Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goals under South Africa’s G20 Presidency

1.0 Introduction: Context and Challenges

South Africa’s G20 presidency has established a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group to address the increasing frequency of climate-induced disasters, which are exacerbated by poverty and inequality. This initiative directly confronts challenges impacting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent events in South Africa underscore the urgency of this work, highlighting significant setbacks to several SDGs:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): A 2024 foodborne disease outbreak resulted in over 22 fatalities and 3,000 cases. Deaths were also recorded from extreme cold weather events.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Severe flooding in 2025 caused over 122 fatalities and an estimated R8.1 billion (US$460.1 million) in damages, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 13 (Climate Action): A national disaster was declared across seven provinces in 2024 due to widespread thunderstorms, floods, and high winds, revealing critical vulnerabilities in infrastructure and community resilience.

2.0 Systemic Obstacles to Achieving DRR and SDG Targets

Analysis reveals several systemic failures in South Africa’s current DRR framework that impede progress towards the SDGs. These obstacles require strategic intervention.

1. Institutional and Governance Deficiencies: Disaster management centres operate with limited authority, hindering cross-departmental coordination. This structural weakness undermines SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by preventing effective collaboration. The Disaster Management Act lacks clarity on the roles of non-state actors, further fragmenting response efforts.
2. Neglect of Natural Ecosystems: Poor management of natural hazards, such as the degradation of wetlands that buffer floods, directly compromises SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The failure to integrate these natural assets into DRR planning misses critical opportunities for sustainable solutions.
3. Non-Risk-Informed Development: Current development planning inadequately incorporates climate risks and nature-based solutions. This approach is contrary to the principles of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), as it perpetuates vulnerability in both urban and rural settings.
4. Underutilization of Data and Technology: The suboptimal use of systems thinking and geospatial analysis in local government development plans indicates a failure to leverage data for climate adaptation, a key component for advancing multiple SDGs.

3.0 G20 DRR Working Group: Strategic Priorities for SDG Alignment

The G20 DRR Working Group has outlined six key priority areas. Each is fundamentally aligned with achieving specific Sustainable Development Goals and embodies the G20 presidency’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”

1. Promoting Community Participation: Enhancing the role of vulnerable communities in DRR strategy directly supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring inclusive adaptation, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering local resilience.
2. Establishing Early Warning Systems for All: This priority is a direct response to a core target within SDG 13 (Climate Action) and is critical for protecting lives and livelihoods, thereby supporting SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
3. Building Resilient Infrastructure: Focusing on infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts is central to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11. The development of case studies on flood-resistant housing and cyclone-proof facilities provides a practical pathway to achieving these goals.
4. Developing Financing Frameworks: Creating robust financial mechanisms for DRR is essential for implementing SDG 13 (Climate Action) and relies on multi-stakeholder collaboration as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
5. Ensuring Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction: This priority promotes rebuilding in a manner that increases resilience and addresses pre-existing inequalities, aligning with the “build back better” principle and contributing to SDG 1, SDG 10, and SDG 11.
6. Advancing Ecosystem-based Approaches: The promotion of nature-based solutions is a direct investment in SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), while also serving as a powerful tool for climate adaptation and mitigation under SDG 13.

4.0 Recommendations for Implementation and Action

To translate the G20’s agenda into tangible progress on the SDGs, the following actions are necessary:

