Duration: 90 minutes

Chair: Hamilton BEAN, University of Colorado Denver, USA

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Mobile public alert and warning systems are critical for safeguarding communities during disasters, particularly in islands and remote areas where geographic isolation, infrastructure limitations, and unique cultural contexts present distinct challenges. This panel brings together scholars and practitioners from the USA, Greece, South Africa, and Japan to explore the complexities and innovations in mobile public alert and warning systems tailored to these environments. Islands and remote regions are often at heightened risk from natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, and ensuring timely, effective communication is essential to saving lives and reducing damage. However, these regions frequently face issues such as limited cellular coverage, technological disparities, and difficulties in message dissemination across diverse linguistic and cultural groups. Drawing on cross-national research and practical experiences, panelists will discuss strategies for optimizing system and message design, leveraging technological advancements, and addressing barriers to effective communication. 

The session will highlight case studies from each represented country, examining how local knowledge, community engagement, and adaptive technologies contribute to more resilient alert systems. Additionally, the panel will address policy implications, including the role of international cooperation in enhancing alert capabilities and ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. By fostering a comparative dialogue, this session aims to generate actionable insights and recommendations for improving mobile public alert and warning systems in islands and remote areas worldwide. This panel is essential for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and technologists who seek to enhance disaster preparedness and response through effective communication strategies tailored to the unique needs of isolated and vulnerable populations.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Each presenter will discuss their perspective as per the session rationale, highlighting cases or examples from their home country. Individual papers will not be presented. The intent is to use the exchange to produce a “Thematic Summary” for publication in the conference special issue of IDRiM Journal.

Panelists: 

Kensuke TAKENOUCHI, Kagawa University, Japan.

Marinos CHARALAMPAKIS, Hellenic National Tsunami Warning Center, Greece

Ana Maria CRUZ, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

Miranda DANDOULAKI, Disaster management specialist, Greece.

Olivia KUNGUMA, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Republic of South Africa

Duration: 90 minutes

Chairs: James D. GOLTZ, University of California, Berkeley (Seismological Laboratory), USA, & Nikos KALLIGERIS, National Observatory of Athens, Greece.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Scientists and policy makers struggle with how best to respond to potential hazard precursors (e.g., seismic swarms, possible volcanic activity, weather uncertainties, etc.) and at what point to act on the probability that precursors may be followed by major hazard events. These phenomena present major dilemmas for governments that must decide whether to act in low probability, high consequence situations where lives are at steak and hazard likelihood is uncertain.

Format of the session: Oral presentations followed by discussion.

A brief introduction to the topic by the conveners and small number of presentations on situations relevant to the session theme. Discussion with attendees will follow.

Presentations: 

XXX, affiliation, country

Duration: 60 minutes

Chair(s): Hamilton BEAN, University of Colorado Denver, USA; Ana Maria CRUZ NARANJO, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

This conference session on publishing with the Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM) Journal will be highly valuable for attendees (scholars, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in disaster risk reduction and management). The session will offer insights into the journal’s scope, submission process, and expectations for scholarly contributions, helping potential authors understand how to craft impactful and publishable research. 

The session will clarify the types of interdisciplinary research that align with IDRiM Journal’s mission, including studies on implementation science, risk assessment, disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience building. Understanding the journal’s thematic focus will enable contributors to align their research projects more effectively with publication standards. Attendees will benefit from learning about the peer-review process, including common reasons for manuscript rejection and strategies to strengthen submissions. Guidance from editors and/or authors on developing methodologies, articulating key findings, and emphasizing practical implications will demystify the publishing process and enhance the quality of future submissions. 

The session will address emerging trends and gaps in disaster risk management research, helping attendees identify timely topics for investigation. Discussion on ethical considerations (especially the use of AI), data presentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration will further equip researchers with best practices for scholarly writing. Finally, the session will offer networking opportunities, connecting participants with experienced authors, editors, and reviewers. These connections could foster mentorship, collaboration, and future contributions to the IDRiM Journal and the broader disaster risk management community.

Format of the session: Oral presentations followed by Q&As

The session will be led by IDRiM Journal editor (Hamilton BEAN) and editor-in-chief (Ana Maria CRUZ). The roughly ~30 minute presentation will be followed by audience Q&A.

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Kyriaki GKOKTSI, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), EU; Ana Maria CRUZ NARANJO, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Remote and island communities face unique challenges in managing disaster risks due to their geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and dependences on external resources. These challenges are further compounded by the growing threat of natural hazard-triggered technological (or Natech) accidents, where natural hazards, for example storm surge, earthquakes, landslides, or floods, trigger damage and subsequent hazardous material releases in industrial facilities, critical infrastructure or defence assets. Examples of such entities at risk are the chemical process industry, fuel pipeline networks, or ammunitions and explosives depots. The consequences of such events can be catastrophic, leading to potentially long-term impacts on community health and well-being, environmental degradation, service disruptions, and economic losses. Climate change further intensifies these threats by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

This session aims to explore the complexities of Natech risk management in remote and island settings, focusing on strategies to enhance emergency preparedness and response, and on increasing resilience. Experts and practitioners will provide an understanding of the challenges of Natech emergency management and the importance of preparedness, discuss case study examples, and propose solutions to address Natech emergency management challenges.

