- This event has passed.
Leadership towards a resilient society — H.E. Ms. Mami Mizutori in POP Climate Leadership Conversations
May 18, 2021
On May 18, 2021, POP Ocean Mentor, Ana Hanhausen moderated a dialogue with H.E. Ms. Mami Mizutori, special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, about leadership towards creating a resilient society. When asked about the meaning of leadership, Ms. Mizutori said that to lead, you must understand the pressing issues you are facing; you must have a vision of how to overcome that challenge and create a bold plan and course of action to solve the issue. Ms. Mizutori added that the plan and course of action must be based on science and knowledge and that leaders need to be resilient themselves because the challenges they face are big.
Meda Hope, a young member of the POP Family from Uganda, asked about the leadership needed to fully implement Disaster Risk Reduction policies and become a more resilient society. Ms. Mizutori spoke about the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which is a framework for resilience that includes understanding the risks, having a plan, and investing in resilience. Policies need to have long-term vision; if we do not mobilize society we will not have disaster risk reduction.
Ana Carrillo, a POP leader from Mexico asked about climate justice and policies for disaster risk reduction. Ms. Mizutori noted that in order to prevent countries from being most affected, we need to increase international cooperation. October 13 is the international day for disaster risk reduction and this year, the focus will be on increasing international cooperation. Ms. Mizutori asked the participants to mark the day and do something in their city or country to enhance international cooperation. Ms. Mizutori also spoke about the importance of enhancing early warning and action.
Camila González, a POP leader from Mexico asked about the role of disaster risk reduction during the pandemic. To this, Ms. Mizutori stated that Disaster Risk Reduction did not play the role it had to play. Even though biological hazards were added to the Sendai framework, member states did not do enough to prevent it. “COVID-19 has shown us the importance of local communities taking action.; in some countries the central government did not take enough measures and we have seen the local governments take actions. Local resilience has been highlighted during this pandemic.”
About the Guest
Mami Mizutori is the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, based in Geneva, Switzerland. She assumed her role on 1 March 2018. Mami served for twenty-seven years in various capacities in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to joining the UN, Mami was Executive Director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, University of East Anglia, UK, since 2011. Mami graduated in law from Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, and obtained a Diploma in International Studies from the Diplomatic School of Spain. A Japanese national, Ms. Mizutori speaks Japanese, English, and Spanish.
