Presentation of German Poveda, ICSU ROLAC Steering Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction, on the Priority Area of DRR for the #ICSUFocalPointsinLAC workshop in Universidad de Panamá March 9-10, 2015

1. ROLAC Priority Areas:
Disaster Risk Reduction
Germán Poveda
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia
Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y
Naturales
Workshop of ICSU Focal Points in Latin America and the Caribbean
University of Panama, Panama City
March 9th-10th, 2015

2. Natural Hazards & Unnatural Disasters
• Latin America naturally is a prone-hazard
territory; Weak scientific research; Institutional
weakness.
• 9 out the world’s top 20 countries most exposed
to disaster-led economic impacts are in the
region.
• Disasters in LAC: Drag down development and
threaten the region’s social and economic gains.
• Price tag: Over US$2 billion annually – Costly
option of the region (World Bank).

3. From Emergency Response to Prevention
• Reducing vulnerability is key to these
efforts in a region which has seen its share
of disasters increase over the years, partly
as a result of changes in weather patterns.
• Exposure to cyclones and earthquakes will
double for Latin American populations,
from current 700 million people to 1.5
billion people by 2050 (Natural Hazards,
Unnatural Disasters Report).

4. Urbanization – Increasing Risks
• Over 80% population lives in cities.
• Focus on: Improving urban planning,
infrastructure and building safety.
• Reinforcing drainage systems to reduce
flooding, storm and health threats.
• Installing early warning systems, conducting
public preparedness drills.
• Adopting measures to adapt to the increasing
impact of climate change.

5. Central America and the Caribbean:
Destructive power of hurricanes have been in the
increase in the last 30 years (Emanuel, 2005)
Increase power of hurricanes is associated with
warming of tropical oceans !

6. More Hydro-Meteorologic Extreme Events?
Two “Droughts of the Century” in Amazonia (2005 and 2010)
Courtesy: C. A. Nobre

7. More frequent ENSO
events? foto: Juca Martins
fonte: NOAA

8. Atypical Phenomena: Hurricane Catarina, March 2004
- First and only hurricane in Brazil
Hurricane Catarina (March 2004) Image NASA Courtesy: C. A. Nobre

9. Deforestation in Colombia:
Risks and Socio-Environmental Vulnerability
+ =

10. Observed Impacts of Climate Change
(Magrin et al, Ch.27, AR5 IPCC, 2014)

11. Observed Impacts of Climate Change
(Magrin et al, Ch.27, AR5 IPCC, 2014)

12. The Role of Science
• Research on Natural Sciences for Risk
identification: Hydrology, Climatology,
Meteorology, Oceanography, Seismology,
Vulcanology, Geomorphology, Soil
Sciences,...Tons of work to be done!
• Prevention and Mitigation: Measuring,
Modelling, Forecasting and Prediction.
• Land Use & Land Change; Territorial
Planning and Management.
• The need to couple and involve Natural and
Social Sciences!

13. Muchas Gracias!