History

PLANAT was established by the Swiss Federal Council in 1997. Since then it has continued its activities without any interruption following the end of IDNDR.

Structure

PLANAT is a governmental structure. It has 20 members who are representatives of:

1. Federal Central Government
2. Cantons
3. research community
4. professional associations
5. private sector
6. insurance companies
   
   

The members are appointed by the Swiss Federal Council for 4 years. The next elections will be held at the end of 2007. The maximum period for PLANAT membership is 12 years for members who don’t belong to the federal administration.
The president is nominated by the members and elected by the Swiss Federal Council. The members elect a committee constituted by 6 persons, which prepares the plenary sessions of the commission. It is supported and backed by a secretariat with 2 half time employees, based in Bern.
Temporary working groups are established on project basis. The size of the groups varies between 2 and 5 members. As per today three working groups are active on the topics “Strategy”, “Information and Communication” and “International”.

Mission

Natural hazards are a part of Swiss habitat. The national platform PLANAT was founded in 1997 with the aim to improve prevention. PLANAT has three main missions:

1. Strategy - PLANAT works on a strategic level on prevention:
   The platform is highly engaged in protecting the Swiss population, its natural environment and considerable material assets effectively against natural hazards. Protective measures are reconsidered and documented on periodically.
   
   
2. Awareness - PLANAT works towards a long-term shift in handling natural danger-paradigms:
   The committee promotes the shift from solely averting danger into a risk culture and makes sure that measures are being taken which are ecologically compatible, socially just and economically efficient. This cultural shift should make it possible to coherently discuss all prevention questions concerning natural hazards in the present and the future.
   
3. Coordination - PLANAT sees to avoiding duplication and to an improved use of synergies:
   PLANAT exchanges knowledge and experience on a national as well as on an international level.

Activities

Motivated by a motion, which was filed in the federal parliament by the former Councillor of States Hans Danioth in 1999, the Swiss Federal Council (Swiss government) commissioned PLANAT to develop a comprehensive and interlinked strategy to improve the protection against natural hazards. It also intends to ensure comparable security standards throughout Switzerland based on extensive risk management. The aim is to protect people and their livelihood as well as important material assets.
Up to now, PLANAT has completed the first step of developing a comprehensive and interlinked strategy for improved protection against natural hazards, as well as the second step of analysing the current situation and proposing an action plan with measures. On 18th May, 2005, the Swiss Federal Council took cognisance of the synthesis report by PLANAT «Swiss Strategy for the Protection against Natural Hazards» and assigned the platform:

• to initiate the tasks, concerning risk policy, risk dialogue, monitoring of development, performance measurement and project management indicated in the motion for the next stage (2005 – 2008);
• to report to the Swiss Federal Council on the accomplished work; and
• to develop an action plan for resolving activities and measures as of 2008.

The third step constitutes the present activities of PLANAT until 2008 and will include the implementation of the concrete measures of the action plan. The strategy according to this action plans fits to the main strategic goals of the Hyogo Framework for action 2005 – 2015.

The focal points of the action plan for the 2005 - 2008 stage are as follows:

• Further development of the “risk policy for natural hazards”:
  There are currently a series of different methods and tools for dealing with risks from natural hazard. The term “risk policy” means a universally valid model for dealing with security problems. It was developed in the technical field and should now find reinforced entrance in the field of natural hazards as “risk policy for natural hazards”. Integrated risk management recognizes risks of natural hazards based on this risk policy, allowing risk evaluation and reduction using the optimised combination of technical, economic, social and ecological protection measures. Specific guidelines as well as training will help consolidate integrated risk management. The “risk policy for natural hazards” will be further developed by specific studies. Examples of current projects under this focal point are the development of a practical guideline for risk management methodology and a summary of best-practices regarding the application of risk prevention measures.
  
  
• Risk dialogue and responsibilities:
  A wide realized dialogue should strengthen a risk culture of risk awareness supported by all players. Also responsibilities, structure and schedule of organizations on risk aware management of natural hazards should be optimised. Not regulated responsibilities for certain fields of natural hazards (e.g. extreme temperatures, storm) should be clarified. The development of a risk communication concept is one of the current projects under this focal point.
  
  
• Performance measurement:
  In future, risks of natural hazards and invested resources for measures of protection should be systematically recorded and evaluated on an on-going basis in order to check the cost-effectiveness ratio. Currently PLANAT is coordinating a project which aims at calculating this ratio for different natural hazards.

A global report of these activities, divided into 15 projects, will be established and given to the Federal Council at the middle of 2008.

The main priorities for action until 2008 are:

• Public relations:
  PLANAT promotes the risk philosophy, whereby, depending upon target audience, different means are used. The most important medium for the promotion of the risk philosophy is the internet. The notoriety of PLANAT among non-experts has to increase with an intensified presence at events and conferences.
  
  
• Projects work:
  PLANAT initiates or supports projects and actions, which cover the fields of "vulnerability", "risk" and "integral risk management".
  
  
• Synergies
  PLANAT strives for a better use of synergies. The co-operation of organizations, which are active in the fields of prevention and intervention against natural hazards, has to be strengthened.