By Eleonora Lucia Cammarano
Climate change significantly exacerbates disaster risk by intensifying the frequency and severity of natural hazards such as floods, fires, tornadoes, and windstorms[1]. In the past, disaster management mainly dealt with emergency response. However, by the late 1900s, it became evident that managing climate disaster risk involved preventing factors like hazard exposure and vulnerability to lessen disaster impacts[2]. Natural hazards alone do not cause disasters; it is their interaction with vulnerable, exposed, and unprepared populations that leads to catastrophes[3]. Climate change worsens these risks by increasing climate-related hazards and making communities more vulnerable through ecosystem damage, less water and food, and disrupted livelihoods[4].
Effective Climate Disaster Risk Prevention
Climate disaster prevention is a crucial component of emergency management, which addresses all climate-related risks, including both slow-onset events like droughts and rapid-onset events like floods. Managing climate-related emergency risks typically involves two stages: prevention and preparedness.
Prevention entails the identification of areas prone to natural hazards of different intensity and frequency, and the implementation of protection measures. Measures can be both structural and non-structural, aimed at reducing the exposure and/or vulnerability to such hazards. For effective prevention, governments and civil society advocate for mainstreaming adaptation. Mainstreaming adaptation means integrating adaptation measures into existing policies, processes, and structures, making climate change adaptation a part of sustainable development[5]. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness between climate change impacts, development processes, and the adaptive capacities of various sectors.
To ensure effective climate emergency response, robust preparedness is crucial when prevention falls short. Preparedness enhances the ability of governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to handle crises efficiently. It involves accurately foreseeing and identifying looming threats, creating plans for coordination, evacuation, and public communication, as well as conducting training and field exercises[6]. These efforts aim to address the humanitarian needs of those potentially impacted by crises before they occur.
Challenges in Climate Disaster Risk Prevention
Despite significant efforts, several barriers impede the successful implementation of strategies aimed at preventing climate-related disasters. Key issues include ineffective communication, coordination problems, insufficient political commitment, capacity limitations, policy deficiencies, and a lack of adequate funding[7]. The separation between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change initiatives at both national and international levels frequently results in disjointed efforts in addressing hazards[8]. To remedy this, it is crucial to establish robust governance frameworks that integrate climate disaster prevention into comprehensive national risk governance systems.
Moreover, investment in adaptation strategies informed by risk assessments is lacking, and current risk analytics fall short of supporting effective preventive measures[9]. Planning that ignores potential risks can result in maladaptation, introducing new vulnerabilities. Additionally, long-term consequences of climate change such as rising sea levels and ocean acidification are not properly accounted for in present planning efforts, thereby undervaluing the advantages of swift climate disaster prevention strategies[10].
UN, NATO, and EU
The United Nations has played a pivotal role in shaping global efforts to reduce disaster-related losses through its evolving frameworks and strategies. In 1994, the First World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction in Yokohama adopted the Yokohama Strategy, focusing on disaster prevention, preparedness, and improved disaster response mechanisms[11]. This conference marked the beginning of United Nations conferences on climate disaster risk management. In 2015, the Third World Conference in Sendai introduced the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030, which set out seven quantitative goals and four action priorities: understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance, investing in DRR for resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness and recovery[12]. Currently, the UN Secretary-General’s prevention agenda highlights the importance of climate risk prevention by supporting the development and implementation of national DRR plans that address the growing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, urbanization, and population growth[13]. Special emphasis is placed on the least developed and most vulnerable countries, with a focus on facilitating South-South cooperation and leveraging innovative methods and technologies.
NATO recognizes the significant risks posed by climate change and has integrated climate risk prevention into its strategic and operational frameworks. In 2021, NATO adopted the Climate Change and Security Action Plan, which integrates climate considerations into its political and military agenda. This plan emphasizes enhancing awareness of climate risks, adapting NATO’s capabilities to changing climates, and contributing to global climate mitigation efforts[14]. NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept further positions the Alliance as a leading international organization in understanding and adapting to the security impacts of climate change[15]. NATO has established the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change and Security in Montreal to support these efforts and conducts annual Climate Change and Security Impact Assessments to analyze the effects of climate change on its strategic environment informing mitigation strategies[16].
