Experience in collecting information on methods and tools in ISDR

UNFCCC side event: Adaptation from assessment to action UNFCCC Compendium on impacts, vulnerability

and adaptation methods

Experience in collecting information on methods and tools in ISDR

UNFCCC side event: Adaptation from assessment to action UNFCCC Compendium on impacts, vulnerability

and adaptation methods

United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) www.unisdr.org

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

The ISDR aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters

The vision of disaster risk reduction: Building resilient communities towards sustainable development

I

Risk Assessment Methodologies and Tools I

Definition

Risk assessment

“A methodology to determine the nature and extend of risk by analysing potential hazard and evaluatingf existing conditions of vulnerability that could pose a potential threat or harm to people, property, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.”

(ISDR – Living with Risk, 2004)

Risk Assessment Methodologies and Tools I

Risk and vulnerability assessment

1. Necessary first step for any serious consideration of disaster reduction strategies

2. Systematic use of available information to determine the likelihood of certain events and the severity of their possible consequences.

Identifying the nature, location, intensity and probability of a threat

Determining the existence and degree of vulnerabilities and exposure to those threats

Identifying the capacities and resources available to address or manage threats

Determining acceptable levels of risk.

Risk Assessment Methodologies and Tools IChallenges

Risk assessment vs. risk perception

Multi-hazard

Measure existing risks/vulnerabilities vs. tools that project future levels of risk

Targeted audience

Tools as products vs. tools as process

Existing compilations within ISDR I

ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction Working Group, UN-HABITAT/Disaster Management Programme, in collaboration with UNDP

Objective: advance knowledge on the development and application of data and tools for risk/vulnerability assessment and reduction.

Outputs:

1. A “Register” of tools and practices for risk-vulnerability-impact assessment at national and local level.

2. A critical “Review” of tools and practices for risk-vulnerability-impact assessment, as well as of their follow up in the development and application of risk-vulnerability-impact reduction plans and strategies.

Existing compilations within ISDR I

ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction Working Group, UN-HABITAT/Disaster Management Programme, in collaboration with UNDP

Outputs (continued):

1. A “Register” of tools and practices for risk-vulnerability-impact assessment at national and local level.

2. A critical “Review” of tools and practices for risk-vulnerability-impact assessment, as well as of their follow up in the development and application of risk-vulnerability-impact reduction plans and strategies.

Existing compilations within ISDR I

ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction Working Group, UN-HABITAT/Disaster Management Programme, in collaboration with UNDP

Outputs (continued):

3. A set of “Criteria-Guidelines for the development of best practice” on the design and application of risk-vulnerability-impact assessment tools and reduction plans, and their dissemination topractitioners at the national and local levels

4. A “Network and referral facility” of practitioners and institutions active in the area of risk and vulnerability impact assessment and reduction.

Risk Assessment Methodologies and Tools I

   

" More effective prevention strategies would save not only tens of billions of dollars, but save tens of thousands of lives. Funds currently spent on intervention and relief could be devoted to enhancing equitable and sustainable development instead, which would further reduce the risk for war and disaster. Building a culture of prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, its benefits lie in a distant future. Moreover, the benefits are not tangible; they are the disasters that did NOT happen. "

Kofi Annan, “Facing the Humanitarian Challenge: Towards a Culture of Prevention”, UNGA, A/54/1