Science supporting policy in disaster risk management: providing the data and knowledge for transitioning to a climate-proof resilient society

The European Commission discusses the contribution of science to managing risks of current and future disasters at the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction taking place this week in Portugal.

Today, the representatives of the EC's Joint Research Centre will discuss the INFORM risk assessment, an evidence-based methodology to support decision-making on humanitarian crises and disasters, extended recently to the regions of Caucasus and Central Asia and South Eastern Europe. JRC's speakers will also be part of the focused thematic discussion aiming to integrate good practice in managing risks related to industrial and chemical hazard into the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The European Commission organises on Friday the session on EU-Research and Networking in support of the Sendai Framework for Action, and participates on Thursday in the debate on Science Policy Interface Improving Data for DRR. The representatives of the EC's Joint Research Centre will share the findings of the recent 5th annual seminar of the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre, taking stock of progress and knowledge gaps in developing cost-effective prevention and adequate preparedness measures, and the importance of making this knowledge available to policy makers.

The Risk Data Hub is a flagship project of the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre at the JRC. It aims at collecting and curating disaster loss and risk data for the use of Member States, local authorities and other stakeholders for better disaster risk management. It is also a key action in the Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation, collecting loss and risk data from Horizon Europe research projects and Missions. The main findings, data and analysis of the Knowledge Centre are available in two publications displaying the in-depth scientific work carried out in support of policy-making.