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Social science for the Integrated Assessment of environmental risks and problems.

Social science for the Integrated Assessment of environmental risks and problems. DAY 2: robust science to support decisions on large scale risks Dr. J. David Tàbara Institute of Environmental Science and Technology Autonomous University of Barcelona www.uab.cat/icta. Earthquakes.

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Social science for the Integrated Assessment of environmental risks and problems.

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  1. Social science for the Integrated Assessment of environmental risks and problems. DAY 2: robust science to support decisions on large scale risks Dr. J. David Tàbara Institute of Environmental Science and Technology Autonomous University of Barcelona www.uab.cat/icta

  2. Earthquakes • According to long-term records (since about 1900), we can expect about 18 major earthquakes (7.0 - 7.9 on the Richter scale) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year • The number of earthquakes and tsunamis resulting in fatalities has increased approximately in proportion to global populations • The growth of giant urban cities near regions of known seismic hazard is a new experiment for life on the Earth Sources: NEIC 2003; USGS 2004; UNEP 2005 (GEO 2004/2005)

  3. Bam, Iran: City destroyed by earthquake A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Iran on 26 December 2003, killing over 40 000 people, injuring 16 000, leaving 70 000 homeless and destroying much of the city of Bam, the earthquake’s epicenter

  4. Mapping seismic risk in Africa In this example, high population densities are also associated with areas with active seismic activity

  5. Forecasting technique: Scenario making • A useful tool to think about could happen in order to know what to do now • Key question: WHAT IF... • Many types of scenarios and sources of knowledge to produce them: - QUANTITATIVE: per ex., using models • QUALITATIVE: per ex., using narratives Usually we need both. • Should cover all the possibilities / futures

  6. EU Green Paper on Adaptation Com (2007) 354 Final (29.6.07) scenario A1, IPPC

  7. Practice of scenario making: Think of a possibility of a large Earthquake in the next 5 years in Ashgabat and discuss... • What do you think could be the infrastructures and buildings which could be most affected? • What do you think could be the infrastructures that if affected, could most negatively impact the normal functioning of the city of Ashgabat? • What type of experts, tools and knowledge would you need to know who and what is most at risk and what to do?. • Suggest a feasible strategy to prevent large-scale losses in case such event happens.

  8. www.irg-project.org

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