June 16 – 21, 2024

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, JAPAN

Join us this June in Himeji, Japan for UR24. Over six days, the world’s leading experts and practitioners in disaster and climate risk management and reduction will once again gather to share and explore best practices and innovation in the field.

As Japan prepares to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Awaji earthquake of 1995, the setting in Himeji will serve as poignant reminder of the critical work of Disaster Risk Management.

At UR24, the best of tradition, history, and culture will blend with innovation, technology, and creativity to create a learning and sharing space in the great tradition of UR’s biennial global forums.

We are seeing a record interest in UR24 with registration numbers exceeding expectation. Please be mindful to book accommodation and other logistical arrangements in advance to ensure a smooth UR experience.

AGENDA OVERVIEW

The Agenda for UR24 is quickly coming into focus. The Organizing Committee received over 250 applications from around the world covering the full breadth of risk related topics. Over the course of six days, we anticipate presenting approximately 70 technical and 50 focus day sessions as well as eight plenaries. In addition, our location in Himeji, site of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake of 1995, provides a unique opportunity to consider the importance of cultural heritage and DRM, as well as explore other important lessons from our host country’s experience. The below Agenda highlights Session Topics, session times will be updated as they are confirmed.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Public Symposium: Building a Sustainable and Resilient Future with Cultural Heritage – a public event exploring the importance of developing resilient heritage to safeguard cultural legacies and foster local economies.

Opening Ceremony: The UR Global Forum opening ceremonies are notable for their unique public settings and innovative and creative sessions. Himeji City, with its fascinating blend of old and new, innovative and traditional, will continue this rich tradition.

Forum Sessions: The fundamental UR experience is centered around content and knowledge exchange. With over 250 technical session proposals received, the Scientific Committee is curating 120 enriching sessions, workshops and excursions distributed over the course of the event. The UR Global Forum unites diverse experts from around the globe to engage in critical dialogue on disaster risk management (DRM) strategies, best practices, and areas for collaboration.

Reflecting on 30 Years After the Kobe Earthquake: The Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in January 1995 prompted significant improvements in disaster risk management, influencing emergency response, legal systems, and reconstruction. Hyogo Prefecture integrated these lessons into its strategies, introducing “creative reconstruction” and inspiring the global principle of “build back better.” A special plenary at the “Understanding Risk Global Forum 2024” will discuss lessons from the earthquake and their application in future earthquake preparedness.

ABOUT THE UR COMMUNITY

The Understanding Risk (UR) community emerged in 2010 to acknowledge the cross-sector nature of disaster risk assessment. Over time, it has evolved into a thriving global network of over 20,000 experts and practitioners from over 200 countries and 4,600+ organizations dedicated to generating, communicating, and utilizing disaster risk information.

Since the first UR conference in 2010 at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, the biennial global forum has been held in different locations around the world, including London, Venice, Mexico City, Singapore, and Florianopolis, Brazil, with focused regional events nearly every year.