Disaster management, climate change and variability and social resilience

O'Brien, Geoff (2008) Disaster management, climate change and variability and social resilience. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.

Preview

PDF (PhD thesis) o'brien.geoff_phd pub.pdf Download (11MB) | Preview

Abstract

Disaster Management, Climate Change and Variability and Social Resilience Abstract Accelerated climate change and increasing climate variability caused by increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is the single largest threat to the international goals of sustainable development, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and disaster risk reduction. Global discourses recognise the need for effective and sustainable responses to produced climate risks. The risk types likely to occur are known, but only in broad terms. That they are produced by human action is accepted; but their scale, severity, longevity and frequency are not known. The challenge for policymakers is developing an effective framework within which sustainable responses can be formulated. Addressing the problems of produced risks requires a comprehensive approach to risk management to be effective. The mechanisms within the climate change, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction discourses are not sufficiently effective or integrated to respond to this challenge. Fundamental reform to current modes of risk reduction is needed, but this can only be achieved by a shift in the dominant perspective on formulating sustainable responses. This requires a shift to an enabling policy framework that encourages bottom-up resilient responses. Resilience is argued as a tool for policy development that can enhance adaptive capacity to current climate risks and shape energy policy to respond to mitigate future climate risks. Keywords Climate Change and Variability; Disaster Management; Resilience; Vulnerability; Sustainable Development; Risk

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads