FrenchRisk Management
Risk Management
Reference point for discussion from the beacons
Water related risks are increasing owing to population growth, settlement practises, economic developments and climate change. At the same time, in countries that have achieved already a high standard of protection, the acceptance of risk is decreasing. The outcome of the preparatory process of the compilation of this thematic document on Risk Management could be summed up in the following 7 key messages:
1. Stepping up investments in structural measures is necessary to reach “water security”, i.e. coping with too much or too little water. The strategy should incorporate also the non-structural measures and include coping with risks.
2. Water management should learn how to factor water hazard risks along with compounding pressures, such as demography, land use, including urbanization and deforestation, and climate.
3. Capacity development programmes for water managers as well as public awareness raising programmes on risk management are direly wanted.
4. Adequate transfer of new technological developments and knowledge dissemination, in particular to the Least Developed Countries, is urgently needed.
5. The international community should agree on the global target “to halve the number of losses of human lives due to water related disasters by 2015”.
6. The international development and financial institutions should focus more on disaster risk reduction and move from response to preparedness to risks.
7. There is a need to build up the resilience to hazards in society, through a participatory assessment of risks, vulnerabilities and capacities linked to action planning by communities.
These messages should be seen as perspectives for the future development of Risk Management, not only for discussions within this framework theme at the 4th World Water Forum.
Key messages from the Voices of the Forum :
- Increased risks call for action at every level
- Conflicts
- Monitoring, global sharing for local access, Hydro-meteorological data as a basis
- Fostering a “Culture of risk”
- Adapted infrastructures: integrating climate variability and ecosystem approaches
- Emergency response : Preparation, responsibilities, cooperation and long-term involvement
- Groundwater resources are also at risk
Sessions synthesis
Please click on any underlined session number to accede to the corresponding session synthesis.
FT5.00
The sustainability of water and sanitation services in the context of disaster risk reduction - A contribution towards the implementation of the Hyogo framework for action: 2005-2015
FT5.01
Opportunities of river flood risks: social, economical, spatial and communication aspects
Reducing West Africa's vulnerability to climate impacts on water resources
Risk management assessment in river basins
FT5.04
Partnership building at community level
FT5.05
Hurricane Katrina and other major water-related disasters:lessons learned for managing risk
Sharing experiences for water-related disaster risk management
FT5.07
People-centered early warning systems for water-related disasters
FT5.08
Coastal development and defense in the low lands
Groundwater and risk management: coping with water scarcity, climate change and emergency situations
The role of forests in water-related natural disaster risk management
Managing drought risks - Role of improved preparedness and management
FT5.12
Tools for capacity building in risk management
Development and implementation of water information systems
Tsunami-15 months later
Broadening perspectives in the face of increasing risks
Role of dams and reservoirs in Integrated Flood Management
Managing safe drinking water in areas of armed conflict and ecological disaster from a gender perspective
FT5.18
Space-based water observations - alliances for providing information essential for managing the world's water resources
FT5.19
Collaborative approach among international agencies for effective flood management-International Flood Initiative (IFI)
Flash floods
FT5.21
Environmental vulnerability: the importance of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach
FT5.22
Integrated risk management in mediterranean towns:experience sharing
FT5.23
Floods, droughts and risk management
FT5.24
Flood management
FT5.25
The management of extreme water phenomenons: floods and droughts
FT5.26
Water quality and public health
Intergenerational dialogue
FT5.28
Extreme hydrometeorological events (hurricanes, especially Wilma and Stan)
FT5.29
Water resources information systems
FT5.30
The global climate change and urban flood mitigation
FT5.31
Conflict and water management
The manifold dimensions of groundwater sustainability