The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) supports efforts to build disaster resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The GEO Work Programme (GWP) is currently implementing more than two dozen activities using Earth Observations (EO) for disaster preparedness and prevention, mitigation of potential damage, and better management of and recovery from disasters. Significant reductions in fatalities and property damage can be achieved   by strengthening cooperation and data sharing for satellite and surface data to manage risks posed by fires, floods, earthquakes, and other hazards. Better information, made widely accessible, leads to improved understanding of disaster risk.

GEO’s DRR Working Group (DRR-WG) was established in June 2020 to develop and implement a coherent and crosscutting approach within GEO to advance the use of EO to support national DRR and resilience efforts. The DRR-WG promotes awareness of relevant global policy frameworks, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, while serving as the primary GEO liaison to UNDRR. The DRR-WG also collaborates with other working groups and activities across the GEO engagement priorities relating to three international policy areas, namely climate action, sustainable development and urban resilience.

DRR Working Group Co-chairs and Deputy-chairs

Three co-chairs are selected by and from the DRR-WG members. Each co-chair leads a designated subgroup (SG) and is supported in their role by three deputy chairs.

• GEO DRR WG Co-Chair - SG1 Lead: David Borges, NASA, United States
• SG1 Deputy Chairs: Fernando Belda (Spain), Tatiya Chuentragum (Thailand), Godstime James (Nigeria)
• GEO DRR WG Co-Chair - SG2 Lead: Nathaniel K. Newlands, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• SG2 Deputy Chairs: Abdullahi Aliyu (Nigeria), Nhilce Esquivel (Sweden), John LaBrecque (IUGG)
• GEO DRR WG Co-Chair - SG3 Lead: Kene Onukwube, DEAR Africa, Nigeria
• SG3 Deputy Chairs: Cheila Cullen (United States), Ghulam Rasul (ICIMOD), Ramesh P. Singh (United States)

David
Borges

Fernando
Belda-Esplugues

Tatiya
Chuentragun

Godstime
James

Nathaniel
Newlands

Aliyu
Abdullahi

Nhilce
Esquivel

John
Labrecque

Kene
Onukwube

Cheila
Cullen

Ghulam
Rasul

Ramesh
Singh

Sub groups

Three Subgroups are established to run the work of the DRR-WG:

Individuals wishing to join a WG must be nominated by the Principal of their relevant GEO Member or Participating Organization. As appropriate, the Programme Board may also invite other qualified individuals to participate as members.

Administrative support for the DRR-WG is provided by the GEO Secretariat. Contact Rui Kotani, DRR Coordinator, at rkotani@geosec.org for more information on the work of the DRR-WG.

Terms of Reference & Roadmap

The DRR-WG Terms of Reference and Roadmap are valid for the 2020-2022 GEO Work Programme.

Progress Report

September 2021: submitted to the 21st Programme Board Meeting.

November 2021: submitted to the 17th Plenary, including the Concept Note of EO Risk Toolkit as annex D (pp. 12-18).

June 2022: submitted to the 23rd Programme Board Meeting.

Outputs

• Earth Observation (EO) Risk Toolkit
• Mapping the Engagement of the 2020-2022 GEO Work Programme  (May 2022) 
• Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) 2022
• Contributing Papers:
• EO into DRR action
• Global Navigation Satellite System for hazards
• Indigenous knowledge for DRR

Blog

Work Programme mapping report makes recommendations for increased engagement

New toolkit highlights Earth observation solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Group on Earth Observations joins REAP

Opportunities for GEO to contribute to a new Multi-Hazard Early Warning System of the African Union Commission

Insights from the ‘Sneak Preview of EO Risk Toolkit’ side event GEO Week 2O21

The EO Risk Toolkit: providing DRR users with access to open source EO tools and services

New International Earth Observation Group Tackles Disaster Risk Reduction

Tracking wildfires through the Global Wildfire Information System

GEO Week (21 October – 4 November 2022)

Understanding Risk 2022 (28 November – 2 December 2022)