Disaster Resilience & Climate Change topic 2: Natural Hazards: Towards risk reduction science and innovation plans at national and European level

Specific challenge:

Previous and recent catastrophic events have demonstrated that society has become more and more vulnerable and exposed to risk also in an uneven distribution way at global level. A more coherent approach to threat and related risks needs to be developed within a strong risk reduction innovative frame and perspective to organise and structure, with all the relevant actors, a contribution to a new strategy for future research activities in natural hazards going beyond the traditional risk concepts and including resilience;

Scope:

Proposals should aim to:

• develop an efficient networking and forum promoting effective mechanisms and interactions with the key players (e.g. scientists, authorities, users, civil protection, UNISDR platforms...) in order to contribute to a new strategic vision on natural hazards risk reduction;
• identify the necessary key actions to be promoted (short to long term perspective), building on new concepts and innovations, in order to improve interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and apply or adapt current tools and methods to a new and effective risk reduction strategy at national/European level;
• take into account the EU and national adaptation strategies as well as the developing disaster risk management planning done at national or appropriate sub-national level.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between the range of 2 to 3 million euro would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

Consolidation of and enhanced synergies between European and Member State funded research and innovation activities in natural hazards/disasters risk reduction. Contribution to the development of a strategic research and innovation agenda in this field. Enhanced implementation of the EU disaster prevention framework including preparatory work supporting guidelines on risk management capability, as called for in the forthcoming Civil Protection legislation (article 5e).

The action is expected to proactively target the “coordination” needs and requirments of users, such as the UNISDR European national Platforms; the Commission services dealing with prevention, risks and disasters issues, the national authorities managing a prospective research agenda related to natural hazards; the key actors implementing disaster risk reduction measures related to natural hazards.

Up to one proposal will be selected for funding.

Type of action: Coordination and support Actions