Changing Global Needs for Disaster-related Data: Implementing the Hyogo Framework and Adapting to Climate Change

1. Changing global needs for disaster-related data for implementing the Hyogo Framework and adapting to climate change Reid Basher UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) EM-DAT Technical Advisory Group Meeting New York, 26-27 October 2009

2. OVERVIEW 1 Conceptual framework 2 Needs of policymakers, decision makers and researchers 3 Toward a global approach

3. Conceptual basis (1) Pre-science view Natural hazard Unpredictable, immense power, little one can do to prepare, fatalism, Act of God? punishment DISASTER

4. Conceptual basis (2) - Engineering view Natural hazard Understand the physics, do risk assessments, monitor the hazards + Exposure Lowered risk and impacts Avoid risky situations, build well, be prepared, have early warnings DISASTER

5. Conceptual basis (3) - Social perspective Natural hazard + Unplanned settlements Exposure Poverty Unsafe buildings + Vulnerability Environmental degradation Lack of information Disenfranchisement Lack of assets or safety nets Low access to public services DISASTER Lack of political commitment

6. A work in progress: the shift from disaster relief to sustainable development Longstanding humanitarian concerns Growing scientific advancements Integrated, sustainability approaches Reduction of vulnerability and disaster risk Relief and recovery Resilient communities - lives saved, assets protected, economies growing

7. www.unisdr.org Context of key factors that frame the disasters problem • Impacts: disasters affect millions of people, cause big losses, hinder the achievement of MDGs. • Trends: toward increased disasters generally. • Risk process model: vulnerability, exposure, hazard • Root causes: of risk are social and economic. • Climate change: also of growing concern, will make a bad situation worse. • Knowledge: including tools and policy frameworks (Hyogo Framework) are readily available. • Main problem: lack of awareness, political commitment and implementation - risk not factored in.

8. www.unisdr.org Context of data-related factors and assumptions • Sound decisions and sound policy require sound evidence base. • Research needs for diverse and high quality data. • Need to target key factors in risk processes, root causes and impacts. • Standards, definitions, meta-data, transparency. • Long term, sustainable programmes. • Public needs for information imply public access and public funding. • Global stakeholder processes, institutional authority.

9. www.unisdr.org Needs of policymakers and decision makers – basic questions at national level ... All very context dependent... • What risks do we face in our country? • What losses or liabilities are likely in the future? • Which cities and districts are most at risk? • Do we have a good record of past events and what happened? What losses have occurred? • Is climate change already affecting us? How will it affect us in future? Will we face displaced populations? • Are we prepared for major events? • Who is responsible for capturing and analysing data? • Where do I need to spend money; what are the best things to do?

10. www.unisdr.org Basic questions at international level • What are the connections between development processes, climate change and disaster risk? • How can we address climate change and disaster risk reduction together? • What progress is being made on disaster risk reduction? • Is there a clear basis for setting priorities and targeting aid investment in risk reduction? • Which countries are most at risk and need help? • Do countries have the necessary information on the risks they face? Do they have the capacities to gather data, prepare risk assessments, and formulate policy?

11. www.unisdr.org Needs of research community – core questions • Are databases available for the relevant factors– hazards, exposure, vulnerability, impacts – social, economic, and environmental? • How should global standards, methodologies and indicators be developed and validated? • How can the different data sets be accessed and interpreted? • How can we properly answer the trend question? • What sort of architecture of databases is needed? • Who is responsible for the databases and how are they funded? • .....

12. ... And what data is required ... hazards • Means, distributions, extremes, trends, spatial patterns of weather hazards such as temperature, rainfall, wind, tropical cyclones. • Spatial and temporal data on consequential hazards such as floods, flash floods, landslides, forest fire, locust plagues, epidemics. • Spatial data sets on geological hazards, such as seismic risk, tsunamis, volcanic ash fall and lahars. • Spatial data and trends in floodplains and forest cover, environmental factors and ecosystem buffers. • Near real time data on high risk situations (e.g. El Nino, volcanos, storms.)

13. ... And what data is required ... societal • Exposure – population patterns, trends, migration. • Spatial data on infrastructure, housing, assets, etc, including vulnerability factors. • Socio-economic data to county and township level, such as on households, age structure, income, poverty, livelihoods, mobility, etc. • Information on socio-cultural factors (perceptions, beliefs, trust in authority, etc.) • Impacts of events – deaths, injuries, loss of assets, livelihood destruction – in short and long term. • Data sets on case studies, longitudinal and inter-comparison studies of specific events or high risk situations.

14. ... And what data is required ... policy responses • Indicators of public awareness and political commitment. • Data on budgets and institutions that support risk reduction. • Indicators of engagement of sectors, local government and communities. • Data on regulation and management, e.g. on application of building codes, landuse regulation, environmental protection. • Structured indicators and reporting on progress on Hyogo Framework implementation.

15. ... And the main challenges are ... • Definitional – there are multiple dimensions of disasters and diverse user requirements. • Non-sectoral “homeless” nature of disaster risk, and lack of national ownership and capacity. • Fragmented and small scale of global efforts on disaster data; varied standards; databases not linked. • Low and/or falling levels of investment in scientific observational data systems. • Disaster factors not well recognized or represented in national social and economic statistics. • Lack of national capacities, especially in poor and vulnerable countries. • Lack of global authority and oversight on disaster data.

16. Suggested technical responses ... • More systematic efforts to engage stakeholders and to define user needs; Cochrane study? • Seek common approaches; data collection protocols; archival standards; Glide No’s; interoperability. • Develop the systematic linkages between data gathering and reporting processes (HFA indicators, GAR.) • Expand the mechanisms for technical dialogue and cooperation (e.g. ISDR-STC, IRDR-SC, TAG, Desinventar, WCDC, health and environment sectors, etc.)

17. Suggested strategic responses ... 1. Recognize and capitalize on climate change interests, e.g. via UNFCCC, IPCC and national policies. 2. Play active role in development of Global Framework for Climate Services. 3. Make data issues a core feature of the Mid Term Review of the Hyogo Framework. 4. Support up-scaling of programmes of capacity development for developing countries. 5. Develop an overall strategic framework, covering needs, data and indicators, database modalities, coordination, capacity development, advocacy.

18. www.unisdr.org Major opportunity, major responsibility, major necessity ..... To support the scaling up of global efforts to reduce disaster risk and to adapt to climate change.