Parallel Sessions I

E) Sustainable Development and Natural Disasters: Exploring the Unexplored

Conveners:

Juan Carlos Villagran de Leon, United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), Bonn, Germany
Ulrike Grote, Centre for Development Studies (ZEF), Bonn, Germany

Chair:

Prof. Janos Bogardi, UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany

Speakers:
Dr. Irmgard Schwaetzer, German Committee of Disaster Reduction, Germany
Prof. Dr. Gordon McBean, Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Canada
Prof. Dr. Reza Ardakanian, Regional Center for Urban Water Management and Ministry of Energy, Iran
Issa Martin Bikienga, Secrétaire Exécutif Adjoint, Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse dans le Sahel, CILSS, Burkina Faso

Abstract:

While the world is working hard towards achieving sustainable development through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), typhoons, hurricanes, floods or droughts are affecting masses of people by pushing them back into poverty or even taking their lives. And the occurrence and magnitude of natural disasters is increasing day by day, posing new risks especially to the poor. Low awareness about how to prevent and manage natural disasters and the lack of efficient coping mechanisms of poor people living in disaster prone areas and in fragile environments threaten their livelihoods. In order to explore new ways of how to divert these risks, this session will focus on slowly creeping natural disasters and their impacts in a changing environment affecting new regions and new groups of society. Therefore, the session will explore the interlinkages between natural disasters and sustainable development by giving examples of how natural disasters have affected countries at the micro, meso and macro levels. While the micro level will focus on households and individuals, the meso level will analyse the impact on whole communities, cities or regions. A macro view will provide insights into the effects at state level and on the economy at large. By studying these examples, lessons will be drawn for designing policies and coping mechanisms. Furthermore, the session will identify gaps in research which need to be urgently addressed to ensure that the MDGs will be achieved one day.
Session Report

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