The United Nations has endorsed a major global framework aimed at strengthening how disaster-related data is collected, analysed and used across countries. The decision was taken during the 57th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, marking the first time a comprehensive international system for disaster statistics has been formally adopted.
The new framework, known as the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF), seeks to improve the way countries measure disaster impacts, risks and investments in prevention. It will help governments develop more reliable and consistent data systems for tracking disasters and their consequences.
Global System Aims to Improve Disaster Risk Data
The framework has been developed with the support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and several international partners. It aims to bring together national statistical offices, disaster management authorities and other institutions under a shared data structure to improve coordination and strengthen disaster-related statistics.
Experts say disaster risk reduction depends heavily on reliable data. Governments need accurate statistics to understand how disasters affect people, infrastructure and economies. The new framework will support better monitoring of deaths, injuries, displacement, damage to housing and infrastructure, economic losses and spending on disaster risk reduction programmes.
By integrating data on exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity, the system will also help countries assess risks before disasters occur and improve preparedness planning. According to Kamal Kishore, the framework represents an important milestone in creating a common global language for understanding disaster risks.
Framework Supports Global Climate and Disaster Goals
The initiative is also designed to support several international agreements, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will strengthen the statistical foundation used by countries to report progress on disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts.
Importantly, the framework does not introduce new reporting requirements for countries. Instead, it aims to improve existing national data systems and ensure better coordination between different statistical and disaster management institutions.
The framework was developed through a multi-year collaboration involving global statistical experts, climate scientists and disaster management professionals. The work was coordinated by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Disaster-Related Statistics with contributions from organisations such as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the UK Health Security Agency.
Officials say stronger disaster statistics will help governments design more effective policies, guide investments in resilience and improve disaster preparedness as climate-related risks become more frequent and complex around the world.