Climate change and disaster risk management
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Material Information

Title:
Climate change and disaster risk management a Caribbean perspective
Creator:
Collymore, Jeremy ( coordinator )
Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Florida International University (DRR/FIU) ( summary contributor )
Publisher:
Caribbean Development Bank
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2009
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Natural hazards and disasters -- Caribbean Area
Risk management -- Caribbean Area ( lcshac )
Climate change -- Caribbean Area ( lcshac )
Genre:
non-fiction ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
Latin America

Notes

Summary:
This document examines the current vulnerability of Caribbean nations to disaster, and the role of climate change in increasing this vulnerability (p.1). In doing so, the paper first underlines the high level of vulnerability to disaster experienced by the countries in the region through the provision of historical statistics on its most frequent disasters, including hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, windstorms, and volcanic eruptions. The frequency of these various types of disasters makes comprehensive disaster management (CDM) essential for the Caribbean region. The distinctive feature of CDM lies in its anticipatory instead of reactive approach to addressing disaster risks. Some key features of CDM include strengthening disaster preparedness, considering all hazards, addressing all phases and elements of disaster management, and promoting a ‘culture of safety.’ In the next section the document covers the potential impact of climate change on disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the region. It is believed that climate change is likely to generate the following consequences: (i) increased sea levels, resulting in increased coastal flooding and erosion; (ii) increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as stronger hurricanes and tropical storms; (iii) reduced precipitation resulting in drought and desertification; and (iv) increased temperatures potentially impacting the health of vulnerable people. (p.7-8) Keeping these severe implications in mind, the document urges the development of a regional agenda for the integration of climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR)’ (p.8). The paper discusses the potential benefits of integration, along with the similarities and divergences between CCA and DRR (p.8-9). In the last part, the document discusses regional platforms and strategies for integrating CCA and DRR. It makes several suggestions for a better regional agenda for the CCA-DRR integration, and proposes four pillars: (i) identification and better understanding of CCA and DRR; (ii) enhanced capacity to manage frequent high magnitude events; (iii) established policies, strategies, and programmes for reducing potential losses; and (iv) monitoring and evaluation mechanisms (p.11-12). Lastly, the document makes suggestions for involving the Caribbean Development Bank in the process of integrating CCA and DRR. ( English )
Subject:
General Disaster Risk Management ( English )
Subject:
Climate Change ( English )
Scope and Content:
1.0 INTRODUCTION p. 1; 2.0 VULNERABILITY OF THE REGION p. 1; 3.0 COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT p. 4; 4.0 CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION p. 5; 5.0 REGIONAL PLATFORMS AND STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION p. 8; List of Figures: Figure 1: Earthquake Fatalities (1600-1999) p. 2; Figure 2: Destructive Tsunamis and some Fatalities (1500-1999) p. 2; Figure 3: Caribbean Fatalities from Windstorms (1990-1999) p. 3; Figure 4: Caribbean Fatalities from Volcanic Eruptions (1900-1999) p. 3; List of Tables: Table 1: Examples of Impact of Disaster Events on GDP of Caribbean Countries p. 1; Table 2: Major Hurricanes in the Caribbean by Decades, 1970-2008 p. 2 ( English )
Citation/Reference:
Collymore, J. (2009). Climate change and disaster risk management: a Caribbean perspective.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Refer to main document/publisher for use rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI13042473

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Aggregations:
Disaster Risk Reduction