Tackling exposure: Placing disaster risk management at the heart of national economic and fiscal policy

Abstract

The number of disasters is increasing. When combined with upward trends in losses from economic disasters, it is clear that paying for disaster relief and recovery at such large scales is unsustainable, in both human and financial terms. Economic exposure to disasters is increasing faster than per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and the impacts of climate change on the severity and frequency of hazards will accentuate existing trends in disaster losses in the future. While support for effective disaster relief and recovery must remain, there should be a greater emphasis on proactive efforts to reduce risk, based on comprehensive risk assessments and the integration of risk-reduction measures into national economic and development planning. This CDKN guide aims to support national planners and policy-makers and to strengthen their disaster risk management efforts.

Citation

Mitchell, T.; Mechler, R.; Harris, K. Tackling exposure: Placing disaster risk management at the heart of national economic and fiscal policy. (2012) 16 pp.

Tackling exposure: Placing disaster risk management at the heart of national economic and fiscal policy

Published 1 January 2012