Increased integration of disaster risk management and risk reduction strategies with CCA is required to reduce future climate-related risks (Hyogo Framework for Action 2005; Bali Action Plan 2007) and the two approaches should be included in policies linked to development
planning in order to contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development (McBean and Ajibade 2009). eFT508 clinical trial synergies between the two communities do exist and need to be built upon and developed further in order contribute to reducing learn more the vulnerability of communities and systems that are increasingly exposed to environmental hazards. This special feature comprises papers that contribute, through review, theory and practical applications, to bridging the gaps between the disaster risk and climate change
communities around a shared vision to prepare societies and help them adapt to extreme events. The first two papers were selected because they present the theoretical arguments for integrating the sometimes disjointed views on vulnerability from the various schools of thought working on the topic. The last three papers provide practical analysis and modeling of how communities as diverse as coastal villages of the Coral Triangle countries, urbanites in Asia’s biggest cities, and resource-limited towns LY333531 supplier in the Middle East are impacted and build resilience to the cascading effects of a changing climate. The message article by Carl Folke sets the scene in terms of systems that need to be considered
in the context of sustainable development, DRR and CCA: the artificial separation of nature and society that has prevailed in the past is being replaced by the notion of social–ecological systems whereby people and nature are interdependent. In this context, vulnerability Sodium butyrate assessment needs to account for multiple social and ecological systems and the feedback mechanisms that characterise their interactions at various spatial and temporal scales. These dynamic systems are reflected in the papers included in this special feature. The concepts of vulnerability and the methods developed for its assessment have been investigated on two separate tracks by the natural hazard and climate change communities. Emmanuel Romieu and his co-authors analyse the reasons for the initial divergence, and recommend ways to bridge the two communities in order to show optimal adaptation pathways and contribute to DRR. The task is not trivial, as temporal and spatial scales for assessments vary greatly (planning for 2050 or 2100 in the case of CCA vs planning for now in the case of DRR). Romieu et al. highlight the fact that adaptation strategies focus on existing risks (which might be aggravated by climate change), and that DRR also constitutes an adaptation strategy. Potential areas for synergies exist, including more integrative cross sectoral, multi-scale approaches and putting communities at the centre of analysis.