Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction in Swedish local councils: building resilient cities

The online workshop on how the UN network supports disaster risk reduction in Swedish local councils was organized by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), in partnership with the UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia on November 7, 2023. The workshop provided Swedish local councils with an opportunity to gain insights into MCR2030’s initiatives and explore potential engagement opportunities.
 

Mr. Andrew Bower, country support programme manager of UNDRR, provided a comprehensive overview of the UN’s efforts at the global, regional, and local levels in aligning with the global agendas, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Bower emphasized the MCR 2030 offers a platform for local stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, and share expertise on a global scale. 
The discussion then opened to collect reflections and opinions from the cities on how MCR2030's initiatives can be customized to fit the Swedish context. 
 

Mr. Ludwig Sonesson of the city of Malmo (MCR2030 Resilience Hub), highlighted the city’s focus on spreading knowledge, particularly in the areas of blue-green solutions for coastal regions and the Baltic Sea region. He shared the city’s recent activities, including peer learning exchanges with the Malaysian government and the city of Tampere, Finland. MCR2030 offers a much-needed platform for exchange on climate change adaptation strategies for urban resilience. As such, the time is right to kick-start the network again and involve new members.
 

Ms. Karin Dhakal of the city of Stockholm shared the plan for an annual MCR2030 meeting at the local level in Sweden, scheduled for 29-30 May 2024. This event is expected to foster meaningful connections among the local actors in the country and beyond. 
 

During the meeting, constructive comments and reflections were shared, including discussions on the processes for peer reviewing at the local level among the Swedish cities as well as at the global level. There was a recognized need for substantive guidance to help cities navigate each step toward building resilient cities and for the next steps in their plans. Mr. Karl Torring, National Sendai Framework Focal Point of MSB, noted that this meeting could serve as the foundation for consolidated collaboration toward a common agenda among the cities. He concluded the meeting by expressing Sweden's strong support for MCR2030 and anticipation for next year's annual MCR2030 meeting in Stockholm.