Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: In search of appropriate instruments for mitigating impacts of natural hazards and climate change, as well as risks, the integration of these factors into spatial planning practices is constantly receiving more attention.Presently, the focus of most approaches lies on single hazard and climate change mitigation strategies.The current paradigm shift from mitigation to adaptation is supported by several project activities that focus on natural hazard and climate change adaptation concepts for regional development.Of great importance in the stakeholder communication process is the definition and applicability of the terms natural hazard, vulnerability, and risk.Risk concepts are manifold and complicated and their application in spatial planning has to be analysed most carefully.Currently, the linkages from both natural hazards and climate change to planning and decision-making are not well developed.For example, climate change adaptation and natural hazards entered European regional policy relatively recently but are rapidly growing in importance.The new Territorial Agenda of the European Union mentions hazard-related risk management as the key role in European regional development.On a European scale, projects related to natural hazards, climate change, and regional development, conducted under the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) and in cooperation with the INTERACT initiative have supported the development of risk-oriented policy recommendations (www.gtk.fi/projects/espon) and the Evidence document of the Territorial Agenda.
Author: Philipp Schmidt-Thomé
Institution: Geological Survey of Finland
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $539
OpenAlex ID: W1595305643