Disaster Risk Mapping: A Desk Review of Global Best Practices and Evidence for South Asia

Giriraj Amarnath, Upali A. Amarasinghe and Niranga Alahacoon
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Giriraj Amarnath: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 127 Sunil Mawatha, Battaramulla, Colombo 10120, Sri Lanka
Upali A. Amarasinghe: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 127 Sunil Mawatha, Battaramulla, Colombo 10120, Sri Lanka
Niranga Alahacoon: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 127 Sunil Mawatha, Battaramulla, Colombo 10120, Sri Lanka

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-23

Abstract: The frequency, intensity, and variability of natural hazards are increasing with climate change. Detailed sub-national information on disaster risks associated with individual and multi-hazards enables better spatial targeting of adaptation and mitigation measures. This paper reviews the global best practices of disaster risk mapping (DRM) to assess the nature and magnitude of disasters, and the vulnerability and risks at the sub-national level in South Asian countries. While some global DRMs focus on vulnerability, others assess risks. Most DRMs focus on national-level vulnerability and risks. Those which focus on the sub-national risks have a limited scope and different methodologies for evaluating risks, mainly in relation to the population. Climate change exposes not only people but also many infrastructures, assets and their impacts to disaster risk. For DRMs to be useful tools for sub-national planning, they require a coherent methodology and a high-resolution spatial focus. The vulnerability and risk assessments should focus on different aspects, including population, infrastructure, and assets in various economic sectors of agriculture, industry, and services.

Keywords: disaster risk mapping; climate hazards; vulnerability; agriculture; South Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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