Ultimately, this session aims to contribute to the broader goal of advancing disaster risk reduction in remote and island areas by addressing the specific challenges posed by Natech risks. Through dialogue and knowledge-sharing, it seeks to inspire solutions that protect communities, ecosystems, and economies from the growing threat of cascading disasters.

Format of the session: Oral presentations followed by Q&As

The session will feature 4 speakers with experience in Natech risk/emergency management from different stakeholder groups and will conclude with a discussion in which speakers take questions from the audience and session moderators.

Presentations: 

Operationalizing resilience engineering for Natech risk management, Ivonne HERRERA, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

Natech emergency management challenges: an overview, Kyriaki GKOKTSI, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), EU

Natech response and recovery in isolated areas: the case of the Shika NPP, Ana Maria CRUZ NARANJO, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

Operational response to Natech accidents – Lessons from the full-scale FORMATEX exercise 2023, Hannes KERN, Industrial Risk and Safety Solutions, Austria 

Chair(s): Prof. Peijun SHI, Beijing Normal University, China; Prof. Chunyang HE, Beijing Normal University, China.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Ecotones—transitional zones between distinct ecosystems (e.g., forest-grassland interfaces, coastal areas, and mountain-plain boundaries)—are critical yet vulnerable hotspots where climate change and human activities interact to amplify systemic risks, including biodiversity loss, cascading disasters, and socio-ecological imbalances. 

The session focuses on advancing interdisciplinary research and policy innovations to address the complex risk dynamics of ecotone earth environmental systems. The following issues will be discussed: 

(1) Risk mechanisms: the thresholds and tipping points in ecotones under compound stressors (e.g., climate extremes and land-use changes) and model cascading effects of cross-boundary hazards, such as drought-wildfire-biological invasion chains. 

(2) Resilience strategies: case studies about synergies between traditional ecological knowledge and modern engineering, alongside transboundary governance models and nature-based solutions, and 

(3) Policy integration: standardization of ecological restoration technologies in line with carbon neutrality goals.

Format of the session: General parallel session 

Speakers: 

Ms. Yiwen WANG, Beijing Normal University, China

Prof. Peijun SHI, Beijing Normal University, China

Prof. Chunyang HE, Beijing Normal University, China 

Dr. Gangfeng ZHANG, Beijing Normal University, China

Mr. Zhe LIU, Beijing Normal University, China

Mr. Yuefeng JIANG, Beijing Normal University, China

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Tsuyoshi UENO, Senior Research Scientist, R&D Manager, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan, and Yoshio KAJITANI, Professor, Kagawa University, Japan

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

We will introduce the recent advancements of power demand forecasting during a disaster in Japan, targeting at applying this forecasting technique to design a power microgrid. As many know, the 2024 Noto peninsula earthquake in Japan generated many isolated regions, of which recovery was prolonged due to the difficulty in restoration of roads and other infrastructure especially in aging and sparsely populated areas. This example illustrates the future of not only many Japanese countryside, but also other similar population-declining regions in the world. A distributed infrastructure system such as the microgrid has a large potential of reducing the risk coming from regional isolation during a disaster. In this session, the interdisciplinary team, composed of energy and disaster professionals in Japan, will introduce an integrated approach to designing the necessary power supply by microgrids from the standpoint of electricity demand estimation during a disaster.

Format of the session: Oral presentations followed by Q&As

Presentations: 

A study on quantitative evaluation of the resilience of Japanese residential houses, Masahito TAKAHASHI, Senior Research Scientist, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan

Estimation of Regional Electricity Demand Curves for Disaster-Resilient Local Grid Operations, Tsuyoshi UENO, Senior Research Scientist, R&D Manager, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan

Building-usage database construction by LTSM for accurate evacuee and business impact forecasting during disaster, Yoshio KAJITANI, Professor, Kagawa University, Japan

Modeling business sector resilience against energy supply disruptions and constraints, Ayumi YUYAMA, Research Scientist, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan

Estimation of the power consumption of air conditioners in various evacuation shelters, Ayako YASUOKA, Research Scientist, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan

Duration: 90 minutes

Chairs: Kakuya MATSUSHIMA, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan, & Hirokazu TATANO, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

This session evaluates dynamic resilience, a crucial aspect of disaster risk reduction (DRR). Unlike static resilience (focused on immediate crisis response), dynamic resilience encompasses long-term post-disaster actions such as repairs, reconstruction, and adaptations to prevent future disruptions. This involves potentially new resources and a longer timeline. Focusing on dynamic resilience is vital for long-term recovery and future disaster preparedness.