The European Union (EU) has established a comprehensive framework for climate disaster risk management aimed at protecting its citizens, environment, and cultural heritage from natural and human-induced disasters. Central to these efforts is the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which coordinates and supports national actions while promoting cross-border cooperation[17]. The EU has also developed the European Disaster Resilience Goals, which guide policy and investment decisions towards better anticipation, preparation, and response to disaster risks[18]. Additionally, the EU supports disaster prevention and preparedness through various funding initiatives and technical assistance programs, such as the Technical Assistance Financing Facility for Prevention and Preparedness (TAFF)[19].
Suggested Reading
World Bank. Climate Adaptation Costing in a Changing World: Valuing Climate Adaptation Helps Us Orient Our Compass Toward Effective and Resilient Pathways (English). Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099050224072021662/P179070140a07209a1b5d012d978862b4ff
World Bank. 2021. Understanding the Needs of Civil Protection Agencies and Opportunities for Scaling up Disaster Risk Management Investments. © World Bank, Washington, DC. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.” http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36292
Wen, Jiahong, Chengcheng Wan, Qian Ye, Jianping Yan, and Weijiang Li. “Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Their Linkages with Sustainable Development over the Past 30 Years: A Review.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 14, no. 1 (February 2023): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-023-00472-3.
Bibliography
[1] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 1st ed. Cambridge University Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896.
[2] Wen, Jiahong, Chengcheng Wan, Qian Ye, Jianping Yan, and Weijiang Li. “Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Their Linkages with Sustainable Development over the Past 30 Years: A Review.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 14, no. 1 (February 2023): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-023-00472-3.
[3] International Security Sector Advisory Team (DCAF). “Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Relief and the Security Sector | PreventionWeb.” Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, May 11, 2020. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/disaster-risk-reduction-preparedness-and-relief-and-security-sector.
[4] Kent, Randolph. “Disaster Risk Reduction and Changing Dimensions and Dynamics of Future Drivers | PreventionWeb.” United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Humanitarian Futures Programme, 2011. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/disaster-risk-reduction-and-changing-dimensions-and-dynamics-future-drivers
[5] Ayers, Jessica, Saleemul Huq, Helena Wright, Arif M. Faisal, and Syed Tanveer Hussain. “Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Development in Bangladesh.” Climate and Development 6, no. 4 (October 2, 2014): 293–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2014.977761.
[6] “Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Europe.” European Environment Agency, 2017. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-change-adaptation-and-disaster.
[7] Islam, Shafiqul, Cordia Chu, and James C.R. Smart. “Challenges in Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation: Exploring the Bangladesh Case.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 47 (August 2020): 101540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101540.
[8] ibid
[9] “Policy Brief: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change | UNDRR,” September 7, 2021. http://www.undrr.org/publication/policy-brief-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-change.
[10] World Bank. “Integrating Climate Change and Natural Disasters in the Economic Analysis of Projects: A Disaster and Climate Risk Stress Test Methodology | PreventionWeb,” June 14, 2021. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/integrating-climate-change-and-natural-disasters-economic-analysis-projects-disaster.
[11] “Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation | UNDRR,” February 4, 2009. http://www.undrr.org/publication/yokohama-strategy-and-plan-action-safer-world-guidelines-natural-disaster-prevention.
[12] “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 | UNDRR,” June 29, 2015. http://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030.
[13] “Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework | UNSDG.” Accessed August 14, 2024. https://unsdg.un.org/resources/integrating-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-change-adaptation-un-sustainable, https://unsdg.un.org/resources/integrating-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-change-adaptation-un-sustainable
[14] NATO. “NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan.” NATO. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_185174.htm.
[15] NATO. “NATO 2022 Strategic Concept.” NATO. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_210907.htm.
[16] NATO. “Environment, Climate Change and Security.” NATO. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_91048.htm.
[17] “EU Civil Protection Mechanism - European Commission.” Accessed August 14, 2024. https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en.
[18] “European Disaster Resilience Goals - European Commission.” Accessed August 14, 2024. https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/european-disaster-risk-management/european-disaster-resilience-goals_en.
[19] “Technical Assistance Financing Facility (TAFF) | UCP Knowledge Network.” Accessed August 14, 2024. https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/technical-assistance-financing-facility-taff.
Key Words:
Risk assessment
Risk reduction
Risk reduction training
Prevention planning
Evacuation planning
Research and innovation
Public awareness and education