Disaster solutions

Floods in Townsville

Disasters have devastating and long lasting societal and economic impacts that are often regional and sometimes global in reach. By nature, disasters usually occur with little or no warning. This element of 'surprise' often overwhelms community and government resources and their ability to respond. The adverse societal, economic and environmental impacts often endure long after the event.

Almost half the world's natural disasters occur within the Asia Pacific region to Australia's immediate north. These disasters tend to concentrate along the geo-tectonic region called the Ring of Fire or the Circum-Pacific Belt. Hundreds of millions of people are affected with economic losses exceeding an estimated US$200 billion annually. Invariably, impoverished communities that have limited economic means and social support to recover are most severely affected. Australia is also increasingly impacted by a range of disasters,  given enhanced forecasting, technological and institutional responses.

Activities focussed on the disaster risk theme will encompass a range of areas including the cascading impacts of disasters, public health and disasters, fire and natural hazards, social cohesion and community resilience. Its interactions with energy and climate will be a key area of focus.

Click for details on the ICEDS research scope.

Current Projects

Events

New IPCC Climate Change Mitigation Report: How can we limit global warming?
06
Apr
2022

New IPCC Climate Change Mitigation Report: How can we limit global warming? »

6pm 6 April

Join us at this event to hear directly from several IPCC report authors about its key findings including how they relate to Australia.

ANU Disaster Solutions Update: Setting the scene
19
Oct
2022

ANU Disaster Solutions Update: From Fires to Floods »

2pm 19 October

How can we advance our approaches to preventing and responding to disasters, both in Australia and across the region?

How can we defend Australia from disasters?
26
Jun
2023

Game Change Webinar: How can we defend Australia from disasters? »

5pm 26 June

In our next Game Change Webinar, Dr Roslyn Prinsley will provide an overview of some exciting new transformational solutions that are Game-Changers in helping prevent and reduce the risk of climate-fuelled disasters.

Transformational Disaster Solutions
03
Aug
2023

ANU Disaster Solutions Update 2023 »

3pm 3 August

The ANU Disaster Solutions Update 2023 will explore the latest developments in transformational solutions to disasters that aim to prepare us for worst case scenarios.