Breaking the silos: From single to comprehensive multi-hazard risk frameworks
Thursday, Dec 03, UTC 10:00 to 11:55
Organizer: Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam; Philippines Red Cross, German Red Cross and 510, an initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross; Deltares; Marsh & McLennan Advantage, Singapore; UN MGCY
| The conventional multi-hazard framework is still characterized by hazard-silo thinking, i.e. disaster risk reduction (DRR) is seen through the lens of one single hazard, neglecting interactions with other potential hazards and dynamic vulnerabilities. In the worst case, such an approach leads to the unfortunate realization that while decreasing the risk of one hazard, it increases the risk of another, more generally referred to as the ‘asynergies’ of DRR measures. Recent high-level agendas (GP2019, GCA2019) are therefore urging to move away from the single-hazard silo thinking and are calling for the implementation of coherent multi-hazard risk frameworks. In this laboratory workshop, we aim to break these silos in a playful but serious collaborative effort. We will leverage the diversity and expertise of the UR community by forming multi-disciplinary groups, thereby re-creating a microcosm of some of the possible challenges faced when developing multi-hazard preparedness strategies. Each team will analyse new multi-hazard scenarios based on hazard types already observed such as cyclones Idai and Kenneth hitting the African east coast only two weeks apart and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake that set off a chain of events. Mozambique and Indonesia are both exposed to multiple hazards but have contrasting differences in vulnerability, exposure and hazard dynamics (INFORM risk index of 6.2 and 4.7, respectively; multi-hazard average annual loss of 90 M$ for Mozambique versus 3,574 M$ for Indonesia according to the GAR report). These assessments are however simplistic and do not include multi-hazard interactions and their indirect effects. For example, the Sulawesi disaster caused a major drop in tourism, not just locally but in many parts of the country, demonstrating that a local disaster can cause large cascading economic impacts across a region. The workshop will start with a series of “ignite” presentations from key stakeholders for both case studies briefly presenting what, according to them, are the main challenges and possible framework to address multi-hazard risks at these locations. Possible online resources will be shared with the participants but they will be strongly encouraged to collaborate and research further to develop their own team solutions. The findings from each team and the lessons learnt from the case studies will be used to find commonalities that can help improve DRR framework to include multi-hazard risk. We foresee this workshop to contribute in various ways to the much-needed paradigm shift in multi-hazard risk thinking. First, this will enable the generation of new and innovative ideas on how to address multi-hazard risks and improve existing DRR frameworks. Second, it will emphasize the benefits and need for collaboration between different stakeholders in order to develop coherent multi-risk DRR strategies. Finally, it will help create links between stakeholders within the diverse UR community, by connecting policy makers, community leaders, emergency responders, scientists, etc. |
