FIMDP 2013
DEPT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
SRM MEDICAL COLLEGE ,SRM UNIVERSITY
&
UNSW AUSTRALIA
9TH & 10TH JAN 2013
Environment Management and Disaster
Preparedness
Suresh Mariaselvam, Asst. Professor, School of Public Health,
SRM University
What is Disaster?
Disaster can be defined as “a serious disruption of thefunctioning of a community or a society causingwidespread human, material, economic or environmentallosses which exceed the ability of the affected communityor society to cope using its own resources.”
Disasters result from the combination of hazards,conditions of vulnerability and insufficient capacity ormeasures to reduce the potential negative consequencesof risk
Risk
Risk is the probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced hazards and vulnerable conditions. Risk is conventionally expressed by the equation:
Risk = Hazard x VulnerabilityWe also use the notation:
Risk = Hazards x Vulnerability _________________________
Capacity
Concept: Hazard
Hazard is a potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Hazards can be single, sequential or combined in
their origin and effects. Hazardous events can vary in magnitude or
intensity, frequency, duration, area of extent, speed of on set, spatial dispersion and temporal spacing. Based on their causes, hazards are categorized into
two broad types – Natural hazards and Human –induced hazards.
Types of Disasters
• Hydrological: Water and climate related
• Geological: Earthquake, Tsunami
• Chemical, Industrial and Nuclear related
• Accidents and War related and
• Biological
Unnatural deaths in 2009- Causes, Number and as a percentage of the Total deaths (357,021)Source: National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)
Disaster Impact
• Disasters eroded nearly 2 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 1996-2001
• It consumes 12% of the Government’s revenue.• Disasters impacts 6 % of the population
annually vicious cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
• India’s human development goals gets jeopardized
Hazard
Flood
Cyclone
Earthquake
Tsunami
Volcanic eruption
Drought
Landslide
Biological
DISASTER
Vulnerability component
Livelihood & its resilience
Base-line statusWell-being
Self-protection
Social Protection
Governance
SocialStructures &
Power Systems
Class
Gender
Ethnicity
Social equity
National & International
Political Economy
Power relations
Demographics
Conflicts & War
Environmental Trends
Debt Crises
Etc
Pressure and Release (PAR) model
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
• A global Agreement that set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• 175 countries signed up
Kyoto Protocol Aims:
• Share of CO2 Emissions in 1990
• Industrialised countries to cut emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008/12
• Had varying targets EU by 8% and Japan 5% (It is a lower polluter)
• Countries like Iceland were allowed to increase emissions
Common root causes –> Risk components
Natural and human-induced hazardse.g.: geological, hydro-meteorological
hazards, land degradation, climate change, etc.
Socio-economic: poverty,unplanned urban growth, lack of awareness
and institutional capacities...
Physical: insufficient land use planning, housing, infrastructures located in hazard prone areas...
Environmental impactecosystem degradation; coastal, watershed,
marshlands…), etc.
HAZARDS +
EXTREME EVENTS
VULNERABILITY/ Capacities
IVision
The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)2005-2015: Building the resilience of Nations and Communities to disasters
Adopted by 168 governments at the 2nd World Conference on Disaster Reduction (GA res.) in Kobe, Japan on January 2005(more than 4000 participants)
III
Priorities for action 2005-2015
1. Policies and governance: ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with strong institutional basis for implementation.
2. Risk identification: identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning.
3. Knowledge: use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels.
4. Reducing the underlying risk factors: 1. Environment and natural resources management. 2. Social and economic development practices. 3. Land-use planning, building codes and other technical measures.
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response
Environmental resources – at Risk?
• Air – Composition, wind, GHG, weather
• Land/Soil – bio-productivity system
• Water bodies
• Water supply – drinking, households, irrigation
• Food supply
• Health resources
• Safe dwelling
• Mainstreaming Disaster into Development
What is environmental hazard?
'Environmental hazard ' is a generic term for any situation or state of events which poses a threat to the surrounding environment. This term incorporates topics like pollution and
natural hazards such as storms and earthquakes.
Climate Change and Health: Pathways
Climate change
Social, economic, demographic disruptionsChanges to biological
processes, timing
Changes to ecosystem structure and function
Direct impacts
Indirect impacts, via changes to mediating systems and processes
Health impacts
e.g. heatwaves, floods, bushfires
Fisheries: composition, yield Nutrient cyclesForest productivity
Changes to physical systems/processes
Urban air pollutant formation Freshwater supplies
Mosquito numbers, range Photosynthetic activity reduced food yields
1
2
3
(McMichael, 2005)
What kinds of environmental hazards should we be concerned about?
• Air pollutants– Indoor air pollutants– Outdoor air pollutants
• Water shortage and pollutants• Food hazards• Housing hazards• Occupational Hazards• Insect and Rodents’ Hazards• Pesticides• Soil contamination
ERC approaches
1. Multi-Stakeholders approach
2. Multi-Hazards approach
3. Multi-Sectoral approach
4. Multi-Disciplinary approach
5. Multi-perspective approach
6. Community-based approach
7. Academic research based approach