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Living
with Risk
A global review of disaster reduction initiatives
2004 version
Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UN/ISDR) |
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| This
publication is available for purchase at United
Nations Publications |
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“While
many people are aware of the terrible impact of disasters
throughout the world, few realize
that this is a problem that we can do something about.
This report, Living with Risk: A Global Review of Disaster
Reduction Initiatives, should help to change that.
Disasters
are a problem that we can and must reduce. I commend this
publication to all involved in the effort to build resilient
communities and nations in our hazard-filled planet.” |
Kofi
A. Annan
UN Secretary-General |
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While the world has witnessed a drop in the number of deaths
per year due to disasters over the past ten years, more people
are being affected and economic costs are escalating more
than ever.
Earthquakes are inevitable, but death in an earthquake is
not. Floods are a fact of life, but they need not wash away
health, hope and livelihoods. Living with Risk - a global
review of disaster reduction initiatives is intended for
people who have an interest in and practice disaster risk
management and sustainable development. It provides guidance,
policy orientation and inspiration, as well as serving as
a reference for lessons on how to reduce risk and vulnerability
to hazards and to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Natural hazards can affect anyone, anywhere. People are
threatened by hazards because of their social, economic and
environmental vulnerability, which must be taken into account
if sustainable development is to be achieved. Disaster risk
reduction therefore concerns everyone, from villagers to
heads of state, from bankers and lawyers to farmers and foresters,
from meteorologists to media chiefs.
Living
with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives brings to light the urgent need for
action to
be taken – and the people who are doing so – towards
building sustainable societies in an increasingly disaster-prone
world.
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Following
the overwhelming feedback received for the
preliminary edition of 2002, the ISDR Secretariat
is pleased to present the full text of the
2004 version of the publication "Living
with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction
initiatives" (available for purchase from
UN Sales
Publications).
The 2004 version takes into consideration those
comments received based on the previous edition,
incorporating further developments, providing more
in-depth analysis as well as comprehensive coverage
of current activities in disaster risk reduction.
Click here to download brochure and order form
for Living with Risk: A global review of disaster
reduction initiatives
Please send comments and enquiries to isdr@un.org
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Copyright © United
Nations ISDR, 2004.
Copyright © United Nations, 2004.
All rights reserved.
Geneva, Switzerland.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this publication are those of the editorial team
and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Secretariat of the United Nations or the ISDR
Secretariat.
The
designations employed and the presentation of the material
in this publication do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat
of the United Nations or the ISDR Secretariat concerning
the legal status
of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities,
or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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| Table
of Contents |
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| Acknowledgements |
| Foreword |
| Introduction |
| Preface:
A journey to a safer world |
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| Chapter
1 Living with risk - focus on disaster risk reduction 1 |
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1.1 |
Setting
the scene: understanding disaster risk reduction |
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Natural
disasters shaping the agenda |
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Learning
risk reduction values from earlier societies |
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The
shift towards disaster reduction |
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International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-1999) |
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International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction |
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Disaster
risk reduction: a shared responsibility |
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Understanding
the meaning of disaster and risk reduction |
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Defining
a few key terms |
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1.2 |
Contexts
and policy framework of disaster risk reduction: sustainable
development |
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Regional
considerations linking disaster reduction and sustainable
development |
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Sustainable
development context |
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The
political context |
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Concluding
remarks |
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2 Risk awareness and assessment |
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2.1 |
Understanding
the nature of risk |
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Understanding
the nature of hazards |
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Understanding
the nature of vulnerability and capacity |
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2.2 |
Emerging
trends in hazards, vulnerability patterns and the impact
of disasters |
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Trends
in impact of disasters |
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Trends
in hazards |
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Trends
in physical vulnerability |
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Trends
in socio-economic vulnerability |
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2.3 |
Risk
Assessment |
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Hazard
assessment |
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Hazard
mapping, awareness and public policy |
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Vulnerability
and capacity assessment |
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Assessing
socio-economic vulnerability |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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3 Policy and commitment: the foundation of disaster risk
reduction |
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3.1 |
National
institutional frameworks: policy, legislation and organizational
development |
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Introduction
to institutional frameworks for disaster reduction |
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Policy
frameworks in practice |
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National
planning processes, with multisectoral responsibilities |
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Risk
reduction plans linked to specific responsibilities, policies
and practices |
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Some
important limitations in institutional and policy frameworks |
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Means
for overcoming limitations |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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3.2 |
Local
authorities |
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Importance
of disaster risk reduction at local levels |
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Growing
relevance of disaster risk reduction for local areas |
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Opportunities
for protecting local areas and environments |
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Varieties
of experience |
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Supporting
initiatives for municipal authorities in disaster risk
reduction |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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3.3 |
Regional
cooperation, interaction and experience |
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The
Americas |
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Africa |
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Asia |
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Pacific
small island developing states |
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Europe |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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3.4 |
Community
action |
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The
essential role of community action |
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Community
leadership and relationships |
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Building
community capabilities |
