Making seismic risk information open and accessible: A collaboration between PreventionWeb and GEM foundation

A powerful new resource for understanding and mitigating earthquake risk at the national level is now available on the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) PreventionWeb platform. This collaboration between UNDRR PreventionWeb and the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation makes over 200 country and territory seismic risk profiles accessible to a diverse global audience.

These comprehensive profiles, developed by GEM, provide stakeholders in risk management with a vital overview of seismic risk in each country or territory. Each profile explores social and risk indicators, detailing factors like population density, building types, and historical earthquake impact. Additionally, loss curves depict potential losses based on different earthquake return periods, and maps visualise the geographical distribution of hazard, exposure, and potential losses.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in open access to critical disaster risk information.

“Making this wealth of information readily available on PreventionWeb aligns perfectly with UNDRR’s mission to promote understanding and action on disaster risk reduction. By providing stakeholders with these insights, we can work together to better understand earthquake risk and build more resilient communities,” says Ms. Paola Albrito, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Director of UNDRR.

“Open access to data and knowledge is fundamental for effective risk reduction strategies,” says Helen Crowley, GEM Secretary General. “This collaboration with UNDRR PreventionWeb ensures that our country and territory seismic risk profiles can reach the widest possible audience, informing decision-making, enhancing disaster preparedness and minimising earthquake losses.”

Making these profiles available on a widely recognised platform like PreventionWeb, GEM and UNDRR enable stakeholders at various levels to make informed decisions about earthquake risk mitigation. This collaborative effort promotes a deeper understanding of seismic risk on a national scale, ultimately contributing to a safer future for communities around the world.

To access the profiles, visit the following:

PreventionWeb - https://www.preventionweb.net/knowledge-base/continents-countries

GEM website - https://www.globalquakemodel.org/product/seismic-risk-profiles