The OECD held a roundtable event to engage with senior officials from central governments and cities. Discussion focused on how the governance of risk is key to improving the management of complex risks. It also considered how cities should build resilience to major risks. The event was organised with the support of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). 

Session 1: Good governance for better management of complex risks

• How can governments promote a ‘whole of society’ approach to disaster risk reduction? 
• How do governments assess long term risks?
• How can governments plan for long-term investment strategies to contend with critical risks?

Session 2: Improving the resilience of cities through better risk governance

• How can cities improve resilience to critical risks?
• How can local officials integrate the expertise of all stakeholders to achieve resilience in cities?
• How can cities communicate risk more effectively and foster leadership to deal with critical risks?
  
  

OECD Recommendation on the Governance of Critical Risks

The Recommendation on the Governance of Critical Risks highlights the key role of national leadership to set up a national risk management strategy and to establish the incentives structure to foster whole of society engagement in risk governance. 

The adoption of this OECD Recommendation by OECD Ministers in May 2014, under the Chairmanship of Japan Prime Minister Abe provided significant momentum to the process of preparing the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The Recommendation represents the key OECD contribution to the Post 2015 Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction to be adopted at the Conference.