EC: Using science for disaster risk reduction


The third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction kicked off in Sendai, Japan, on 14 March. Several thousand participants are attending the four-day conference where also JRC Director-General, Vladimir Šucha, is presenting the role and potential of science and technology in disaster risk reduction and the future JRC knowledge centre for disaster risk management. Speaking at the conference on Sunday, the JRC Director-General stated that 'The post-2015 UN framework for disaster risk reduction is closely linked to the post-2015 agendas for sustainable development and climate change. The JRC aims to provide coherent scientific support in these three areas and has already been contributing to building a sound knowledge base relevant to disaster risk management. In collaboration with other Commission services, the JRC intends to create a knowledge centre for disaster risk management to further enhance and exploit the evidence base in this area.' 

The Sendai conference offers an ideal platform for demonstrating how science and technology can contribute to disaster prevention, preparedness, response and reconstruction, an area in which the JRC has widely recognised expertise. JRC's advanced information systems monitor and analyse different types of natural and man-made disasters such as forest fires, tsunamis or health hazards, contributing to minimising their impact. 

With these systems, the JRC supports the work of the EU institutions and their strategic partners, including for instance UN organisations. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) is an example of a cooperation framework with the United Nations. It provides alerts and impact estimations after major disasters through a disaster impact assessment service managed by the JRC and it is used by many government and disaster response organisations worldwide. 

Apart from the practical application of JRC tools in disaster risk management, the scientific data of JRC applications contain a wealth of information that can be used for science-based advice for policies aimed at disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and better response coordination. 

This expertise provides the JRC with a strong impetus to play an active role in the Sendai conference. In particular, the JRC's work will contribute to the "post 2015 agenda for disaster risk reduction", which is one of the expected outcomes of the discussions and exchanges taking place in Sendai.

 



 

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