The session will explore methodologies for assessing dynamic resilience, analyzing pre- and post-disaster investments, including insurance, government support, and other financial instruments. We will also introduce a business recovery simulation system. This system simulates business recovery (e.g., sales, cash flow) and evaluates the impact of proactive and reactive strategies on dynamic resilience.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Opening Remarks: A brief welcome and introduction from the session chair.

Review of Dynamic Resilience Studies: A presentation reviewing existing methodologies and research on evaluating dynamic resilience in disaster risk reduction (DRR). This will include a discussion of pre- and post- disaster investments and the role of financial instruments.

Introduction of the Business Recovery Simulation System: An overview of a new simulation system designed to model business recovery following a disaster. The system will be demonstrated, highlighting its ability to simulate key metrics (e.g., sales, cash flow) and assess the impact of different recovery strategies.

Panelists

Subir SEN, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India

Yoshio KAJITANI, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Kagawa University, Japan 

Yota HIRONO, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

Noah DORMADY, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, USA

Huan LIU, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Matthieu BRANLAT, SINTEF, Norway, and Aurélie GRONDIN, Association Sciences Réunion, La Réunion / France

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

A French island of the Indian Ocean, La Réunion has a long history of exposure to extreme weather events. Two cyclones recently affected the island, Belal (2024) and Garance (2025). In addition to 5 people tragically losing their life, the latter generated tremendous damage in infrastructures and households, with communities affected by interruptions of roads, communication, power and water over several weeks. In spite of this dramatic impact, it might be argued that more dire consequences were avoided thanks to many successes in the preparation to and management of these events, for instance: weather forecast functioned well and was communicated effectively to the population, which was attentive to various information channels; although not all, many people followed preparedness practices and guidance, or requests to evacuate to emergency shelters.

Through lessons learned from recent events, as well as concrete examples of successful initiatives over the past years in La Réunion, the panel will reflect on the specific challenges such islands face (e.g., exposure to risks, changing conditions and capacities), but also on the opportunities they represent to improve disaster management and involve the population. The panel will also discuss remaining challenges and ways forward. The initiatives presented will cover a wide range of themes, including: the role of authorities in animating the local network of stakeholders; the education of the population, including the youth; the various forms of involvement of local communities as multipliers of knowledge and capacity; and approaches to address further needs and drive innovation in disaster management.

The panel will be organized remotely from La Réunion. It will be chaired by representants of Horizon project SYNERGIES, which currently conducts a pilot in La Réunion on the topic of population preparedness, and will involve actors of the island to provide knowledge on the local context and disaster management activities.

Format of the session: Panel discussion 

All presenters will draw from their experiences related to the cyclones that affected la Réunion in 2024 and 2025. They will provide their perspectives on needs and directions for improvement of preparedness.

Panelists: 

Evelyne TARNUS will provide a perspective on challenges and opportunities for DRM research and innovation on the island

Sabine STAAL (DEAL) and Thomas PINOT (EMZ) will present the overall context and organization of DRM activities in the island

Camille CHARRIER (PIROI) will present disaster risk education activities for schools and the larger public

Martine NOURRY (association K-pab6T) will present the development of resilience capabilities in and through communities, in collaboration with the French

Daniel DAVID (AGORAH) will present communication initiatives to increase risk awareness, including the information platform on natural risks managed by the planning agency AGORAH

Duration: 90 minutes

Chairs: Miranda DANDOULAKI, Disaster management specialist, Athens, Greece; Norio OKADA, Advisor, Kwansei Gakuin University, and Professor, Kyoto University, Japan; Robert GOBLE, Professor, Clark University, USA 

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

The importance of sharing disaster-related experiences is well recognized in the field of hazards and disasters. At an international and country level, organizations such as UNDRR, WEF, the World Bank, the US National Weather Service have supported sharing stories and disaster experiences among a variety of key actors and experts. At a local level, research on formal and informal sharing of disaster experiences exposed the positive effect of sharing disaster-related experiences on relationship building, boosting disaster preparedness, learning from past disasters, and overall, on enhancing community resilience.

The Session brings together local stakeholders and community leaders from two areas, one in Greece and one in Japan, who have experienced a disaster through different roles and in different disaster phases and builds on their organized exchange and communication. The aim is to develop a living document on commonalities, differences, lessons learnt and challenges. This session is intended to collaborate closely with the IDRiM Implementation Gap Task Force.

