Invited Perspective: Building sustainable and resilient communities – Recommended actions for natural hazard scientists

Abstract

Abstract. Reducing disaster risk is critical to securing the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and natural hazard scientists make a key contribution to achieving this aim. Understanding Earth processes and dynamics underpins hazard analysis, which (alongside analysis of other disaster risk drivers) informs the actions required to manage and reduce disaster risk. Here we suggest how natural hazard research scientists can better contribute to the planning and development of sustainable and resilient communities through improved engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Building on existing good practice, this perspective piece aims to provoke discussion in the natural hazard science community about how we can strengthen our engagement in DRR. We set out seven recommendations for enhancing the integration of natural hazard science into DRR: (i) characterise multi-hazard environments, (ii) prioritise effective, positive, long-term partnerships, (iii) understand and listen to your stakeholders, (iv) embed cultural understanding into natural hazards research, (v) ensure improved and equitable access to hazards information, (vi) champion people-centred DRR (leaving no one behind), and (vii) improve links between DRR and sustainable development. We then proceed to synthesise key actions that natural hazards scientists and research funders should consider taking to improve education, training, and research design, and to strengthen institutional, financial and policy actions. We suggest that these actions should help to strengthen the effective application of natural hazards science to reduce disaster risk. By recognising and taking steps to address the issues raised in these recommendations, we propose that the natural hazard science community can more effectively contribute to the inter/transdisciplinary, integrated work required to improve DRR.

Working with communities on disaster risk research: Reflections from cross-disciplinary practice

“…Since the arguments for community engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR) are well-rehearsed across disciplines [e.g. 6,7,8,9], in this article we focus more on the research process, presenting a series of reflections and lessons from field experience as a shared activity that can, should, and now commonly does, cross disciplinary boundaries. The perspectives assembled in this editorial are drawn from collective experiences of this group about what tends not to work in community engagement and what we perceive can make it more effective (recognising that any such process has flaws -see below -and that it is next to impossible, and most likely arrogant, to point to examples of unalloyed success).…”

“…Both practitioners and researchers advocate for making activities 'people-centred' or 'needs-centred' in approach [9,14]. This refers to basing enquiry and applied research around the risk concerns, priorities and associated needs of people who directly face its consequences: crafting research to help provide what people at the sharp end of risk need, and want, to manage their problem.…”

A Scientometric Review of Urban Disaster Resilience Research

“…In practice, the disaster resilience practices in residential communities were identified, and the stakeholder views on disaster resilience practices of residential communities were analyzed [ 105 ]. Additionally, seven recommendations for enhancing the integration of natural hazard science into disaster risk reduction were set out, which can better contribute to the planning and development of sustainable and resilient communities [ 106 ].…”