Taking an all-hazards approach to tackling global disaster risk – an important step towards implementing the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

On behalf of the UNDRR/ISC Technical Working Group Task Team

Background - A disaster is a catastrophic event that seriously disrupts a community, with long-term public health, economic and environmental impacts.  The Sendai Framework aims for ‘the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health’.   It advocates an all-hazards approach, to which an understanding of the full scope of hazards faced by communities is essential.  To date there is no scientific list of hazards and definitions encompassing the hazards covered under the Sendai Framework.  This project aims to provide such an overview, which will serve the implementation of the Sendai Framework, and contribute towards the Paris Climate Change Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

Methods - A global task team was established by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and International Science Council, chaired by Public Health England, comprising science and technical experts from UN agencies and the wider scientific community.  Methods included the operationalisation of the UN General Assembly definition of hazard, the development of a hazard taxonomy through consultation with over 500 scientific experts and developing a ‘hazard information profile’ for each hazard describing globally agreed scientific and statistical definitions.

Results - The definition of hazard was operationalised by applying three inclusion criteria:  the potential to affect the functioning of a community, available (proactive and) reactive measures, and measurable spatial and temporal components.  Hazards could be excluded based on complexity.  Overall, 300 hazards were included and described.

Discussion - This novel, scientific endeavour, working at a global scale, marks an important step in the implementation of the Sendai Framework.  The all-hazards taxonomy will provide nation states with a scientific tool to enhance their disaster risk management systems, improving the resilience of some of the world’s most vulnerable communities to disasters.