A New Framework for a Resilience-Based Disaster Risk Management

Abstract

This chapter aims at providing hints to improve existing frameworks for disaster risk management based on a review of the main documents framing disaster management within the last two and a half decades and with reference to the potential contribution of resilience thinking. The evolution path of disaster risk management shows that, although some progresses have been made, there are still numerous gaps to be filled. On the opposite, focusing on the increasing convergence of resilience and disaster studies, it emerges that a resilience-based approach could still provide significant theoretical and operational inputs towards an improved disaster risk management. In particular, this chapter emphasizes the potential contribution of resilience thinking in developing a new framework for guiding disaster risk management capable of (1) taking into consideration the rapidly changing risk landscapes due to the interplay between climate change and the consequent increase of hazardous events, urbanization patterns and the complex interrelationships among them; (2) shifting from sectoral approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR) towards integrated approaches and cross-sectoral strategies and tools; (3) embracing transformational perspectives to significantly reduce disaster losses and achieve sustainability goals; (4) improving learning capacity through the setting up of continual learning processes; (5) emphasizing the role of spatial and land use planning for DRR; and (6) developing more innovative governance models based on collaboration, shared responsibility and active engagement of the stakeholders.