Session by Rolf Alter, OECD Director for Public Governance and Territorial Development. This session will cover the challenges critical risks pose for OECD as well as non-OECD countries, the implications of increasing economic losses from disasters and how these pose particular challenges for regional growth recovery. How well governments manage disasters is a key test for the trust of citizens in government. Drawing on successful country practices to manage risks and invest in a sustainable future, the session will explain the work of the OECD High Level Risk Forum to foster exchanges among countries with the aim to improve their resilience.

1. Managing Risks
- Boosting Resilience-
Rolf Alter,
Director
Public Governance and Territorial Development
Meeting of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network
(12 April 2016, Tokyo)

2. Relatively fewer deaths from disasters
in high income countries
2Source: EM-DAT Database

3. But significant economic losses
in high income countries
OECD countries with….
Higher GDP per capitaLower GDP per capita
Death toll and economic damages from disasters 1995-2010
3
Source: EM-DAT Database

4. 4
Some economies are heavily impacted
0.02% 0.05% 0.08% 0.09%
0.15% 0.16% 0.16%
0.24% 0.25% 0.26%
0.36%
0.55%
1.06%
1.15%
1.49%
1.62%
0.0%
0.2%
0.4%
0.6%
0.8%
1.0%
1.2%
1.4%
1.6%
1.8%
Korea
Malaysia
Japan
Canada
Chinese
Taipei
Peru
Indonesia
Australia
Vietnam
Mexico
UnitedStates
China
Thailand
Philippines
Chile
NewZealand
Annual average economic losses from natural catastrophes as a share of GDP
(2005-2014)
Source: OECD calculations based on Swiss Re reports and World Bank data.

5. 5
Significant impacts at the local level
Source: OECD Regional Database
4.98% 4.85%
1.76%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
2000 2001 2002
RegionalGDPgrowth
rate
9/11 Attacks
(New York)
-0.21%
-5.55%
2.28%
-6%
-5%
-4%
-3%
-2%
-1%
0%
1%
2%
3%
2008 2009 2010
RegionalGDPgrowth
rate
L‘Aquila Earthquake
4th April (Italy)

6. Risk communication:
a whole-of-society responsibility
6
16%
25%
25%
50%
100%
Media
Scientists and experts
NGO's and voluntary organisations
Private sector
National government
% of OECD countries that give responsibility for communicating risks to:
Source: OECD survey on Risk Communication Policies and Practices (2015)