P20 Delegates Call for Inclusive Approaches to Disaster Resilience

Parliamentarians at the 11th P20 Speakers' Summit, taking place in Kleinmond, have urged stronger and more inclusive approaches to disaster resilience amid worsening climate shocks worldwide.

During a discussion on climate change, Director in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Mr Mkhuthazi Steleki, pointed to international agreements such as the Paris Agreement (2015) and Disaster Risk Reduction Mechanisms as key platforms for global cooperation.

Mr Steleki told delegates that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report indicates that the scale, frequency and impact of disasters are worsening and that communities in developing countries bear the brunt as their livelihoods are put at risk. Despite the disproportionate impact, he said these developing countries often contribute less to the current magnitude of climate change disasters. Mr Steleki said the growing scale and frequency of disasters threaten to overwhelm governance systems, particularly in developing nations with limited and poor infrastructure management and slow response capacities.

These climate-related disasters also put pressure on national budgets and divert funds from social development priorities in countries where unemployment and inequality are already rife. As an example, Mr Steleki reminded delegates of the Centre for Environmental Rights' report in 2024, which showed that floods in KwaZulu-Natal claimed 443 lives, left 48 people missing, destroyed 26 settlements, and damaged 600 schools.

Meanwhile, the President of the Australian Senate, Ms Sue Lines, highlighted that disasters do not affect all people equally. She said often it is women, children, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities who are excluded from recovery planning. Ms Lines urged legislatures to ensure that disaster laws, policies and budgets are inclusive and reflect the lived experiences of communities.

Ms Lines said parliaments have an important role to play to ensure that disaster frameworks are both technically sound and socially just. They can utilise their law-making, oversight and community engagement activities to help ensure this. She called for women-led solutions in disaster preparedness and recovery, and reminded delegates of the vital role women play in disaster response, from providing aid and shelter to offering emotional support.

The Speaker of Canada's Senate, Ms Raymonde Gagné, warned that societies will pay the price if disaster management efforts are not strengthened. She stressed the importance of international cooperation and, as an example of such collaboration, pointed to South Africa's assistance when hundreds of firefighters travelled to Canada last year to help combat wildfires. "We benefit from this type of cooperation. We commend South Africa for that."

Vice President of the European Parliament, Ms Christel Schaldemose, reminded delegates that none of the G20 countries are immune to disasters and said that Europe has witnessed one of the deadliest fires and heatwaves. She said this is also happening in other parts of the world. "We break disaster records every year, and we have to do something about that. We should recognise that some are more exposed to disasters than others, so we must change the way we do things." Ms Schaldemose called for greater investment in preparedness, particularly in early warning systems, which have proven successful in Europe.

Also weighing in on the topic, the Speaker of Namibia's Parliament, Ms Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, said that the role of parliaments in disaster reduction efforts extends beyond their legislative oversight. "We are bridges between government policies and community needs, and we are also the guardians of public accountability and the voice of the most vulnerable in our societies."

She stressed the importance of accessible early warning systems, especially for remote communities. Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said parliaments must act as "bridges between government policies and community needs". She also urged that gender and inclusivity be integrated into national disaster strategies.

The delegates all agreed that parliaments hold a unique responsibility in advancing disaster resilience. By embedding equity and inclusion into disaster management frameworks, they argued, legislatures can ensure responses are both technically sound and socially just.

Abel Mputing
2 October 2025