CONSULTATION DAY EVENT - 20 May 2013
Scientific and Technical Platforms / Networks: Achievements and future goals
CICG, Geneva
Proposing the IRIDeS as one of the UNISDR
collaborating centres on Science as a multidisciplinary approach to DRR
Fumihiko Imamura
Deputy Director and Professor
International Research Institute of Disaster Science, (IRIDeS)
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS)
at Tohoku University
- One of the world’s largest and most comprehensive research institutes on Disaster Science
- Established in April 2012 with more than 100 researchers - Extremely multi-disciplinary!
- Located in Sendai, Tohoku - hosting the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2015
- Participating in international policy making processes on DRR
- Preparedness for low-frequency high-impacts disasters
IRIDeS
Research Division of
Division of Intelligence
Disaster Risk
Management and
Research Division of
Public Collaboration
Human and Social
Research Division
Response
Research Division of
Region and Urban
Renewal
Research institute in
Japan and overseas
of Disaster
Medicine
Research Division of
Natural Disaster
Science
Privates companies
Affected local
governments
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IRIDeS’s scoping highly disaster resilient society
Global environmental
change
Increase in disaster risk by
amplified water and sediment
hazards
Extreme Weather
Sea level Rise
Building highly disaster-resilient society
Adaptive Capacity
Preparedness, business continuity management, long-term recovery
Physical/ social
Infrastructures
Risk awareness/
Assessment
Disaster Science
Public investment
Resistance, disaster prevention, safe land use
Education
Self, Mutual, Public helps
Disaster culture
Implementing Science
Elements of building resilience:
• Systematic assessment and monitoring of disaster risks,
continued research to improve understanding of causes, and
awareness of those risks by the public and all levels of
governments.
• Establishment of a culture and incentives that lead to the
acceptance of responsibility by communities, including private
sector and civil organizations.
• Long-term planning, investment, and enforcement of mitigating or
preventive measures, such as land-use and other zoning and
building codes.
• International cooperation in advanced planning and rapid
response, as well as research on the evaluation, mitigation and
communication of risk factors.
• Science Council of Japan (2012) proposed
Past Protections and a Future Plan for a TsunamiResistant City in Sendai, Tohoku
The 2011 Tsunami
inundated in Sendai
(Kyodo, 2011)
Before 2011, Sendai
coast constructed by
Mr.Date, Samura in
1601
Green belt
Canal
Less damage and
late arrival by green
Rice field
Canal
Sandy beach
Only two temples were damaged
among 100 with 1,000 years
history in the affected area
Cyranoski (Nature, Vol.483, 2011)
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Contributions to the post-HFA 2015 process and possible synergies and
overlaps with other networks and needs for coordination
Proposing the IRIDeS as one of the UNISDR collaborating centres on Science
as a multi-disciplinary approach to DRR
Conducting a review of the HFA learning from the 11 March 2011 Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami and providing inputs for policy making towards the 2015 post-HFA
scheme
Providing guidance on setting goals and targets in the post-HFA
Providing technical expertise in developing a regional disaster statistics in Asia and
the Pacific – disaster statistics as a measurement to monitor progress of the goals and
targets
Developing a strategy to better prepare for low-frequency high-impact disasters
Mechanism – providing inputs through:
•IRDR
•ISDR and its Scientific and Technical Committee through its member, Prof. Ohnishi,
Chair of the Science Council of Japan
•ESCAP and UNDP (regional disaster statistics)
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•Government of Japan through a preparatory committee for the 2015 WCDR in Sendai
•APRU --- Chairing the Multi-Hazard Program of the Association of Pacific Rim
•Universities: 40+ universities in 16 countries and regions
Importance of developing sound disaster statistics
We do not have global disaster statistics based on official sources even now!
It is a governance issue --- between local governments and the central government
A minimum standard for the element of statistics need to be agreed –
intergovernmental process by the UN – perhaps at the regional level
Good national level efforts:
UNDP: DisInventar --- a good tool (Latin America and Asia)
JICA: assisted developing a white paper in some countries
When making efforts at the national level, benefits for local governments need to be
identified clearly
- Annual white paper based on such statistics submitted to politicians/decision
takers/makers would generate new policies on DRR
- Useful for insurance scheme
- Good basis for cost-benefit analysis
- Good basis for development investment (including foreign assistance)
Useful for setting global goals and targets on DRR --- post HFA discussion
--- baseline data and measures to progress in DRR
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Seeing you in Sendai in
2015!
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Mr.Date, Top of Samurai , 400 years ago who developed the Sendai city