UNU report: Environmental degradation increases the disaster risk worldwide

Press release:

WorldRiskReport 2012 launched in Brussels

Brussels – Environmental degradation is a significant factor that reduces the adaptive capacity of societies to deal with disaster risk in many countries around the globe. The balance sheet for the ten years from 2002 to 2011 is alarming: 4,130 disasters, over one million dead and economic losses of at least 1.195 trillion US dollars. This is demonstrated by the 2nd edition of the WorldRiskReport launched in Brussels today.

The report is presented by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU‐EHS), the Alliance Development
Works/Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The Alliance is the publisher of the report.

The centerpiece of the report, the WorldRiskIndex, developed by UNU‐EHS in Bonn in cooperation with the Alliance determines the risk of becoming the victim of a disaster as a result of natural hazards for 173 countries throughout the world. According to the presently available data, the Pacific Island state of Vanuatu has the highest disaster risk, at 36.31 per cent. Malta and Qatar, at 0.61 and 0.10 per cent respectively, face the lowest risk worldwide. At 3.48 per cent Belgium ranks 142th and is therefore in the lowest of the five risk categories. Additionally, the 2012 report highlights the aspect of environmental degradation and disasters.

The risk calculated by the index is determined by the extent to which communities are exposed to natural hazards such as droughts, storms or earthquakes, but also by their degree of vulnerability. The latter is dependent on social factors such as the public infrastructure, medical services, the prevailing nutritional situation, governance, the level of education, the availability of insurances that might help to deal with economic losses in an event, as well as the condition of the environment.

The WorldRiskIndex reveals global hotspots for disaster risk in Oceania, Southeast Asia, the southern Sahel and especially in Central America and the Caribbean. "In these places a very high threat of natural disasters and climate change meets very vulnerable communities," explained Prof. Dr. Jakob Rhyner,

"An example of one such risk hotspot is Haiti. In New Zealand and Haiti earthquakes of similar severity occurred shortly after each other. Whilst New Zealand had a death toll of 187, the earthquake in Haiti cost the lives of over 220,000 people. Additionally, Haiti is characterized by a high level of environmental degradation – it is placed on rank 4 worldwide regarding environmental degradation (New Zealand is placed on rank 142)", added PD Dr. Jörn Birkmann, Scientific Head of the WorldRiskIndex project at the UN University in Bonn. Especially, deforestation and insufficient land management are increasing the risks with regard to landslides and flooding”, he underscored.

"The new WorldRiskReport gives us a vivid picture of how environmental destruction on a global scale is increasingly becoming a direct threat to human beings as well. Where slopes have been deforested, where protective reefs, mangroves and wetlands have degenerated or even completely disappeared, the forces of nature impact with far higher force on inhabited areas," stated Peter Mucke, Director of Alliance Development Works on the occasion of the launch.

However, environmental conservation and restoration can play a significant role in disaster risk reduction. TNC’s marine scientist Dr. Christine Shepard notes that “Coral reefs, oyster reefs and mangroves offer flexible and cost‐effective first lines of defense, as well as other benefits like healthy fisheries and tourism that sea walls and breakwaters will never provide“. The report highlights that there are some 200 million at‐risk people globally who may receive risk reduction benefits from coral reefs alone. TNC was a cooperation partner in developing the focal point of this year’s report on “Environmental degradation and disasters”.

"The reciprocal relationship between environmental degradation and disaster risk has not been given enough attention by governments up until now. Disaster prevention taking 'green solutions' into account should become a fundamental part of international development negotiations”, Alliance Director Mucke emphasized.

Contacts:
UN UNIVERSITY
Institute for Environment and
Human Security
Hermann‐Ehlers‐Str. 10
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel .+ 49‐228‐815‐0285
fiser@vie.unu.edu
www.ehs.unu.edu

Alliance Development Works
Chausseestraße 128/129
10115 Berlin
Phone +49‐30 ‐278 77 390
presse@entwicklung‐hilft.de
www.entwicklung‐hilft.de

The Nature Conservancy
Long Marine Laboratory
100 Shaffer Road
Santa Cruz CA 95060
Tel. +1‐ 831‐4777‐649
cshepard@TNC.org
www.nature.org