Samos, Greece, was hit by an Mw=7.0 earthquake followed by tsunami in October 2020, which killed 2 teenagers and caused extended damages to buildings and infrastructure. Noto Peninsula, Japan suffered a Mw7.5 earthquake followed by tsunami in January 2024, which devastated a vast area. Although very different, the two areas present characteristics of isolation and remoteness. Furthermore, though not in the same disaster phase, they might undergo similar paths towards reconstruction. 

Besides exploring how disaster-related experience exchange can be employed in promoting disaster preparedness and better disaster response and recovery, the ambition of the Session is to build relationships and use the collectively developed living document as means for maintaining future communication and collaboration among participants and communities.  This effort is an example of a human-centered approach toward the challenges to disaster risk management; the stories and comparisons will provide new knowledge that can contribute to better understanding of implementation gaps and implementation in general.     

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The Session opens with two presentations that expose the local context and disaster conditions in Samos and Noto. Afterwards, each community member/local stakeholder shares his/her experiences. The series of speeches is arranged according to the disaster phases. Questions and comments by other participants are welcome after each speech. 

At the end, the moderators will sum up commonalities and differences, lessons and challenges, and all participants will discuss and shape the outcome of the session to generate a living document that will initiate future communication between the two communities and will be revisited in a similar session in IDRiM2026 Conference.

Panelists

To be confirmed

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Stefan SCHNEIDERBAUER, UNU-EHS & EURAC Research, GLOMOS programme, Italy, & Federica ROMAGNOLI, EURAC Research, GLOMOS programme, Italy.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Mountain regions are highly prone to multiple risks intensified by climate change and socio- demographic drivers. They are characterised by steep terrain, high climatic variability, physical isolation as well as human mobility and migration processes – all aspects, which complicate respective disaster risk management procedures. At the same time, mountain communities who are living in mountainous high-risk landscapes, have developed intricate understandings of their environment. This knowledge, often rooted in centuries of living with harsh nature conditions, is the result of social, cultural, spiritual, political, and economic spheres, shaping the community norms and land management practices throughout generations and hence strongly influencing their levels of vulnerability and resilience. The resulting complexity of mountain social-ecological systems calls for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation strategies to be both systemic and tailored to the unique conditions of mountain environments. This is of particular importance as the positive or adverse consequences of the risk management procedures in the upland often cascade beyond high-altitude areas, affecting ecosystems and populations downstream.

Against this background, the session aims at scrutinizing mountain-specific challenges and opportunities related to reducing disaster risk and enhancing climate resilience from a systemic perspective and taking into account the interconnection of upland – lowland processes. With this session we aim at encouraging a dialogue among experts from different disciplines and sectors from mountain regions worldwide and to share experiences in the integration of diverse knowledge systems for the development of mountain-specific risk management strategies.

Participants will have an opportunity to engage in discussions on:

– Mountain specific multi-hazards risk reduction activities

– Mountain-tailored strategies to increase resilience to climate change impacts

– Local transformation processes in the contexts of climate change adaptation

– Risk governance and management approaches connecting highland and lowland areas

– Beyond Top-Down DRM and CCA: Promoting systemic, locally embedded, and community-led risk management and climate change adaptation strategies

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The session will consist of two components. Following an opening and introductory speech, in a first part, selected speakers will give concise presentations on key issues related to risk management in mountain regions. In the second part we will host panel discussion, where invited experts will reflect on guiding questions to explore challenges and future pathways for risk management in mountains. A concluding activity will engage participants in identifying key messages that highlight both shared challenges and local particularities. This interactive segment would possibly employ digital tools (e.g., Miro, Mentimeter) to facilitate inclusive participation from both in-person and remote attendees.

Panelists: 

TBC

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Silvia TORRESAN, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy; Timothy TIGGELOVEN, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUA, The Netherlands;  Ignacio Agustin GATTI, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy; Stefan SCHNEIDERBAUER, Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Germany; Eurac Research, Italy; Erick MAS, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.  

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Natural hazards are becoming more intense and frequent worldwide (UNDRR 2024). Almost 19% of the 16,535 disasters recorded in EM-DAT (1900–2023) are classified as multi-hazard events, representing 60% of the estimated global economic losses (Lee et al. 2024). Remote islands, urban, mountain and coastal areas, are among the most affected regions (Sjöstedt & Povitkina 2016). 

Against this background, several research projects have developed a broad range of methods, tools, frameworks, and innovative solutions in recent years, enabling decision-makers to adopt a systemic and multi-risk approach to disaster risk management and transformational climate adaptation. Effective multi-hazard risk management faces many challenges (Trogrlić et al. 2024), particularly related to the hurdles and impediments of translating academic research into practical applications. In response, innovative risk and resilience frameworks have been proposed in multiple applications worldwide. However, the level of integration of these concepts into policies, risk management practices, and replicability and transferability to other areas, is still not satisfactory. 

