Environment and Disaster

Planning

Hari Srinivas, GDRC

Rajib Shaw, Kyoto University

Contents of the presentation:

-What is the problem?
-Precautionary Principles
-Environment and Disaster Planning (EDP) Framework
-EDP Tools
-Steps to consider in EDP
-Post-disaster: EDP things to consider

Environment and Disaster Planning (EDP)

There are
environmental
aspects, tools and
strategies that need to
be considered at
every stage of the
disaster cycle

Session 3 will focus on environmental planning as a process for preparing a set of

decisions for action in the future, directed at achieving disaster mitigation goals.
It will illustrate some of the tools that can be used to integrate and link environment
and disaster dimensions in planning processes

What is the Problem?

Level
1

Level
2

Integrating environmental planning and disaster management

raises problems at three levels:
Lack of awareness in
preparing for disasters at
all levels

Environment
Planning

Disaster
Planning

Not incorporating
disaster
dimensions

Level
3

Not incorporating
environmental
dimensions

Lack of Finances and budgetary allocations

Human resources
Legislation and rules
Other resources

Precautionary Principle and Disaster Management

A good starting point is using the Precautionary Principles for
environment and disaster planning

The Precautionary
Principle is a well know
approach to prevent or
reduce negative impacts on
the environment
lack of scientific
certainty is no reason
to postpone action to
avoid potentially
serious or irreversible
harm to the
environment.

1. Preventative anticipation
2. Safe-guarding of ecological
space
3. Proportionality of response
4. Duty of care
5. Promoting the cause of
intrinsic natural rights
6. Paying for past ecological
debt

An EDP Framework
In attempting to incorporate environmental dimensions in disaster
management, it is useful to create a framework of actors and actions
covering the management of governance, education , and technology
Governance
Solid Waste
Urban
Components

Education

Technology

Management
Systems

Water
Energy
Transportation
Housing

Actors and
Actions

EDP Tools Overview

1. Environmental
profiling
2. Eco and
Hazard Mapping

Planning
Options

Assessment
of Options
3. ERA
4. EIA
6. Environmental
Management
Systems (EMS)

Implementing
action

5. SEA

EDP Tools for

Planning Options

1 Environmental Profiling*

Introduction to the City

Creating an environmental profile
of an urban area is a first and
critical step in understanding the
interactions between the local
environment and disaster
vulnerabilities it faces.

Development Setting
Environmental Setting
Disaster Setting
Environmental Management
for Disaster Preparedness

EDP Tools for

Planning Options

2 Eco and Hazard Mapping

Create a map of the city

Eco and hazard mapping is

a simple visual tool that
creates an inventory of
environmental assets of an
urban area, and the
vulnerabilities and risks it
faces.

Locate and mark critical

environmental features, natural
and man-made
On the map, mark all
vulnerabilities and hazards faced
by communities, business and
industry and other sectors
Identify and indicate potential
causes and effects of the risks

EDP Tools for

Assessment

3 Environmental Risk Assessment

Problem Identification

ERA is a systematic analysis of

the likelihood that the
environment will experience a
specified level of harm as a
result of a natural disaster or a
planned human activity.

Risk Characterization
Risk Management
Risk Review
Communication and
Consultation

EDP Tools for

Assessment

4 Environmental Impact Assessment

Baseline studies
EIA is a formal process used to
predict the environmental
consequences of a project or an
event. EIA ensures that the
potential problems are foreseen
and addressed at an early stage.

Impact Evaluation / Assessment

Documentation
Decision-making
Post-audit evaluation

EDP Tools for

Assessment

5 Strategic Environmental Assessment

A. Context and Baseline

SEA is a process to ensure that

significant environmental effects
arising from disasters are identified,
assessed, mitigated, communicated
to decision-makers, monitored and
that public involvement is ensured.

B. Scope/Alternatives

C. Assessment/Mitigation

D. Consultation Process

E. Monitoring

EDP Tools for

Implementation

6 Environmental Management Systems

Policy Development

EMS is a problem-identification and

problem-solving tool, based on the
concept of continual improvement,
that can be implemented in an urban
area in many different ways

Planning Action
Implementation/Operation
Checking/Corrective
Action
Management Review

Steps to take in EDP

Identify the key stakeholders and establish their roles, resources, and
concerns.
Evaluate the hazards and risks that may result in emergency situations
in the community.
Have stakeholders review their own plans to ensure a coordinated
response, and identify lacks and gaps.
Match these tasks to the resources of the identified participants.
Identify resources needed, make necessary changes to improve plans,
and integrate them into an overall community plan.
Get political commitment from local and national governments.
Educate and train participating groups about the integrated plan,
including emergency responders.
Establish procedures for periodic testing, review, and updating of the
plan.

Issues to consider in EDP 1

Build local community
capacity
For
Pre-and post-disaster resilience

Share and exchange

information
For
Learning Opportunity

Create partnerships
& alliances
For
Responsive Actions

Develop learning and

decision-making tools
For
Mapping and planning

Issues to consider in EDP 2

Help find appropriate and sustainable solutions
Record and provide critical experiences and lessons learnt in the
disaster
Inventorize institutional and individual knowledge gained from
responding to the future disaster
Capacitate local communities to prepare them for the next disaster
Channel scarce funds to appropriate and critical areas that need
them

Post-Disaster: EDP Things to Consider

Appropriate environment management and quick restoration is
also crucial in the wake of disasters
Proper waste management: clearing, sorting, recycling/reuse,
disposal of disaster debris
Assessing water contamination and pollution, for drinking and
for other purposes
Appropriate handling of hazardous and toxic materials
Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) of the environmental
damage