Oman advances disaster-risk reduction and climate-action planning through national workshop

As climate-related hazards and disaster risks become increasingly interconnected, separating climate action from disaster-risk reduction can result in fragmented policies, duplicated efforts and gaps in implementation. Strengthening resilience therefore requires integrated national and sectoral strategies that connect climate adaptation, risk governance, emergency management, sustainable development and long-term investment planning.

The Environment Authority of Oman, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, convened a national workshop focused on developing national and sectoral disaster-risk reduction and climate-action strategies. The workshop brought together representatives of government ministries and public entities, technical experts, academia, civil society and other non-governmental stakeholders to discuss pathways towards more climate- and risk-informed development planning.

Participants examined climate-informed disaster-risk reduction, comprehensive risk-management approaches, coordination mechanisms, data availability and the integration of climate action with disaster-resilience planning. UNDRR experts presented the Words into Action guidance for developing national disaster-risk reduction strategies and introduced tools for applying a comprehensive risk-management approach. Regional experiences and lessons from the development of national disaster-risk reduction and climate-action strategies were also shared to support Oman’s planning process.

The workshop reviewed Oman’s existing national frameworks, including the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation 2020–2040, the National Adaptation Plan, the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, frameworks for loss and damage, emergency-management arrangements and the mandates of national coordination mechanisms. Discussions concluded with proposed next steps for coordinating, developing and implementing Oman’s national disaster-risk reduction and climate-action agenda. The process aims to strengthen collective ownership, institutional coordination and practical implementation in line with the Sendai Framework and Oman’s wider climate and sustainable-development priorities.