This session aims to bridge the implementation gap between theoretical risk frameworks and practical applications by presenting multiple case studies on compound, consecutive, and multi-hazard risks, as well as climate adaptation. It highlights recent advancements in multi-risk case studies that address real-world challenges. They cover a wide range of applied tools, techniques, and successful practices, and follow an approach that co-develops solutions by including risk owners and relevant actors from the project design stage. It explores both qualitative and quantitative approaches for building multi-risk scenarios and identifying effective risk management strategies. 

By integrating insights from both EU and global projects and initiatives, the session will foster a forward-looking dialogue on advancing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. This will be achieved by focusing on innovative, evidence-based systemic risk approaches and discussing the upscaling and transferability of these tools on other regions.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

1. Welcome & Introduction by the Chairs. 

2. Five presentations derived from international projects like AGILE, MYRIAD-EU, Enabling Human-Centered Digital Twin for Community Resilience. 

3. Interactive Panel Discussion, including Audience Engagement & Q&A (20 min).

Here the session chairs will drive a dynamic debate on exchanging experiences, best practices, or implemented solutions. This section includes interactive polls (i.e. Mentimeter) for the audience.

4. Closing & Takeaways (5 min)

The chairs will conclude by synthesizing key takeaways from the discussion, emphasizing the potentialities for upscaling and transferability. Interactive Panel Discussion, including Audience Engagement & Q&A. Here the session Chairs will drive a dynamic debate on exchanging experiences, best practices, or implemented solutions. The section includes interactive polls (i.e. Mentimeter) for the audience.

Closing & Takeaways. The Chairs will conclude by synthesizing key takeaways from the discussion, emphasizing the potentialities for upscaling and transferability.

Presentations and presenters 

• “Co-Designed Multi-Risk Governance and Adaptive Pathways in the Canary Islands”, Noemi PADRON FUMERO, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain. 
• “Applying stress testing in different operational contexts: potential and challenges”, Gianluca PESCAROLI, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 
• “Real time estimation of population exposure to multihazards with mobile spatial statistics”, Erick MAS, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.  
• “Supervised Machine Learning for multi-risk assessment across different landscapes: a Myriad-EU case study”, Davide FERRARIO, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Venice, Italy. 

“Social Ageing and Vulnerability in Rural Areas: A Case Study of the Noto Earthquake and Flood”, Miwako KITAMURA, International Start-up Incubation, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Duration: 60 minutes

Chair(s): Dr. Giannis SKIADARESIS, DG HOME, European Commission, and Dr. Philippe QUEVAUVILLER, DG HOME, European Commission

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

EU Research and Innovation in support of Disaster Risk Reduction policies is active in various thematic areas of the Horizon Europe Programme (2021-2027), covering a wide range of issues related to e.g. health, social sciences, security, environment and climate, food and agriculture. In particular, the Civil Security for Society (Cluster 3) programme has a focused research streams called “Disaster-Resilient Societies” (DRS) which, besides other research efforts related to fight against crime and terrorism and border security, gathers key DRR actors, including policymakers, scientists, practitioners, SME/industry and civil society representatives. DRS research activities are supporting international Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies such as the UN Sendai Framework for Action and, in the European Union, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), as well as sectorial regulations (e.g. related to floods, droughts, health, CBRN etc.). 

A range of EU projects is hence running in the fields of societal resilience, disaster risk management and governance, technologies for first and second responders and standardisation, and current programming for further funding in the context of the three last Horizon Europe calls (2025-2027). Research outputs contribute to enhancing methodological knowledge and technologies that are needed within the DRM cycle, namely prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, for a wide range of disasters (hydrometeorological extreme events, health threats, industrial accidents including NaTech risks, as well as threats related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) accidents or criminal/terrorist origins). The results hence contribute to recommendations that guide policy actions at national, regional and local levels, and exchanges are undertaken within the EU among different sectors and disciplines in the framework of the Community of European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS), which facilitates the identification of research gaps in the DRR above mentioned areas. 

The side-session will gather representatives of on-going DRS projects to illustrate different threats and needs faced by isolated regions such as islands and remote areas, e.g. weather extreme events, digital breakdowns, community resilience to disasters, and CBRN incidents, as well as a representative of the European Commission to exchange about research perspectives. The session will potentially raise new ideas of research as well as strengthening or developing partnerships at international level. 

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Presentations and Panelists 

• “Co-developing stakeholder support tools for managing systemic risks and promoting disaster preparedness and resilience (PARATUS project)” by Dr Funda ATUN, University of Twente, The Netherlands.
• “Mediterranean and pan-European forecast and Early Warning System against natural hazards (MEDEWSA project)” by Prof.Dr. Juerg LUTERBACHER, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
• “Holistic capability and technology evaluation and co-creation framework for upskilled first responders and enhanced CBRN-E response (TeamUp project)” by Dr Eleftherios OUZOUNOGLOU, ICCS, Greece.