• Mainstream DRR Priorities: National, provincial, and local government bodies must integrate the six G20 priority areas into all disaster risk management activities and development planning to ensure a coherent, risk-informed approach.
• Empower Local Leadership: Community-based groups must be encouraged and resourced to lead local DRR and climate adaptation initiatives. This localization of action is critical for achieving inclusive and sustainable outcomes aligned with the principle of “leaving no one behind,” particularly advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• Bridge the Science-Policy Gap: Efforts in data-driven risk analysis and climate-smart planning must be used to create actionable policies that support inclusive, locally-led DRR and foster collaboration among all stakeholders, reinforcing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on disaster risk reduction in South Africa connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to the interconnected nature of climate change, poverty, inequality, health, and institutional capacity. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article explicitly states that climate-induced disasters are “made worse by poverty and inequality,” highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The text mentions multiple instances of fatalities, including over 22 deaths from a foodborne disease outbreak and more than 120 deaths from extreme weather events like cold and floods, directly linking disaster events to health outcomes.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – The article details significant infrastructure damage, citing figures like “R3 billion (US$170.4 million)” and “R5.1 billion (US$289.7 million)” in losses. It also emphasizes the G20’s focus on building resilient infrastructure.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The text notes that disaster recovery should address inequalities and that climate adaptation should be suitable for women, in line with the goal of “leaving no one behind.”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The core theme of making communities resilient to disasters is central. This includes discussions on urban planning failures, the need for flood-resistant housing, and protecting communities from hazards.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The entire article is framed around the need to address “climate-induced disasters” and build resilience to climate change impacts, which is the central aim of this SDG.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article points to the poor condition of wetlands, which are crucial for regulating water flow during floods, and promotes “ecosystem-based approaches” and “nature-based solutions” like forest conservation for disaster risk reduction.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The analysis critiques existing governance structures, noting that disaster management centres have “limited” powers and that the Disaster Management Act is unclear on the roles of various stakeholders, pointing to a need for more effective and accountable institutions.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article highlights the role of the G20, a global partnership, and discusses the need for collaboration between government, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, and communities to manage disaster risk effectively.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and solutions discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events. The article’s focus on community-driven strategies for vulnerable populations and building resilience directly aligns with this target.
2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The mention of a foodborne disease outbreak and the G20’s commitment to setting up “early warning systems for all” are directly related to this target.
3. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The G20 working group’s priority to promote “building infrastructure in a way that makes it resilient to climate change” and developing case studies of “flood-resistant housing and cyclone-proof facilities” corresponds to this target.
4. Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and… decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters. The article’s repeated references to fatalities and the specific monetary values of damage from floods directly address the goals of this target.
5. Target 11.b: Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The critique that local government plans often don’t map hazards for climate adaptation planning and the G20’s work to create frameworks for disaster risk reduction support this target.
6. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. This is the overarching theme of the article, exemplified by the G20’s entire Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group’s mandate.
7. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands… The article’s criticism of the poor condition of wetlands and the promotion of “ecosystem-based approaches” as a key G20 priority directly link to this target.
8. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article identifies institutional weaknesses, such as the limited powers of disaster management centres and a lack of clarity in the Disaster Management Act, as major obstacles, implying a need to work towards this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population. The article provides raw data for this indicator by stating the number of lives lost in various disasters: “over 22 lives” from a foodborne disease, “22 fatalities” from severe flooding, and “over 100 lives” from a catastrophic flood.
• Indicator 11.5.2: Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to national GDP. The article provides specific figures for direct economic loss, such as “R3 billion (US$170.4 million)” and “R5.1 billion (US$289.7 million)” in infrastructure damage, which are the core components of this indicator.
• Indicator 13.1.2 / 11.b.2: Number of local governments that have adopted and implemented local disaster risk reduction strategies. The article implies this as a key metric by criticizing the fact that “most local government long term development plans don’t map hazards and use this for climate adaptation planning.” Progress would be measured by an increase in the number of plans that do.
• Indicator related to Early Warning Systems (e.g., part of Target 13.3): The G20’s commitment to “delivering plans or checklists that will help with a rollout of hazard alerts via cellphones” provides a tangible indicator of progress—namely, the development and implementation of such a system.
• Indicator related to Resilient Infrastructure (Target 9.1): The development of “case studies of flood-resistant housing and cyclone-proof facilities” and a “Recovery Readiness Assessment Framework” by the G20 working group serve as qualitative indicators of progress in creating standards and knowledge for building resilient infrastructure.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theconversation.com