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Reflections on the Role of the International Community for the Promotion of Global Risk Reduction

Description: 

In the eyes of an earthquake professional, risk reduction is generally seen as a process that begins with science. As the international community seeks to support risk reduction in countries where resources are limited, efforts often focus on the science itself: characterizing active faults, determining ground motion models, updating hazard maps. It is perhaps illustrative, I suggest, to look back at how the State of California moved towards earthquake risk reduction. Starting in the early 20^th century, leading earthquake professionals contributed effectively to the process of risk reduction only in part by seminal science. The scientific community in California also played a critical advocacy role, communicating with local officials, business leaders, stakeholders, and the public to advance risk reduction. The work of researchers set the stage for legislative actions after earthquakes revealed vulnerabilities in the built environment. Without local professionals (scientists and others) in an advocacy role, a hazard map by itself does nothing to reduce risk. When the community of international earthquake professionals strives now to promote risk reduction in resource-limited countries, it is important to remain mindful of the California experience. Without strong, sustained ties, and an understanding of local societies and cultures, international experts are unlikely to be able to effectively advocate in other countries. International experts can facilitate a consensus-building process in other countries, but any sustainable consensus-based system requires sustained engagement from local professionals, led by locally authoritative organizaitons. Well-intentioned efforts are advised to avoid undermining the authority, and ultimately the effectiveness and sustainability, of local earthquake professionals by implicitly emphasizing the qualifications, expertise, and products of the international community. Where projects in other countries involve coordination among international teams, they are unlikely to be effective unless locally authoritative agencies have a seat at the table.

Session: Adventures in Social Seismology: Ethical Engagement, Earthquake Early Warnings, Operational Forecasts, and Beyond - I

Type: Oral

Date: 4/15/2025

Presentation Time: 09:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Susan

Student Presenter: No

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