Solid Preparedness and Resilience for Robust Operations during disaster Wilderness (SPARROW project) by Matous BOLEK, Drony SIT, Czech Republic.

Duration: 90 minutes

Chairs: Norio OKADA, Adviser, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan and Emeritus Professor, Kyoto University; Robert GOBLE, Professor, Clark University, USA; Kami SEO, Associate Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan; Guoyi HAN, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

To better understand implementation of disaster risk reduction measures and to develop an appropriate and useful implementation science is one of the goals of the IDRiM society.  We, the four conveners, have pursued this goal and reported progress in three previous IDRiM conferences. We began with a concept paper at IDRiM2022.  That paper argued that studying implementation gaps would be a pathway to developing an implementation science.  “Implementation gaps” refer to discrepancies between what was planned or expected and what actually happened during the course of a project, program, or policy. These gaps may involve positive or negative deviations from expectations.  Different stakeholders—implementers, beneficiaries, funders, or observers—may have divergent understandings of both plans and outcomes.  Gaps, as they are perceived, are thus dynamic features of the complex, evolving, real world processes of implementation.  

After much discussion, the concept paper became a published paper in the IDRiM journal.  An IDRiM implementation task force was formed; its mandate was to create more interest in implementation and enlarge the research effort. The research focus has been to develop an empirical base of stories about implementation situations and implementation gaps.  The task force holds seminars and has scheduled a special issue of the IDRiM journal on implementation.

This session is to continue the discussions at previous IDRiM conferences. Our objectives are to report on progress made, and to encourage broader participation in the research effort. Okada and Goble will provide an introduction and discussion of the human-centered nature of our perspective on implementation; Seo and Han will discuss the research focus on collecting stories and cataloguing them; Matsuda and Onishi will each provide an example of implementation gaps associated with a particular implementation situation.  The session will conclude with a substantial open discussion that we hope will elicit more implementation stories.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The session will include three 20 minute 2-part presentations: 

1) An introduction and progress report on the implementation task force activities including a discussion of human-centered approaches in implementing disaster risk management measures (Norio Okada and Robert Goble); 

2) A description of our effort to collect implementation stories, observe implementation gaps, and make a catalog of implementation situations (Kami Seo and Guoyi Han); 

3) Two example implementation stories illustrating implementation gaps (Yoko Matsuda and Masamitsu Onishi).  

These presentations will be followed by a substantial open discussion which we hope will elicit more stories.

Panelists

Masamitsu ONISHI, Professor, Kyoto University, Japan

Norio OKADA, Adviser, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan and Emeritus Professor, Kyoto University, Japan 

Robert GOBLE, Professor, Clark University, USA 

Kami SEO, Associate Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan 

Guoyi HAN, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden

Yoko MATSUDA, Associate Professor, Kyoto University, Japan

Duration: 60 minutes

Chairs: Carole FAUCHER, University Clermont-Auvergne/UNESCO Chair Global Health and Education, France.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

In 2024, the regions bordering the Senegal River experienced a natural disaster caused by exceptional flooding that affected the entire West African sub-region. In response to this situation, the association Convergence pour le Développement de la Région de Matam (CODEREM) (Convergence for the Development of the Matam Region) mobilized to help those affected. The damage includes collapsed homes, lost food supplies, submerged agricultural land, decimated livestock and destroyed equipment. Given the large number of households affected, CODEREM brought together a group of around 20 NGOs on both sides of the river in Senegal and Mauritania to coordinate efforts. Donations were collected and distributed to hundreds of victims in the form of food kits, clothing and building materials. In line with its mission, CODEREM has decided not to limit itself to providing relief but to set up a strategy to tackle the root causes of the problem, namely the effects of climate change, the lack of development policies, unregulated land use, the poor quality of building materials, low household incomes, etc.

The strategic areas of intervention are as follows:

1)  Combat desertification and its adverse effects on people’s lives through three components: land reclamation (construction of half-moon dykes);

creation of tree planted windbreaks; management and conservation of ponds and seasonal water points.

2)  Developing the land along the Senegal River with areas reserved for housing, agricultural land, grazing areas, small-scale fishing and craft activities.

3) Developing sustainable housing project including urban master plans and sustainable construction techniques using bio-based materials.

To carry out these strategies, CODEREM has gathered a pool of experts in the fields of planning, hydraulic and civil engineering, agronomy, socio-economy, housing and public health. In addition, the organization collaborates with the Senegalese government to search for potential partners at the community, local, national and international levels.

