Climate change and disaster management

TLDR

Climate change is accelerated by human activity, and disaster policy responses depend on readiness, institutional capacity, and willingness to embed risk assessment, yet these conditions are not universally present, making vulnerability reduction essential. The study proposes a new approach to climate change risk that requires changes in institutional structures and relationships. This new approach involves restructuring institutional frameworks and relationships to better integrate climate risk assessment. Neglecting capacity building, resilience, and governance in development will likely fail to reduce vulnerability to climate change risks.

Abstract

Abstract Climate change, although a natural phenomenon, is accelerated by human activities. Disaster policy response to climate change is dependent on a number of factors, such as readiness to accept the reality of climate change, institutions and capacity, as well as willingness to embed climate change risk assessment and management in development strategies. These conditions do not yet exist universally. A focus that neglects to enhance capacity‐building and resilience as a prerequisite for managing climate change risks will, in all likelihood, do little to reduce vulnerability to those risks. Reducing vulnerability is a key aspect of reducing climate change risk. To do so requires a new approach to climate change risk and a change in institutional structures and relationships. A focus on development that neglects to enhance governance and resilience as a prerequisite for managing climate change risks will, in all likelihood, do little to reduce vulnerability to those risks.