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Integrated Disaster Risk: From Research to Practice

Dr. Jane Rovins, CEMExecutive Director

IRDR International Programme OfficeBeijing, China

Wind speed

Age

GENDERrainfall

Ground motion

ReligionEthnicityWave action

Risk ReductionKey question:

Why, despite advances in the natural and social science of hazards and disasters, do losses continue

to increase?

The Science PlanAddressing the challenge of natural and human-induced environmental hazards

An integrated approach to research on disaster risk through: an international, multidisciplinary (natural, health, engineering and social sciences, including socio-economic analysis) collaborative research programme.

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IRDR Science Plan at: http://www.irdrinternational.org/

Research Objectives

• Characterization of hazard, vulnerability and risk

• Effective Decision-Making in Complex and Changing Risk Context

• Reducing Risk and Curbing Losses Through Knowledge-Based Actions

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Cross Cutting Themes

• Capacity building• Case studies and demonstration projects

• Assessment, data management and monitoring

IRDR

WMO - World Weather Research Program Socio-

Economic Research Activities

ICSU-WMO-IOC- World Climate

Research Program

ISSC – National Committees & Unions

ICSU • Regional

Programs• IUGG-ENHANS• CODATA• WDS

FORIN

Capacity Building Partners

IRDR National CommitteeIRDR Int. Center of Excellence

UNISDR• Regional OfficesUNESCO

GEMMunich Re….

Forensic Disaster Investigations (FORIN)

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• In depth investigations into complex and underlying causes of growing disaster loss

• Fundamental cause of disasters• Trace out and assign causal explanation

of losses • Intervening conditions that increased

or reduce losses• Series of case studies• Common template and methodology

IRDR

WMO - World Weather Research Program Socio-

Economic Research Activities

ICSU-WMO-IOC- World Climate

Research Program

ISSC – National Committees & Unions

ICSU • Regional

Programs• IUGG-ENHANS• CODATA• WDS

FORIN

RIA

Capacity Building Partners

IRDR National CommitteeIRDR Int. Center of Excellence

UNISDR• Regional OfficesUNESCO

GEMMunich Re….

Risk Interpretation and Action (RIA)• How actors attempt to make sense of

experience and information from various sources as a basis for decision.

• Estimation of the likelihood, magnitude of event & vulnerability of physical infrastructure

• Social and behavioural factors leading to greater or lesser risk

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Mega Disaster in a Resilient Society The Great East Japan (Tohoku Kanto) Earthquake and Tsunami of

11th March 2011

International Environment and Disaster Management Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies

Kyoto University, 25th March 2011

Earthquake Tsunami Nuclear Power Stations

FORINComplex disaster –

technological interface??

RIAThe role of risk interpretation-

responses??

IRDR

WMO - World Weather Research Program Socio-

Economic Research Activities

ICSU-WMO-IOC- World Climate

Research Program

ISSC – National Committees & Unions

ICSU • Regional

Programs• IUGG-ENHANS• CODATA• WDS

FORIN

RIA

Disaster Loss Data

Disaster Assessment

Capacity Building Partners

IRDR National CommitteeIRDR Int. Center of Excellence

UNISDR• Regional OfficesUNESCO

GEMMunich Re….

Projects of Disaster Loss Data WG

• Identify what data & quality are needed to improve integrated disaster data management

• Bring together loss data stakeholders and utilize synergies

• Have recognized standards, minimize uncertainty

Projects, con’t

• Educate users on data interpretation and biases

• Ensure increased downscaling of loss data to sub-national geographies for policy makers

• Definition of “losses” and creation of methodology for assessing it

Outcomes

• Useful for DRR measurement

• Transparent methodology• Clear definitions• Comparible /standardized• Credible / High quality• Database owner money

independent

• Overview and high granularity

• Accessible

International Event Number

Global databases

National and regional databases Local databases

GovernmentsLocal Decision Makers

Funding organisations

Insurance industry

NGOsFinance industry

Next steps:Expert working group on assessing losses (Geneva, October 7, 2011)

Assessment of Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (AIRDR)

Purpose: to undertake the first systematic and critical global assessment of published research on disaster risk under the auspices of the IRDR—new knowledge

• Provide a baseline of the current state-of-the-science in integrated research on disaster risk to measure effectiveness of multiple research programs

• Use to identify and support longer-term science agenda for the research community and funding entities

• Provide scientific evidentiary basis in support of policy and practice

AIRDR SWOT Analysis

What is known well?

WeaknessesStrengths

ThreatsOpportunities

What is known less well?

What can we learn from the co-production of knowledge?

What is not known, but should be?

Speakers/Conveners

• Michaëlle JEAN, former Governor General of Canada, Special Envoy to Haiti for UNESCO

• Margareta WAHLSTRÖM,United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction

• YT LEE - ICSU President Elect• CODATA• UNU

Themes• Integrated Disaster Risk• Cases for Integrated Research• Reading International Events in the IRDR Perspective• Capacity Building for Integrated Research• Integrated Disaster Data in Support of Integrated Disaster

Research• Poverty, Economics and Disasters• Integration of Research Methodologies in Disaster Research• Disaster Risk and Climate Change Adaptation• Bridges and Barriers

IRDR Legacy

• An enhanced capacity around the world to address hazards and make informed decisions

on actions to reduce their impacts.

• Societies to shift focus from response-recovery towards prevention-mitigation,

building resilience and reducing risks, learning from experience and avoiding past mistakes.

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www.irdrinternational.orgjane.rovins@irdrinternational.org

Thank you