Strategy Options for Disaster Risk Reduction Through Institutional Improvements and Enhanced Financial Sustainability: Recommendations

This presentation was commissioned by the Natural Disaster Network of the Regional Policy Dialogue for the V Hemispheric Meeting celebrated on June 13th and 14th, 2005.Disasters, Management Network Gestión de la Red

Internacionalización y globalización : notas sobre su incidencia en las condiciones y expresiones del riesgo en América Latina

El riesgo se explica en relación con una construcción social, producto de la relación dinámica,\ud cambiante y dialéctica entre los diversos tipos de amenaza y vulnerabilidad humana,\ud los procesos que contribuyen a la conformación del riesgo derivan de las modalidades\ud o estilos de crecimiento o acumulación económicas experimentadas en la\ud sociedad a lo largo de la historia. En América Latina, en general, el capitalismo en sus\ud distintas fases y formas ha conducido a la conformación de condiciones particulares de\ud riesgo. La globalización, como proceso objetivo, y las políticas impulsadas y sustentadas\ud en los principios del neoliberalismo cimientan nuevas expresiones del riesgo y del\ud desastre, surgen así nuevas formas de riesgo en el ámbito territorial y social, asociadas\ud con la conformación de zonas de libre comercio, corredores comerciales o logísticos,\ud grandes ciudades articuladoras de la nueva territorialidad de los procesos económicos y\ud la consecuente exclusión social de amplios sectores de la población

Internacionalización y globalización : notas sobre su incidencia en las condiciones y expresiones del riesgo en América Latina

El riesgo se explica en relación con una construcción social, producto de la relación dinámica, cambiante y dialéctica entre los diversos tipos de amenaza y vulnerabilidad humana, los procesos que contribuyen a la conformación del riesgo derivan de las modalidades o estilos de crecimiento o acumulación económicas experimentadas en la sociedad a lo largo de la historia. En América Latina, en general, el capitalismo en sus distintas fases y formas ha conducido a la conformación de condiciones particulares de riesgo. La globalización, como proceso objetivo, y las políticas impulsadas y sustentadas en los principios del neoliberalismo cimientan nuevas expresiones del riesgo y del desastre, surgen así nuevas formas de riesgo en el ámbito territorial y social, asociadas con la conformación de zonas de libre comercio, corredores comerciales o logísticos, grandes ciudades articuladoras de la nueva territorialidad de los procesos económicos y la consecuente exclusión social de amplios sectores de la población

Pathways to Urban Equality through the Sustainable Development Goals: Modes of Extreme Poverty, Resilience, and Prosperity

There has been a tendency for debates around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to focus on particular Goals or Targets. What tends to get lost, however, is the bigger picture. In this paper we ask: to what extent and under what conditions do the SDGs offer a pathway to equality? Specifically, we focus on the potentials of the SDGs as a pathway to urban equality in the decade of delivery. We focus on the ways that three key interrelated development agendas, eradicating extreme poverty, promoting prosperity, and building resilience, are mobilised through the SDGs. Together these agendas reveal tensions and opportunities in the relationship between the SDGs and urban equality. In discussion, we reflect on the potentials of an urban equality lens to read the SDGs, and the conditions under which they might contribute to the realisation of fairer and more equal cities

Risque extensif et risque quotidien dans le Chaco bolivien : sources de crise et catastrophe

Les risques de catastrophe suivent un continuum qui va des risques structurels initiaux (de pré-impact) aux risques futurs ou directement liés aux pratiques de reconstruction et à une récupération inadéquate, en passant par les risques contingents (résultant directement de l’impact). Ces différentes catégories sont souvent construites à partir de risques chroniques déjà existants. Elles sont utilisées pour démontrer l’évolution cyclique des catastrophes de 2009 et 2011, associées à la sécheresse et au gel, ayant affectés le Chaco bolivien. Par ailleurs, cet article vise à montrer en quoi une analyse des facteurs de causalité et des impacts post-catastrophe déjà connus est nécessaire. Ces notions sont souvent associées aux aléas à grande échelle pouvant survenir brutalement, mais elles occultent la compréhension des besoins lors de crises qui surviennent à causes d’aléas diffus, extensifs, liés aux styles de vie. Il s’agit également de révéler en quoi les tentatives d’appréhender les catégories successives de risques, apparemment séquencées, en utilisant des mécanismes et des cadres institutionnels indépendants, sont vouées à l’échec. De fait, des relations existent entre risques principaux, risques contingents et risques futurs, et la gestion des risques de catastrophe ainsi que les mécanismes de développement nécessaires pour les réduire

