A Global Urban Risk Index
Which cities have the highest risk of human and economic losses due to natural hazards? And how will urban exposure to major hazards change over the coming decades? This paper develops a global urban disaster risk index that evaluates the mortality...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/06/17920427/global-urban-risk-index http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15865 |
| Summary: | Which cities have the highest risk of
human and economic losses due to natural hazards? And how
will urban exposure to major hazards change over the coming
decades? This paper develops a global urban disaster risk
index that evaluates the mortality and economic risks from
disasters in 1,943 cities in developing countries.
Concentrations of population, infrastructure, and economic
activities in cities contribute to increased exposure and
susceptibility to natural hazards. The three components of
this risk measure are urban hazard characteristics,
exposure, and vulnerability. For earthquakes, cyclones,
floods, and landslides, single hazard risk indices are
developed. In addition, a multi-hazard index gives a
holistic picture of current city risk. Demographic-economic
projection of city population growth to 2050 suggests that
exposure to earthquake and cyclone risk in developing
country cities will more than double from today's
levels. Global urban risk analysis, as presented in this
paper, can inform the prioritization of resources for
disaster risk management and urban planning and promote the
shift toward managing risks rather than emergencies. |
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