Disaster Risk Reduction In Asia Pacific

This book brings together interdisciplinary perspectives from across the Asia Pacific region, covering four main sections: 1) Governance, 2) Education and Capacity, 3) Science, Technology, Risk Assessment and Communities, and 4) Recovery. The chapters address different dimensions of Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which are linked to Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

This book uses two international frameworks—the Millennium Development Goals and the Hyogo Framework for Action, a program focused on disaster risk management—to study the key trends in the region in terms of disaster incidence, sources of vulnerability and social and economic challenges. As both frameworks draw to a close, international debate is taking place during the period 2012–2015 on their current progress. This book seeks to help readers understand the process better. The chapters are written by eight independent internationally based authors. Collectively, they have extensive regional experience in the areas of disaster risk management and climate change as well as working in academia, research, consultancy, the UN and international agencies, government and the NGO sector. The analysis presented benefits from their varied backgrounds in medicine, architecture, economics, engineering, planning, social studies, development studies and political science. Throughout the book, relevant examples, drawn from the region, are included to ‘earth’ the project in the harsh realities of risk and disaster impact.

The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most vulnerable to a variety of natural and manmade hazards. This edited book productively brings together scholars and senior public officials having direct experience in dealing with or researching on recent major natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific. The chapters focus on disaster preparedness and management, including pre-event planning and mitigation, crisis leadership and emergency response, and disaster recovery. Specific events discussed in this book include a broad spectrum of disasters such as tropical storms and typhoons in the Philippines; earthquakes in China; tsunamis in Indonesia, Japan, and Maldives; and bushfires in Australia. The book aims to generate discussions about improved risk reduction strategies throughout the region. It seeks to provide a comparative perspective across countries to draw lessons from three perspectives: public policy, humanitarian systems, and community engagement.

In this volume, contributors look at response, recovery and adaptation to climate-induced disasters, in Asia-Pacific - the world's most disaster-prone region. Chapters examine case studies from Cambodia, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa.

The book outlines the regulatory environment for disaster prevention and management in broad social, economic and political context. The first half of the book focuses mainly on Japan, especially the ‘3-11’ events: the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku area on 11 March 2011 and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant radiation leaks. The second half focuses on the USA (the only other Asia-Pacific country to have experienced a serious nuclear emergency), Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Australia and international law. One question explored is whether socio-legal norms play different roles in preventing and managing responses to natural disasters compared to ‘man-made’ disasters. Another is how ‘disaster law’ interacts with society across very diverse societies in the disaster-prone Asia-Pacific region. The book also addresses the increasingly important roles played by international law and regional regimes for cross-border cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, including the functions played by military forces. Erudite, pragmatic, and charged with detailed, substantive knowledge of an astonishing range of contexts and research fields, this timely collection of important essays on the law and society of disaster management stands as an exemplary international academic response to the disasters of 11 March 2011. (Annelise Riles)

This publication aims to guide policy makers and other stakeholders on how to scale up disaster risk reduction financing in developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. Disaster events impact Asia and the Pacific more than any other region in the world. In light of current and future climate and disaster risks, there is an urgent need to address the region's underinvestment in disaster risk and reduction. The publication provides an overview of financing opportunities for developing Asia-including instruments and mechanisms-as well as country case studies and practical tips for governments to implement enhanced disaster risk reduction.

The world's most disaster-prone region has witnessed natural disasters that affected development. Building resilience to natural disasters is crucial. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) must be integrated into national development planning. This report assesses the state of resilience in the region, and disaster-related goals and targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It highlights drought and reviews information management that would equip many countries in providing the right information to the right people at the right time, paying attention to the need to integrate DRR into development planning and government. The goal is to build resilience towards achieving sustainable development.

Disaster events impact Asia and the Pacific more than any other region in the world. In light of current and future climate and disaster risks, there is an urgent need to address the region’s underinvestment in disaster risk and reduction. This publication aims to guide policy makers and other stakeholders on how to scale up disaster risk reduction financing in developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. It provides an overview of financing opportunities—including instruments and mechanisms—as well as country case studies and practical tips for governments to implement enhanced disaster risk reduction.