Format of the session: Panel discussion – Roundtable

The format is between a panel discussion and a roundtable. First, the three speakers will explain together the situation around the Senegal River and how they have mobilized communities, local organizations and government offices through CODEREM. The second part of the session will consist of an open discussion with Q&A. The session will be interactive and various tools will be employed to help achieve this.

Panelists

Aliou DIA, Medical Doctor and PhD Candidate (last year at the University Clermont-Auvergne. Head of School Health for the Government of Senegal. Expert in Public Health and active contributor to the Unesco Chair Global Health and Education in Senegal.

Mamadou DIAGNE, Civil Engineer. Expert in Housing, Urban Development, Infrastructures. President of CODEREM 

Amadou Seydou DIA, Civil and Agriculture Engineer. Expert in Water Sanitation, Irrigation and in Institutional Reforms 

Duration: 90 minutes

Chairs: Dr. Milad ZAMANIFAR, Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany; Dr. Lucian-Constantin UNGUREANU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Urban areas comprise natural, built, and social systems. It is well established that such an agile, highly structured, highly intertwined network with interdependencies, interconnectedness, and multi-level emergences follows the commonality of a Complex Adaptive System (CAS). We are also not alien to this notion that disaster is one dynamic state of society under stress that eventually self-organizes into a new post-disaster equilibrium. However, a setting in which the two can meaningfully coexist has not yet been developed. Major advancements in the last decade have been made in operationalizing the concept of resilience in disaster research. The suitability of CAS to advance this understanding in the disaster resilience domain remains rather underexplored. 

Complex Adaptive Systems theory has found its application as a versatile, transdisciplinary approach for understanding dynamic, non-linear phenomena that emerge from the reciprocal exchanges of energy, matter, and information among numerous heterogeneous agents. It has the potential to provide a powerful, innovative lens that can create new dimensions of understanding and operationalization in which microscopic and macroscopic system dynamics and behaviors can be understood and causalities and nexuses identified.

The track’s objective is the following: 

1)  To explore opportunities in perceiving and modeling disasters informed by CAS theory, as well as set up research priorities for a forward-looking, disaster resilience research agenda,

2)  To foster collaboration between complexity scientists, critical infrastructure, and disaster resilience researchers,

3)  To showcase innovative applications of CAS theory in disaster risk reduction, highlighting lessons learned and best practices and,

4)  To provide a platform for critical evaluation of existing methods and frameworks in resilience and complexity science.

Format of the session: Oral presentations and collaborative group work

Presentations/Presenters

Interactive group knowledge co-creation lab: Who’s Connected to Whom? Mapping post-disaster networked interactions and feedback loops in the urban system (group work and discussion) 

Opening remarks on Complex Adaptive System Theory for Disaster Resilience (Dr. Lucian-Constantin UNGUREANU)

Complex Adaptive System Theory for Disaster Resilience: Application, Challenges, and Future Research (Dr. Milad ZAMANIFAR)

Modelling Critical Flows for Systemic Resilience: A Framework for Addressing Complex Hazards and Hybrid Crises (Dr. Haris RAHADIANTO, Dr. Jonas JOHANSSON)

Beyond one-size-fits-all: the Cynefin framework for adaptive disaster management in small island states (Dr. Farah NIBBS)

Duration: 60 minutes

Chairs: Asimina KOUROU, Dr Geologist, Head of the Direction of Emergency Planning, Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Athens, Greece; Maria KLEANTHI, Former Head of the Directorate General for Natural Disasters Rehabilitation, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Athens, Greece; Miranda DANDOULAKI, Disaster Management Specialist, Greece.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

On October 30, 2020, 11:51 UTC, a large earthquake of Mw7.0 in eastern Aegean Sea area affected several Greek islands, mainly Samos, as well as the Izmir area in Turkey. A moderate damaging tsunami followed the earthquake and inundated many coastal zones in the area. It was the largest in the Aegean Sea since 1956 CE. In Samos, the damage was extended, 2 teenagers were killed, there were severe socioeconomic impacts.  

Response was immediate and comprised a range of activities among them  initial announcements of the earthquake and first assessment of the impact, dissemination of instructions to the population through the European emergency communication service 112, search and rescue, medical care, setting up of emergency shelters, provision of essential supplies to the affected population, psychological support, public information activities, and financial support to the affected population for emergency needs, inspection of building for the assessment of the suitability to be used.

Following the first emergency response phase, the national standard scheme for the rehabilitation of private buildings was implemented in parallel with a program for the organized demolition of buildings damaged beyond repair, the repair of public buildings, repair of damaged infrastructure.

