Bhubaneswar: Brics nations on Thursday called for coordinated action to embed disaster risk reduction into core development planning, cautioning that climate change, rapid urbanisation and rising transboundary risks are deepening vulnerabilities across Global South.At the second Brics technical meeting of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Group in Puri, delegates from Indonesia and Ethiopia to South Africa and China underscored the need to integrate risk into policy, bolster early warning and governance systems, and scale inclusive, multilevel collaboration as disasters become more frequent and complex.China reiterated its “people-first” approach, stressing that strengthening disaster prevention, modernising emergency management systems, and leveraging technology are critical to safeguarding lives and property. It also underscored the role of Brics as a platform for Global South cooperation, enabling countries to share experiences and build resilience jointly.China’s Lekun Zhuang said disaster reduction cooperation is a key area of collaboration. “China stands ready to work with all members of the Brics family, supporting each other and joining hands to take pragmatic measures. We are ready to share our experience and reflections on early warning systems, resilient urban development, and science, technology and innovation in DRR,” he said, adding that through high-quality cooperation, China aims to work with all countries to build a community with a shared future.While Iran and Russia focused on acknowledging India’s leadership and the collaborative spirit of the meeting, delegates broadly agreed that Brics cooperation is vital in tackling increasingly complex and cross-border disaster risks.Echoing this collective push, Ethiopia’s Hilina Mekonnen emphasised a shift towards prevention, anticipatory action, and inclusive systems, aligning with a broader Brics vision of strengthening disaster risk governance. Highlighting its exposure to climate variability, including droughts, floods and land degradation, she stressed that disaster risk reduction is central to sustainable development.Indonesia underlined that disasters can no longer be treated as isolated emergencies but must be factored into long-term development planning. Citing its vulnerability as a country along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it said resilience must be built into public policy through risk-informed planning, early warning systems and community-level preparedness. Indonesia called disaster risk reduction an “investment in sustainable resilience” that protects lives and limits economic losses.The UAE highlighted the importance of coordination across all levels of governance and need for inclusive approaches involving all sections of society. It said the discussions reflected a shared understanding among the Brics countries that effective disaster risk reduction must be locally driven, scalable and backed by strong institutional frameworks. The country reaffirmed its commitment to translating deliberations into actionable strategies.Earlier, Krishna S Vatsa, member and head of the department of National Disaster Management Authority, said risk management must evolve into a “global public good”, underlining the importance of Brics collaboration in protecting vulnerable populations.South Africa’s Elias Sithole pointed to the growing scale of climate-induced hazards affecting Brics nations, from floods and droughts to wildfires and extreme weather, and stressed that national efforts alone would not be sufficient. The Brics platform, Elias said, can play a key role in advancing practical collaboration while aligning with global frameworks such as thSendai Framework.
