Introduction
The effects of human activity on the environment have caused increasing concern since
the 1970s, and international policy frameworks have been developed and implemented
over the past thirty years to control and mitigate this impact. However, society now faces
dynamic global environ...
Environment and
Disaster Risk
Emerging Perspectives
Prepared on behalf of the ISDR Working Group
on Environment and Disaster Reduction
,‘‘
The invoice for our climate-changing emissions will
include more droughts, floods and other natural
disasters. We need to ‘climate proof’ our farms, our
infrastructure and our livelihoods in order to minimize
’’
our vulnerability to future disasters.
– Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director
The ISDR Working Group on Environment and Disaster Reduction was established in 2005 and has
benefited from the expertise of many organizations, including: United Nations University, Institute for
Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), African Union Commission, Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center (ADPC), Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), Council of Europe, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Red Cross/Red
Crescent Centre on Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness, Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), ProVention
Consortium, United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD), United Nations Development
Program (UNDP), World Food Program (WFP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The Working Group is led by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
with the support of the UN/ISDR secretariat.
ISBN: 978-92-807-2887-3
Job No.: DEP/1016/GE
Second edition July 2008, UN/ISDR secretariat
Contact for additional information:
United Nations Environment Programme
Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch
International Environment House
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 917 8448
UNEP promotes
Fax. +41 22 917 8064 environmentally sound practices
Email: glenn.dolcemascolo@unep.ch globally and in its own activities. This
Web: http://postconflict.unep.ch
publication is printed on recycled paper
using vegetable-based inks and other eco-
Design and Layout: Rachel Dolores
Cover photo: REUTERS friendly practices. Our distribution policy
Daniel Aguilar aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint.
, Introduction
The effects of human activity on the environment have caused increasing concern since
the 1970s, and international policy frameworks have been developed and implemented
over the past thirty years to control and mitigate this impact. However, society now faces
dynamic global environmental change on such a massive scale that human activities
must be adapted not only to reduce the change itself, but also to respond to the effects
of that change.
Scientists and decision makers have only recently recognized the need for policy to tackle
the complexity of this interaction. Growing interest in adaptation to climate change is
evidence of this realization. The scientific community now stresses that both the underlying
causes of human vulnerability to hazards, and the role of environmental conditions in
exacerbating those hazards should be taken into account.
This discussion paper aims to address the complexity of risk in this ‘two-way system’
between environment and human societies.
Still Pictures / UNEP – ANTONIO MACIAS MARTINEZ
Adrift in an urban park. Climate change is causing an increase
in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. 3
, Connections
The Hyogo Framework for Action, the Millennium Declaration and the UN Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment have different focuses but a similar few that environmental
degradation, poverty and disaster risk share common causes as well as common
consequences for human security and well-being. They also recognize that ecosystem
services, environmental management and environmental information offer opportunities to
reduce disaster risk, decrease poverty and achieve sustainable development.
In order to support advocacy, capacity-building and training programmes, and to facilitate
the design and implementation of environmentally sound solutions to the challenges
posed by hazards, there is now an urgent need to effectively communicate the strategic
issues linked to addressing the environmental dimensions of disaster risk reduction.
This paper introduces the connections between the state of the environment and disaster
risk, and identifies areas of action where disaster and environmental managers could
make better use of environmental management to reduce disaster risk1.
Disaster risk, development and the environment
Disasters are not random and do not occur by accident. They are the convergence of
hazards and vulnerable conditions. Disasters not only reveal underlying social, economic,
political and environmental problems, but unfortunately contribute to worsening them.
Such events pose serious challenges to development, as they erode hard-earned
gains in terms of political, social and educational progress, as well as infrastructure and
technological development.
The Millennium Declaration recognizes the risk to development stemming from disasters
and calls on the global community to “intensify our collective efforts to reduce the number
and effects of natural hazards and man-made disasters”2.
Several studies have recently highlighted the fact that investments in development
are in jeopardy unless precautionary action is taken toward reducing disaster risk 3.
Yet few development organizations adopt a precautionary approach in the design and
management of projects and fewer still recognize the role of environmental management
in reducing disaster risk.
4
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