1 Integrated Disaster Risk: From Research to Practice Dr. Jane Rovins, CEM Executive Director IRDR International Programme Office Beijing, China

Key question: Why, despite advances in the natural and social science of hazards and disasters, do losses continue to increase?

The Science Plan Addressing 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. 3 IRDR Science Plan at:

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 4

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 Committee IRDR Int. Center of Excellence UNISDR Regional Offices UNESCO GEM Munich Re ….

Forensic Disaster Investigations (FORIN) 7 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 Committee IRDR Int. Center of Excellence UNISDR Regional Offices UNESCO GEM Munich 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 9

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 FORIN Complex disaster – technological interface?? RIA The 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 Committee IRDR Int. Center of Excellence UNISDR Regional Offices UNESCO GEM Munich 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 Governments Local Decision Makers Funding organisations Insurance industry NGOs Finance 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.

22 Thank you