What is a fundamental goal of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction regarding flood events at a national policy level?

The fundamental goal of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) regarding flood events at a national policy level is the substantial reduction of flood disaster risk and losses. The Sendai Framework for DRR is a global agreement adopted in 2015, providing a common understanding and guidance for countries on managing potential harm from hazardous events. Flood events refer to the inundation of land by water overflowing its normal boundaries or accumulating from heavy rainfall. National policy level indicates the strategies, laws, and regulations developed and implemented by a country's government. This fundamental goal means national policies are designed to prevent the creation of new flood risks, reduce existing flood risks, and strengthen resilience to future flood events. To prevent new risks, policies might involve enforcing strict land-use planning that restricts development in flood-prone areas. Reducing existing risks includes implementing measures like constructing or improving flood defenses, such as levees, to protect vulnerable communities. Strengthening resilience means enhancing the ability of communities, systems, and assets to absorb, adapt to, and recover from flood impacts, achieved through policies like developing robust early warning systems for floods and promoting flood-resistant building codes. This overarching aim emphasizes a proactive approach to managing flood hazards by understanding their potential impact, reducing the exposure of people and assets to these hazards, and lessening the vulnerability of communities to ensure a safer and more sustainable future.