Prof. David AlexanderCESPRO - University of FlorenceProf. David AlexanderProf. David Alexander

CESPROCESPRO -- University of FlorenceUniversity of Florence

The Social andEconomic Dimensions

of Vulnerability

The Social andThe Social andEconomic DimensionsEconomic Dimensions

of Vulnerabilityof Vulnerability

HazardHazardHazardx

Vulnerabilityxx

VulnerabilityVulnerability

= Risk== RiskRisk

ImpactImpactImpact

ResponseResponseResponse

VV

Disaster managementDisaster managementDisaster management

Risk managementRisk managementRisk management

Crisis managementCrisis managementCrisis management

Emergency managementEmergency managementEmergency management

AbstractAbstract

ConcreteConcrete ConcentratedConcentrated

DiffuseDiffuseVulnerability management

The main Projects:The main Projects:• ARMONIA: Applied Multi-Risk Mapping

of Natural Hazards for Risk Assessment• CAPHAZ-NET: Social CapacityBuilding for Natural Hazards

• CONHAZ: Costs of Natural Hazards• ENSURE: Enhancing Resilience of

Communities and Territories FacingNatural and Na-Tech Hazards

• MOVE: Methods for the Improvementof Vulnerability Assessment in Europe

• SCENARIO: Support on Common EuropeanStrategy for Sustainable Natural andInduced Technological Hazards Mitigation.

• ARMONIA: Applied Multi-Risk Mappingof Natural Hazards for Risk Assessment

• CAPHAZ-NET: Social CapacityBuilding for Natural Hazards

• CONHAZ:CONHAZ: Costs of Natural HazardsCosts of Natural Hazards• ENSURE:ENSURE: Enhancing Resilience ofEnhancing Resilience of

Communities and Territories FacingCommunities and Territories FacingNatural and NaNatural and Na--Tech HazardsTech Hazards

• MOVE: Methods for the Improvementof Vulnerability Assessment in Europeof Vulnerability Assessment in Europe

•• SCENARIO:SCENARIO: Support on Common EuropeanSupport on Common EuropeanStrategy for Sustainable Natural andStrategy for Sustainable Natural andInduced Technological Hazards MitigationInduced Technological Hazards Mitigation..

Social and economicstudies of vulnerabilitySocial and economicstudies of vulnerabilityFilling the gaps inbasic knowledge:There is a huge lackof knowledge of social& economic vulnerabilityin Europe: projectsaddress this and redress the balancewith respect to studies fromother continents.

Filling the gaps inbasic knowledge:There is a huge lackof knowledge of social& economic vulnerabilityin Europe: projectsaddress this and redress the balancewith respect to studies fromother continents.

Social and economic studies of vulnerabilitySocial and economic studies of vulnerabilityUnderstanding thecomplexity of Europe:The collaborativeperspectives inherentin FP7 projects havethrown light ongeographical and cultural diversitiesand shown how they affect vulnerabilityto hazards andclimate change.

Understanding thecomplexity of Europe:The collaborativeperspectives inherentin FP7 projects havethrown light ongeographical and cultural diversitiesand shown how they affect vulnerabilityto hazards andclimate change.

Social and economicstudies of vulnerabilitySocial and economicstudies of vulnerability

Awareness raisingis fundamental:projects are notonly creating andproviding knowledge,they are also studyingthe process ofknowledge utilisationto ensure that it is efficient and effective.

Awareness raisingis fundamental:projects are notonly creating andproviding knowledge,they are also studyingthe process ofknowledge utilisationto ensure that it is efficient and effective.

Social and economicstudies of vulnerabilitySocial and economicstudies of vulnerability

Projects are building bridges:they are dealing with multiple risks,interdisciplinary consequences, anddynamic and complex vulnerabilities.

Projects are building bridges:they are dealing with multiple risks,interdisciplinary consequences, anddynamic and complex vulnerabilities.

Social andeconomic

studies of vulnerability

Social andeconomic

studies of vulnerability

Projects are building bridges:they are connecting researchers withother constituencies: policy-makers,

planners, technical experts, academics,and communities of citizens.

Projects are building bridges:they are connecting researchers withother constituencies: policy-makers,

planners, technical experts, academics,and communities of citizens.

Social and economicstudies of vulnerabilitySocial and economic

studies of vulnerability

Prevention is paramount: projects on vulnerability are also studying resilience,coping capacity, and the efficiency andeffectiveness of prevention measures.

Prevention is paramount: projects on vulnerability are also studying resilience,coping capacity, and the efficiency andeffectiveness of prevention measures.

Primary• cause and effect

Secondary• interaction of causes

• coincidences

Complex• complicatedinteractions

VULNERABILITYVULNERABILITY

Resilienceand coping capacity

ResilienceResilienceand coping and coping capacitycapacity

Disaster risk Disaster risk reductionreduction

London, United KingdomHeat wavesDrought

North-western PortugalForest firesCoastal erosionMass movements

Barcelona, SpainEarthquakesFloods

Prato, Pistoia, Florence, San Sepolcro, ItalyEarthquakesHydrogeological hazardsFloodsLandslides

South Tyrol (Province of Bolzano)ItalyHeat wavesFloodsLandslidesAvalanches

Salzach River, AustriaFloods and flash floodsAlpine hazardsHazards related to

permafrostdegradation

Cologne/Bonn, GermanyFloodsTemperature shocks

CaseStudies

CaseCaseStudiesStudies

Issues to be tackled in future projects:Issues to be tackled in future projects:

• deliverables should be made availablein different European languages

• deliverables should be made availablein different European languages

• European climate change policy isbeginning to favour adaptation:vulnerability studies must reflect this

• European climate change policy isbeginning to favour adaptation:vulnerability studies must reflect this

• global change is causing fast evolutionof people's exposure to hazards,with many demographic, socialand infrastructural changes.

• global change is causing fast evolutionof people's exposure to hazards,with many demographic, socialand infrastructural changes.

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

These projects represent a concertedeffort to understand, research and diffuseuseful information on European vulnerability

to natural hazards and climate change.

These projects represent a concertedeffort to understand, research and diffuseuseful information on European vulnerability

to natural hazards and climate change.

Only by understanding the causes ofdisaster in terms of patterns and websof vulnerability can we make the vital

shift from reaction to prevention.

Only by understanding the causes ofdisaster in terms of patterns and websof vulnerability can we make the vital

shift from reaction to prevention.

LESSONSLESSONSarchivedarchived

registeredregistered

forgottenforgotten

ignoredignored

learnedlearned

adoptedadopted

utilisedutilised

The gap is being bridged betweenphysical and social sciences

and betweenresearchers and stakeholders

The gap is being bridged betweenThe gap is being bridged betweenphysical and social sciencesphysical and social sciences

and betweenand betweenresearchers and stakeholdersresearchers and stakeholders

Thank you forThank you foryour attention!your attention!

David.Alexander@Unifi.itDavid.Alexander@Unifi.it