Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation—A Sustainable Development Systems Perspective

Abstract

This article considers the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development in relation to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We conceptualize sustainability from a social systemic perspective, that is, from a perspective that encompasses the multiple functionalities of a social system and their interrelationships in particular environmental contexts. The systems perspective is applied in our consideration and analysis of disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development (SD). Section "Sustainability and Sustainable Development" introduces briefly sustainability and sustainable development, followed by a brief presentation of the theory of complex social systems (Section "Social System Model"). The theory conceptualizes interdependent subsystems, their multiple functionalities, and the agential and systemic responses to internal and external stressors on a social system. Section "Case Studies of Response to Stressors" considers disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), emerging in response to one or more systemic stressors. It illustrates these with disaster risk reduction in the cases of food and chemical security regulation in the EU. CCA is illustrated by initiatives and developments on the island of Gotland, Sweden and in the Gothenburg Metropolitan area, which go beyond a limited CCA perspective, taking into account long-term sustainability issues. Section "Sustainable Development as a Societal Development System" discusses the limitations of DRR and CCA, not only their technical limitations but economic, socio-cultural, and political limitations, as informed from a sustainability perspective. It is argued that DRRs are only partial subsystems and must be considered and assessed in the context of a more encompassing systemic perspective. Part of the discussion is focused on the distinction between sustainable and non-sustainable DRRs and CCAs. Section "Concluding Remarks" presents a few concluding remarks about the importance of a systemic perspective in analyzing DRR and CCA as well as other similar subsystems in terms of sustainable development.

Challenges in integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: Exploring the Bangladesh case

“…Climate-induced risks, hazards, extreme events, and uncertainty (Gaillard, Monteil et al 2013, Serrao-Neumann, Crick et al 2015 Searching Updating the policies and practices of linking DRR and CCA (Gaillard, Monteil et al 2013, Schipper, Thomalla et al 2016 Enhancing mitigation to address hazards (Solecki, Leichenko et al 2011, Pilli-Sihvola andVäätäinen-Chimpuku 2016) Relationship between DRR and CCA (Ireland 2010) Taking short-term and long term strategies (Schipper 2009, Burns andMachado Des Johansson 2017) Similarities and differences between DRR and CCA (Mercer 2010, Rivera and Wamsler 2014 Embedding CCA within DRR and DRR within CCA (Mercer 2010, Kelman, Gaillard et al 2015 Identification of overlapping areas between DRR and CCA (Solecki, Leichenko et al 2011) Connecting policies and practices (Mercer 2010, Solecki, Leichenko et al 2011, Lei 2014 Governance strategies for linking DRR and CCA (Forino, von Meding et al 2015), (Howes, Tangney et al 2014). (Gero, Méheux et al 2011) Aiming at similar communities (Mercer 2010, Shaw, Pulhin et al 2012 From Table 1, it is clear that common areas of interest and activities among DRR and CCA not only lead to the increased overlapping of efforts (reducing efficiency), but also create new pathways to integrated practice ( increasing efficiency and effectiveness).…”

“…However, some guidelines for use at the operational and implementation levels need to be provided and hard and fast actions are also needed to have a fruitful integration of DRR and CCA at the local level". Many researchers have also stated that poorly thought out policies aimed at the separate implementation of DRR and CCA hinder their integration (Burns & Machado Des Johansson, 2017;IPCC, 2014;King, Gurtner, Firdaus, Harwood, & Cottrell, 2016;Mercer, 2010).…”

“…The literature also suggests that the progress of social, political and cultural initiatives for integration is slow because of the interests and incentives of the actors in DRR and CCA (Burns & Machado Des Johansson, 2017;Gaillard et al, 2013;Oliver-Smith, 2013). Moreover, linking DRR and CCA might occur if decision makers succeed in bridging local economic, social, and cultural areas of concern (Ireland, 2010;Oliver-Smith, 2013).…”

A Resilient Environment through The Integration of CCA and DRR: An Overview of Existing Challenges

“…The concept of CCA is very broad. CCA, along with DRR, entails constructions or reconstructions of subsystems for the purpose of response to stressors and involve operations such as "avoiding," regulating/blocking reducing vulnerability, transforming the stressors and /or the social system as a whole [22]. CCA strategies exist through local and global scales, from community level responses to local, national and international government interventions ( [21], [23]).…”

Одрживо Управљање Пројектима Планирања Адаптације На Климатске Промене

“…С обзиром на динамику климатских промена, прилагођавање се мора посматрати као постепен, дугорочан процес који захтева холистички приступ. У научним круговима све више преовладава став да је плански приступ заснован на парадигми одрживог развоја адекватан и ефикасан планерски и управљачки оквир за интеграцију мера прилагођавања (Burns & Johansson, 2017;Di Gregorio et al, 2017;Puthucherril, 2015).…”