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Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards in Earthquake-prone & Volcanic Regions

Programme background

Earthquakes and volcanoes cause enormous human suffering and economic damage, accounting for the loss of millions of lives, and at a cost of billions of dollars. Further research effort is needed to enhance the understanding of the physical processes behind such natural hazards, but also their effects and implications for their prediction and mitigation.

This interdisciplinary programme aims to build resilience in earthquake-prone and volcanic regions by reducing risks from multiple natural hazards, increasing population resilience to high impact events, particularly as they increase in severity and frequency.

A strong interdisciplinary approach to research throughout this programme aims to improve forecasting and uptake of scientific advice and increase understanding of vulnerability and risk.

The longer-term economic and social costs of disasters resulting from earthquakes, volcanoes and associated hazards (eg landslides and mudflows), through damage to local or regional economies, impacts on long-term health, well-being, business, housing and education are immense, particularly in the developing world.

Many scientists believe that the potential for a one million death disaster is accelerating and may be realised soon.

Natural hazard-related losses are expanding rapidly, due to the increasing exposure and vulnerability of human populations in affected regions.

This is partly explained by population growth and urbanisation, but is also as the result of the poor utilisation of available natural hazard science, during regional development planning as well as in emergency decision-making processes during a crisis.

Society places increasing emphasis on mitigating these risks and building societal resilience, for instance through capacity building and emergency preparation. Every dollar spent in preparing for a natural disaster saves seven in response.

This programme aims to combine and build on the strengths of natural and social sciences and has the potential to significantly reduce losses over time, help preparation and post-event management, and help minimise vulnerability and long-term damage.