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NGO
and volunteer activities |
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Building
local self-reliance: sharing resources, building partnerships |
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Dynamics
of local collaboration |
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Traditional
community coping mechanisms at stake |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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4 Building understanding: development of knowledge and
information sharing |
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4.1 |
Information
management and communication of experience |
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Current
issues in information management |
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International
dimensions of disaster risk management information |
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Electronic
exchange of global experience |
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Regional
initiatives |
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National
information programmes |
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Technical
information and hazards |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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4.2 |
Networking
and partnerships |
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Building
links to reduce risk - extended partnerships and networking |
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Networking
support for community partnerships |
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Cross-sector
coordination and collaboration |
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Commercial
sector and partnership interests |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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4.3 |
Education
and training |
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Basic
role of education and training |
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Disaster
and risk management training centres |
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Academic
and educational programmes |
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Professional
trades and skills training |
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Capacity-building |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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4.4 |
Research |
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Current
trends and evolving interests in disaster and risk reduction
research |
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Technical
and research networks |
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Strategic
approaches to research for disaster reduction |
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National
commitments to foster disaster research |
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Specialised
hazard and disaster risk reduction research interests |
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Benefits
of action research |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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4.5 |
Public
awareness |
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Public
awareness as a primary element of risk reduction |
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National
public awareness initiatives |
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Special
events and major activities |
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The
role of the media |
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Local
community experience promotes public awareness |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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5 A selection of disaster reduction applications |
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5.1 |
Environmental management |
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Links
between environmental management and disaster reduction |
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Environmental
legislation |
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Environmental
policies and planning |
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Institutional
and organizational arrangements |
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Environmental
impact assessments |
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Reporting
on the state of the environment |
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Ecological
and environmental economics |
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Environmental
codes and standards |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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5.2 |
Land-use
planning |
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The
importance and difficulty of land-use planning |
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A
delicate balance and measured benefits |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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5.3 |
Safe
building construction and protection of critical facilities |
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A
safer built environment |
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Structural
measures for disaster-resistant construction |
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Codes,
policies and procedures |
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Improving
the resistance of non-engineered buildings |
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Developing
appropriate methodologies |
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Protection
of critical facilities |
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The
role of engineering and technical abilities in protecting
critical facilities |
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Multiple
aspects of protecting urban infrastructure and other forces
at work |
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Protection
of health systems |
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Protection
of educational facilities |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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5.4 |
Financial
and economic tools |
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International
assistance |
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Development
banks promoting investment in disaster reduction |
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International
Monetary Fund balance of payment support |
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National
financing for disaster risk reduction |
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Social
funds |
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Public
works programmes |
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Market-based
instruments of risk management |
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Alternative
risk transfer mechanisms: catastrophe bonds and weather
derivatives |
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Microfinance |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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5.5 |
Early
warning systems |
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Current
status of early warning thinking |
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Political
responsibility to promote integrated early warning strategies |
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Human
dimensions of early warning |
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International
and regional support |
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Technical
identification and monitoring of hazards |
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Communications
requirements |
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Response
to warnings |
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Future
challenges and priorities |
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| Chapter
6 Future challenges: A common vision for disaster risk
reduction |
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| List
of Acronyms |
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| Index |
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| Annexes
appear in Living with Risk: A global review of disaster
reduction initiatives, Volume 2 |
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Annex
1: Terminology: Basic terms of disaster risk reduction |
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Annex
2: Directory of international, regional, national and specialized
organizations |
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Annex
3: United Nations system: An outline of activities dedicated
to disaster risk reduction |
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Annex
4: Selected international development agendas and commitments
relevant to disaster risk reduction |
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Annex
5: Extracts from the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
(JPoI) of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development |
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Annex
6: References |
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