The Cook Islands joined global leaders, experts, and stakeholders at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025) in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 2–6, under the auspices of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The Cook Islands delegation, composed of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emergency Management Cook Islands (from the Office of the Prime Minister), participated in high-level dialogues, thematic sessions, and regional consultations focused on accelerating the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), particularly in the face of mounting climate-related and geophysical hazards.

Tepaeru Herrmann, Secretary for Foreign Affairs said, “Our participation at GP2025 reaffirms the Cook Islands’ commitment to building resilience, strengthening risk governance, and investing in early warning systems that leave no one behind.

Herrmann said the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) must be central to global disaster risk reduction efforts.

The Cook Islands placed strong emphasis on enhancing disaster preparedness through community-led approaches, promoting gender-responsive and inclusive risk reduction policies, advocating for increased investment in resilient infrastructure and adaptation financing for SIDS, and strengthening partnerships across the Pacific and with international partners.

As a Small Island Developing State highly vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change, the Cook Islands is also calling for scaled-up and accessible financing for disaster risk reduction.

Bridging the gap between climate action and disaster risk governance is essential to ensure that SIDS can respond effectively to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters.

The delegation supported the global call for greater coherence between the UNFCCC processes and the Sendai Framework, particularly as efforts to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund gain momentum.

Addressing residual and irreversible impacts—through predictable, needs-based financing—needs to be at the heart of a resilient, inclusive, and equitable global response.

Emergency Management Cook Islands Director John Strickland emphasised that “greater access to technology to support national-level efforts to strengthen resilience can help overcome some of our remoteness and connectivity challenges.

The Cook Islands has incorporated the Sendai Framework into the Cook Islands Disaster Risk Management Framework (DRMF), and efforts continue to embed disaster risk reduction approaches into the National Sustainable Development Agenda Plus (NSDA+), working in partnership with our communities across the Cook Islands and international partners.” Attending the Global Platform also allowed the delegation to engage with regional partners, ensuring that Pacific priorities and challenges are reflected in global outcomes. The outcomes of GP2025 will inform the 2025 Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework and contribute to strengthening the global architecture for resilience in an era of increasing uncertainty. MFAI