, participatory and community-based risk assessments, locally led planning, and implementation of MHEWS, alongside tailored communication and protocols to improve accessibility. These eIorts should aim to enhance the eIectiveness of the entire value chain of early warning systems and anticipatory action. We encourage the use of science, technology, particularly cell-based technology, and AI in strengthening DRR. We recognise the importance of strengthening observations in data deficient areas including by using the opportunity of satellite technology, and the need to harness emerging technologies to ensure systems are future-proofed.

  24. We emphasise the priority of investing in resilient, sustainable, inclusive and quality infrastructure, and in risk-informed development plans that protect people and reduce exposure to risks, whether induced by natural hazards, human-made or exacerbated by climate change, taking into account national circumstances and capacities.

  25. We underscore the importance of data and knowledge sharing and voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, risk assessments, spatial and land use planning building codes, awareness raising, as well as contingency and anticipatory action plans and resource allocation to support local action in promoting resilience, including for both social and critical infrastructure.

  26. We recognise the value of learning from a range of housing practices including traditional, Indigenous and vernacular housing practices and urban design practices that incorporate passive cooling materials and design. We also stress the importance of awareness raising, assessments, capacity building for the implementation of building codes, community-centric spatial planning, and finance to support local action on heat mitigation and floods management.

  27. We recognise the significant risks posed by extreme heat, including urban heat islands, and emphasise the importance of heat mitigation as a DRR measure, ensuring equitable protection for those most at risk, and cost-eIicient ways to reduce disaster risk. In response to record temperatures, we highlight the need to scale heat mitigation and prevention measures and other appropriate adaptation measures. We also recognise the value of international cooperation to prevent, mitigate, respond, and recover from wildfires.

  28. We recognise the Recovery Readiness Assessment Framework as a valuable voluntary tool for proactive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery planning to incorporate priority actions for resilient recovery.

  29. We encourage its uptake by national and subnational authorities in line with national circumstances, priorities and needs.

  30. We commit to promoting and pursuing accessible, inclusive, locally led, and equitable recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phases after a disaster to increase the resilience of nations and communities through integrating DRR measures into the restoration of physical infrastructure and societal systems, and into the revitalisation of livelihoods, economies and the environment.[1]

  31. We recognise the critical role of resilient and sustainable food, water, and health systems to reduce disaster risk and ensuring food, water, and health security, and supporting inclusive recovery and reconstruction to advance a risk-informed approach for preparedness, anticipatory action and continuity of essential services.

  32. We recognise the importance of learning from past events and of promoting science, technology and evidence-based solutions, enhanced by coordination across all relevant sectors and levels.

  33. We welcome nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based approaches (EbA) as measures to minimise risk and build resilience to certain hazards while providing ecosystem services.

  34. We recognise the importance of enabling policies and instruments that strengthen implementation and engagement among public institutions, private sector actors, civil society organisations, local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

  35. We support science and evidence-based research, innovation, data sharing, knowledge sharing, leveraging local and traditional practices, capacity building and encourage peer learning to advance in the implementation of NbS and EbA, in line with national circumstances and best practices.

  36. We recognise the need for such approaches to be backed by suIicient and scalable financing from diverse sources including national and international, public, private, multilateral and blended financing mechanisms, and other channels, as appropriate.

  37. We reaIirm our commitment to fostering partnerships and collaboration across sectors, with a particular emphasis on engaging people disproportionately impacted by disasters, in shaping and monitoring risk-informed policies to reduce risks and support recovery eIorts.

  38. We express our sincere appreciation to the Deliverable Leads[2] and Knowledge Partners[3] whose expertise and contributions have been vital to the G20 DRR WG this year. Their technical input, research and coordination supported the development of meaningful and action-oriented deliverables across all priority areas.

  39. We extend special thanks to the United Nations OIice for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for its continued role in assisting the incumbent Presidency with Secretariat services.

  40. We recommend the incoming Troika consider the possibility of continuing to engage the support of UNDRR, in cooperation with the Working Group, in order to review the progress achieved and identify potential areas for future collaboration.We thank the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the successful chairing of the G20 DRR WG.

  41. Looking ahead, we welcome the United States of America’s G20 Presidency in 2026, express our strong support for the continuation of the G20 DRR WG and remain committed to advancing our collective DRR agenda, including through exploring synergy with relevant G20 WGs, as applicable.

Notes

[1] This is taken from Priority 4 of the Sendai Framework: Enhancing disaster preparedness for e;ective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. ↩

[2] Deliverable Leads: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations O;ice for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Recovery Platform (IRP) and Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS). ↩

[3] Knowledge Partners: Centre for Disaster Protection (CDP), Center for Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience (CUDRR+R), Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS), Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Recovery Platform (IRP), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). ↩

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Source: Official website of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency

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This page was last updated October 16, 2025

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