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

Visual impact

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

Concept of Disaster

Concept of Disaster

Mitigation & Preparedness

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

Natural Disasters

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

Visual impact

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

Impact of Disasters

Disaster Event

EnvironmentalPhysical

Economic

Social

The Kyoto Protocol

Reaching Global Agreements 1997

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

SUMMARY of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: 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

Disaster Management Cycle

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

Global EH Scenario

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Health_effects_of_pollution.png

EH factors influencing attainment of Health For All

Cyclone Thane Assessment

Relationship between and activities of Coordination and Resource Centres at different levels

Environment Resource Centre Framework

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

ERC - Strategy

MUCH DONE, MUCH MORE TO DO

THANK YOU