Track 12 RISK-RESILIENT PLANNING

Track chairs: Michael Cassidy, Adriana Galderisi, Barbara Steinbrunner 

Cities and regions are increasingly affected by natural hazards, whose impacts are amplified by factors such as population growth, urbanisation and climate change. This exacerbates the already widespread social, environmental and economic crises. Governments' predominant approach to disaster risk management still focuses on public interventions implemented in the aftermath of hazardous events rather than on prevention or preparedness strategies. This approach not only leads to higher financial costs but also exacerbates territorial equity issues. Moreover, the concentration of population and assets in urban and peri-urban areas exposes people and the environment to the potential impacts of multiple risks arising from the interplay between natural, human-induced hazards and existing vulnerabilities. The transition towards decarbonisation may increase or reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards in the medium term. Hence, continuous monitoring and sustainable planning processes supported by integrated governance are required. This session focuses on approaches to integrated natural hazard management and public policies aimed at outlining and implementing participatory pre-disaster planning processes, framing effective prevention, preparedness, emergency, recovery, and reconstruction actions, combining the focus on 'building back better' with that on 'planning for resilience'.

Keywords: natural disasters, hazards, cascading risks, recovery, prevention, resilience, vulnerability, participatory approach, integrated governance.