Transforming Development and Disaster Risk

Frank Thomalla, Michael Boyland, Karlee Johnson, Jonathan Ensor, Heidi Tuhkanen, Åsa Gerger Swartling, Guoyi Han, John Forrester and Darin Wahl
Additional contact information
Frank Thomalla: Stockholm Environment Institute, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Michael Boyland: Stockholm Environment Institute, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Karlee Johnson: Stockholm Environment Institute, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Jonathan Ensor: International Centre of Excellence on Transforming Development and Disaster Risk, Stockholm Environment Institute and Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Heidi Tuhkanen: International Centre of Excellence on Transforming Development and Disaster Risk, Stockholm Environment Institute and Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Åsa Gerger Swartling: Stockholm Environment Institute, 10451 Stockholm, Sweden
Guoyi Han: International Centre of Excellence on Transforming Development and Disaster Risk, Stockholm Environment Institute and Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
John Forrester: Stockholm Environment Institute, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
Darin Wahl: College of Urban and Public Affairs: Nohad A. Toulon School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: This article focuses on the complex relationship between development and disaster risk. Development and disaster risk are closely linked as the people and assets exposed to risk, as well as their vulnerability and capacity, are largely determined by development processes. Transformation is key to moving from current development patterns that increase, create or unfairly distribute risks, to forms of development that are equitable, resilient and sustainable. Based on a review of existing literature, we present three opportunities that have the potential to lead to transformation in the development-disaster risk relationship: (i) exposing development-disaster risk trade-offs in development policy and decision-making; (ii) prioritizing equity and social justice in approaches to secure resilience; and (iii) enabling transformation through adaptive governance. This research aims to contribute to breaking down existing barriers in research, policy and practice between the disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and development communities by providing cross-sectoral opportunities to operationalize theoretical knowledge on transformation. It also helps to clarify the connections between different global agendas by positioning transformation as a potential bridging concept to link disconnected policy processes. This paper argues for empirical research to test the opportunities presented here and further define transformative pathways at multiple scales.

Keywords: transformation; sustainable development; disaster risk; trade-offs; equitable resilience; adaptive governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1458-:d:145016

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