Enhancing disaster risk reduction and community resilience for sustainable development

As climate warming intensifies, the frequency and intensity of disasters are also increasing, posing challenges to global sustainable development. The concept of disaster risk reduction (DRR) provides strong impetus for reducing disaster risk and vulnerabilities by employing the scientific and technological developments of recent decades. However, there is a need to enhance the capacities of different communities to use emerging digital infrastructure, not only in promoting DRR but also in ensuring sustainable future development. Limited access to and availability of data are restricting comprehensive understanding of these challenges. In many countries, the key areas for capacity development include collecting information from alternative and emerging data sources and meaningfully integrating it with data from traditional sources. Software and data analysis are becoming widely accessible due to open-source initiatives, while cloud computing technologies and programmes such as CASEarth provide valuable resources for multisource data integration, contributing to information-driven policy and decision-support systems for DRR.

Download Full-text

Mapping built environment professionals’ educational needs to international policy frameworks for disaster risk reduction – community stakeholder perspective

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment ◽

10.1108/ijdrbe-02-2017-0016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (4/5) ◽

pp. 368-384

Author(s):

Srinath Perera ◽

Onaopepo Adeniyi ◽

Solomon Olusola Babatunde ◽

Kanchana Ginige

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Built Environment ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Educational Needs ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

International Policy ◽

Content Type ◽

The Core ◽

Policy Frameworks

Purpose Disaster risk reduction is prominent in the international policy agenda, and the year 2015 brought together three international policy frameworks that contribute to disaster risk reduction (i.e. the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Change Agreement – COP21). However, there is a dearth of effort at identifying and aligning the specific educational needs of built environment professionals with the three policy frameworks. This is needed to facilitate the incorporation of the contents of the policy frameworks into built environment professionals’ training. Therefore, this study aims to map the educational needs of built environment professionals with the core areas of the three international policy frameworks. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized CADRE (Collaborative Action towards Disaster Resilience Education) research project outcomes alongside the earlier mentioned three international policy frameworks. A comprehensive desk review was done to map the educational needs identified in the CADRE project with the core priority areas of the three policy frameworks. Findings The study revealed the educational needs that are significant towards an effective implementation of the core priority areas of the three international policy frameworks. Practical implications This study would be beneficial to the built environment professionals involved in disaster risk reduction. They will be aware of the specific knowledge areas that would aid the successful implementation of the aforementioned three international policy frameworks. Originality/value The outcomes of the study would be beneficial to higher education providers in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. It has identified the knowledge and competency gaps needed to be bridged in the curricula to meet the demands created by the international policy frameworks.

Download Full-text

Earth Observation Actionable Information Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in a Sustainable Development Framework

10.20944/preprints201811.0157.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alberto Lorenzo-Alonso ◽

Marino Palacios ◽

Ángel Utanda

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

European Space Agency ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Earth Observation ◽

Ancillary Data ◽

Development Framework ◽

Space Agency ◽

Key Factor

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a high priority on the agenda of main stakeholders involved in sustainable development and Earth Observation (EO) can provide useful, timely and economical information in this context. This short communication outlines the European Space Agency’s (ESA) specific initiative to promote the use and uptake of satellite data in the global development community: ‘Earth Observation for Sustainable Development (EO4SD)’. One activity area under EO4SD is devoted to Disaster Risk Reduction: EO4SD DRR. Within this project, a team of European companies and institutions are tasked to develop EO services for supporting the implementation of DRR in International Financial Institutions’ (IFI) projects. Integration of satellite-borne data and ancillary data to generate insight and actionable information is thereby considered a key factor for improved decision making. To understand and fully account for the essential user requirements (IFI & Client States), engagement with technical leaders is crucial. Fit-for-purpose use of data and comprehensive capacity building eventually ensure scalability and long-term transferability. Future perspectives of EO4SD and DRR regarding mainstreaming are also highlighted.

Download Full-text