South Africa currently holds the presidency of the G20 – the group of 19 of the world’s largest economies and the African Union. It has set up a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group to find concrete solutions for countries experiencing climate-induced disasters that are made worse by poverty and inequality. Disaster risk management specialists Olivia Kunguma and Johannes Belle discuss what’s needed from the G20 this year to make a difference.
What are the biggest obstacles to reducing the risks that disasters pose?
There have been multiple disasters in South Africa over the past year. All of these confirm the urgent need to put improved disaster risk reduction plans in place. For example, in 2024, a foodborne disease outbreak claimed over 22 lives and led to more than 3,000 reported cases nationwide.
