CIB Working Commission on Disasters and the Built Environment

Posted on: 2 January 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The CIB Programme Committee has established a new Working Commission (W120) on Disasters and the Built Environment as successor of the former Task Group TG63. Rapid growth of urban centers presents numerous challenges to humanity, many of which can be addressed through built environment solutions. In the face of more frequent and powerful hazards, the future of vulnerable and growing populations is increasingly perilous. Against this background the objectives of the Commission are: to explore optimum means of engaging multiple stakeholders in collaborative projects that address issues of disaster and development through built environment solutions; to encourage strategic urban planning through development of an evidence base supporting built-in disaster risk reduction (DRR); to advocate for the deployment of the appropriate built environment professionals in support of DRR activities; to develop tools / frameworks / models to support built environment organizations in complex environments in a variety of global contexts; and to support the embedding of disaster and development issues in the curriculum of built environment disciplines globally, encouraging the consideration of broader career paths.

Read more online

Green investment in Asian cities to reduce natural disaster risks

Posted on: 17 December 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

This article discusses the risks associated with natural disasters, with particular focus on the vulnerability of energy systems. It examines the opportunities for local/community-based infrastructure to prevent risks through installing locally based energy systems, financing mechanisms to prevent risks and risk transfer systems as well as the associated challenges that exist with respect to their establishment.

Read more online

Construction Research Congress 2012. West Lafayette, USA, 21-23 May 2012

Posted on: 12 December 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

Papers from this event are available online, covering the following issues: contracting and legal issues; construction means and methods; construction planning, control, and risk management; knowledge management and information technology; data sensing and analysis; construction simulation, visualization, and product modeling; organizational and labor issues; quantitative methods; environmentally sustainable design and construction; construction education; disaster management and response; infrastructure management; and global construction issues.

Find out more online

Cities prepare: Reducing vulnerabilities for the urban poor

Posted on: 9 December 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The report warns of rapid urbanisation and the increased risk this poses as systems are put under pressure. The report highlights six other Asian cities – Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kolkata, India; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – to contrast the different levels of preparedness across Asia. The report urges governments, businesses, civil society and communities to immediately address the changing urban landscape and ensure disaster preparedness is central to planning, future legislation and research. The report recommends governments place more emphasis on disaster risk reduction (DDR) programmes for homes, schools, businesses and in developing policies in areas such as health care and municipal planning. It also calls for more partnerships to eliminate gaps in disaster planning at the municipal level and increased involvement of children in disaster preparedness plans.

Read more online

 

Typhoon Haiyan, Warsaw climate change negotiations, budgeting in the real world

Posted on: 28 November 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

This podcast involves a discussion on what Typhoon Haiyan reveals about climate change, disaster preparedness and emergency response, assesses the outcome of the UN climate change talks in Warsaw, and examines budgeting in the real world.

Find out more online

Climate change, disasters, and development post-2015

Posted on: 21 November 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The year 2015 will be pivotal for climate change, disasters, and development. In all three areas, new international frameworks are due to be agreed to guide policy and action. These include the framework and targets to take forward the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the second phase of the Hyogo Framework for Action to make the world safer from natural hazards, and a new comprehensive UNFCCC agreement on international climate change action. While these develop in parallel, it is crucial that the three frameworks are linked up such that poverty and social justice concerns are reflected in climate change and disasters frameworks, and tackling climate change and natural hazards is integrated into development targets, policy and planning. This collection of articles from Institute of Development Studies Bulletins from the past few decades provides insights for the development of these international policy frameworks.

Read more online

Natural disasters: Saving lives today, building resilience tomorrow

Posted on: 18 November 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

This new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers calls for a much greater focus on preparing people for possible extreme natural events and building disaster resilience among locals. The report warns that the unprecedented influx of people to urban areas across the developing world is leading to a large increase in people living in locations susceptible to natural disaster, and the situation is exacerbated by the explosive expansion of informal settlements or ‘slums’.

Read more online

Disaster Risk Reduction at COP19 Warsaw, Poland 11 to 22 November: Briefing Note

Posted on: 13 November 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

This paper presents UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) observations and recommendations for the inclusion of disaster risk reduction in the climate change negotiations at the 19th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (COP19) in Warsaw, Poland, in November 2013. Presenting the previous decisions linking disaster risk reduction to climate change adaptation, it highlights some evidences from the IPCC Special Report Managing the Risk of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX), the 2013 IPCC Summary of the Physical Science Basis for Climate Change and the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR).  The paper then introduces a series of overall messages on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and details the rationale of the disaster risk reduction messages specific to COP 19 and specifically related to: (i) institutional mechanisms for loss and damages; (ii) national adaptation plans; and (iii) the Adaptation Committee. Finally, it gives some information about two disaster risk reduction related events at COP 19.

Read more online

After Sandy: Advancing strategies for long-term resilience and adaptability

Posted on: 1 November 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Leading up to the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the Urban Land Institute has published a report which offers guidance on post-disaster rebuilding and building in anticipation of future disasters in a way that helps preserve the environment, boost economic prosperity, and foster a high quality of life.

Read more online

ODI podcast

Posted on: 31 October 2013
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The October 2013 podcast from the Overseas Development Institute explores the relationship between poverty and disasters, assesses the place of development in UK politics and s what we know for sure about structural transformation in low-income countries.

Find out more online