APRU's Academic Contributions to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

It is widely recognized that implementation of DRR in the most effective and efficient manner must be on the basis of large amount of data and information. Moreover, research results developed in academia and private research facilities must be utilized by and shared with various stakeholders such as governments, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and especially communities with higher risks of disasters due to factors as simple as their geography. Natural disaster-related policies and decision making must be ideally supported by scientific data and evince.

The APRU Multi-Hazards Program identified six major issues and challenges in the region:

1

Data sharing is difficult among different countries/economies

2

Lack of research into causes and consequences of Pacific rim disasters

3

ack of higher education specialized in disaster management and DRR

4

Linkages and platforms are missing between academia, practitioners, governments, and policy-makers to encourage and ongoing dialogue that crosses all borders

5

Lessons learnt, and scientific reports and findings not being fully assimilated in societal learning environments to feed institutional, legal and political changes

6

Disaster awareness and knowledge at community level is insufficient