Introduction to the Partnership 

Summary
Objectives and Expected Results
Activities Overview

Summary 

Environmental emergencies, including natural disasters and disasters triggered by technological and industrial hazards, are a global threat to individuals and to communities, in particular to the world’s poorest. Trends show increases in the total number of natural disasters and affected populations, and increases in the impacts from technological disasters. Greater stakeholder involvement, collaboration, and co-operation, as well as increased knowledge development and sharing, and greater capacity building, is one powerful route to more effectively addressing this problem. 

Within this context, an array of international and national organizations as well as governments launched the Environmental Emergencies Partnership at the World Summit on Sustainable on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The Partnership goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of environmental emergencies through more effective preparedness, prevention and response.

A meeting held in May 15, 2003 and attended by a range of organizations and countries confirmed interest in, and support for, the initiative. A series of recommendations also resulted (click here and select 'Report of the May 15 Partnership Meeting to download).  

The Partnership is now in an implementation phase, using this direction and wide-ranging interest and feedback as a basis.

Objectives and Expected Results 

There are three main Partnership objectives within the overall project goal of reducing environmental emergency frequency and severity: 

• Engaging a broader range of stakeholders in emergency preparedness, prevention and response, and ensuring more effective means of co-ordination between existing stakeholders. This includes, for example, greater engagement of the private sector, and harmonizing efforts between stakeholders where appropriate.

• Developing and more effectively sharing knowledge related to environmental emergency prevention, preparedness and response. This includes, for example, understanding, sharing and using the ‘lessons learned’ from disasters and emergencies. 

• Building capacity, particularly in developing countries. This includes, for example, training and building the capacity to share and use information related to environmental emergencies. 

Results that can be expected from Partnership activities include:  

• A more comprehensive range of stakeholders engaged in environmental emergencies preparation, preparedness and response. 

• A greater understanding of the respective roles, responsibilities and capacity of stakeholders engaged in environmental emergencies. 

• Greater harmonization of efforts between agencies engaged in emergency response, leading to more greater system-wide efficiency. 

• A more integrated disaster management cycle wherein the lessons from emergencies are more effectively used to reduce the risk of re-occurrence. 

• Greater national and sub-national capacity to avoid and, where needed, respond to, environmental emergencies.

Activities Overview  

Partnership activities include two main areas: developing the Partnership structure and mechanisms, and developing and implementing specific projects in support of Partnership Objectives.

You and choose either general information on Partnership Activities, or select most recent updates.