Understanding social and environmental hazards in urban areas: an analysis from Barranquilla, Colombia

The present research aims to understand the challenges faced by a Colombian city in the context of multidimensional risk scenarios, given the existing demographic and socio-economic conditions and local perspectives and perceptions regarding socio-environmental risks. The research was undertaken in the city of Barranquilla, northern Colombia. A survey was designed to analyze (1) the general socio-economic and vulnerability conditions of a communities’ sample, (2) information related to hazards and disaster risk in their neighbourhoods, and (3) information on actions to mitigate risk. Three hundred and ninety-one people were surveyed. Likert scale and Pearson's Chi-square test and descriptive, inferential statistical methods, regression models, and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to process the results. Respondents lived, in general, under precarious socio-economic conditions (such as low income or lack of infrastructure and others). Given socio-environmental constraints, the research revealed that hazards such as urban stream flooding and robbery were the most negatively associated with the respondent’s quality of life. Regarding the actions to avoid losses, 84% of respondents had not implemented any preventive action. Respondents also have low awareness of the need to implement risk prevention actions. Social risks and the configuration of anthropic hazards stand out as principal centres for concern

Alternatives for sustained disaster risk reduction

The daily media is filled with images of catastrophic events which seem increasingly frequent and violent In parallel there are a large range of scientific studies debates in the policy arena, and a growing number of international institutions focused on disaster reduction. But a paradox remains that despite advances in technology, disasters continue to increase, affecting many individuals in rich as well as poor countries

Forensic investigations of disasters: Past achievements and new directions

In the 2020s, understanding disaster risk requires a strong and clear recognition of values and goals that influence the use of political and economic power and social authority to guide growth and development. This configuration of values, goals, power and authority may also lead to concrete drivers of risk at any one time. Building on previous disaster risk frameworks and experiences from practice, since 2010, the ‘Forensic Investigations of Disasters (FORIN)’ approach has been developed to support transdisciplinary research on the transformational pathways societies may follow to recognise and address root causes and drivers of disaster risk. This article explores and assesses the achievements and failures of the FORIN approach. It also focuses on shedding light upon key requirements for new approaches and understandings of disaster risk research. The new requirements stem not only from the uncompleted ambitions of FORIN and the forensic approach but also from dramatic and ongoing transformational changes characterised by climate change, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the threat of global international confrontation, among other potential crises, both those that can be identified and those not yet identified or unknown. Contribution: Disasters associated with extreme natural events cannot be treated in isolation. A comprehensive “all risks” or “all disasters” approach is essential for a global transformation, which could lead to a better world order. To achieve this, an Intergovernmental Panel for Disaster Risk is suggested to assess risk science periodically and work towards sustainability, human rights, and accountability, within a development and human security frame and on a systemic basis and integrated perspective

Multiple hazards and governance model in the Barranquilla Metropolitan Area, Colombia

The Barranquilla Metropolitan Area is exposed and often vulnerable to various natural and anthropogenic hazards. The paper’s main objective is to identify the level of understanding that local and regional institutions have of such a multi-hazard scenario, as well as the effectiveness of governance arrangements in minimizing impacts. Research employed a questionnaire applied to 115 stakeholders from government and a survey of 391 households from four communities in the study area. Four focus groups were held during the update of the Barranquilla Development Plan 2020–2023. The results allowed the identification of an updated set of hazards and the levels of government response capacity. The overall level of capacity and effectiveness of local government to respond to hazards was classified as regular. Seventy-seven percent of epistemic ‘experts considered that the institutions responsible for risk management did not undertake sufficient analysis for identifying and managing multiple hazards. Finally, the research team developed a new model of risk management