Today, about 5 years after disaster, it is high time to generate an exchange on challenges and lesson learnt for response and recovery and to bring about the multifaceted governance challenges such a disaster presents in an island context.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Panelists/Presentations: 

Maria Kleanthi, Former Head of the Directorate General for Natural Disasters Rehabilitation, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Athens, Greece/Title to be confirmed

Dr Asimina Kourou, Head of Social Earthquake Defense Directorate of Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO), Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Athens, Greece/ “The Role of Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization in Responding and Recovering from Samos Earthquake”

Georgios Stantzos, Former Mayor of Eastern Samos Municipality, Samos, Greece/”The Front Line of Crisis: Multiple Emergencies and the Experience of Local Government in Samos (Earthquake – Tsunami, COVID-19, Migration Pressure)”Dr Nikolaos Theodoulidis, Research Director ITSAK/ Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO), Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Thessaloniki, Greece/ “Earthquake Resilient Schools: The pilot site of Samos”.

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Muneta YOKOMATSU, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria; Tomoki ISHIKURA, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

This special session will discuss the process by which new disaster/disaster risk management (DRM) knowledge and paradigms are formed from theoretical, empirical, and practical perspectives. Disaster/DRM knowledge is categorized into diverse fields (e.g., natural science, technology, behavioral codes), layers (e.g., basic theory, application method), and stages (e.g., discovery, common wisdom). It is essential to carefully analyze the properties of each type of knowledge and the unique characteristics of the environment in which it is formed and shared. 

Often, an occurrence of an unforeseen disaster triggers a change in an existing knowledge system. Two cases of the changes may be considered: a) strengthening existing standards, and b) qualitative paradigm shifts (i.e., the case where methodologies/approaches are qualitatively replaced after a disaster). This session will also focus on the latter case. Knowledge systems may be destroyed. However, recognizing this fact is not an easy task. How experts and policymakers who have promoted the traditional paradigms respond to the situation will be a major factor in determining subsequent socioeconomic dynamics. We may reexamine the build-back-better and creative destruction theories from the perspective of attitudes and viewpoints toward the renewal of knowledge systems. Furthermore, it is possible to assume the possibility that something unforeseen could happen and prepare human, organizational, and financial resources for research and investigation. This session will also focus on the policies and management of the knowledge formation process, learning, and education.

The session encourages presentations on conceptual and theoretical research as well as case studies and action research. Accumulating cases through careful qualitative descriptions is also an important step in organizing “stylized facts”. Feedback between “description of facts and practices/data collection” and “conceptualization/theorization” will serve as the driving force for systematizing this topic. The discussion will potentially contribute to the discussion of implementation science.

Format of the session: Presentations and discussion

This session will consist of an explanation of the purpose by the session organizer, 3-5 research presentations, followed by Q&A, and a general discussion.

Presenters and Presentations 

Muneta YOKOMATSU and Tomoki ISHIKURA “A simple model of opportunity-based learning and knowledge formation in disaster management”

Alexandra-Ioana CRĂCİUN & Alexandru OZUNU “Challenges in implementing the ‘Build Back Better’ principle in Romania: Lessons from European good practices”

Hideyuki SHIROSHITA “Beyond traditional disaster education: A three-tiered framework for disaster education”

Gihan BADI “Enhancing disaster governance in Libya: Lessons from municipal capacity-building and the REBUILD training initiative”

Kaori KITAGAWA “Co-learning’ and ‘co-creation’ – what are they?”

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Norio OKADA, Adviser, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan and Emeritus Professor, Kyoto University, Japan; Katsuya YAMORI, Professor, DPRI, Kyoto University, Japan.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

How can we work together better in fieldsites for DRR?  This is a central issue of implementation. We propose to make use of the Case Station-Field Campus scheme. In this relation, how to institutionalize the opportunities offered by action research is also an issue.  An effective institutional scheme can help stabilize and maintain the contributions the research activities make to the particular DRM situation.  It can also foster better communication and learning from other research activities.  We demonstrate in this session that a good example is the Case-Station-Field-Campus (CaSiFiCa) Scheme originally proposed by Okada and Tatano.   

The CaSiFiCa Scheme is characterized as follows: a set of local case stations and field campuses and their globally networked linkages are expected to operate synergistically to achieve the following objectives: promotion of DRR research and education at all levels, multilateral knowledge sharing and knowledge creation, and implementation of knowledge and gaining knowledge from implementation.  Note that a unit within this scheme (in one place) is intended to be networked together with other parallel units in other locations.  The units thus can complement each other and mutually collaborate to realize the synergistic dynamics of communicative spaces for implementation. 

The main objective of this session is to invite speakers who have already adopted this scheme, two cases from Japan and one from India, and share their experiences and thoughts with the audience. This will offer a timely occasion for the participants to discuss how to extend this time-tested approach for DRR.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The session will include:  

1) An introduction on Case Station-Field Campus ( CaSiFiCa) Approach (Norio Okada and Katuya Yamori)   

2) Three examples of CaSiFiCa practices:

i) Case of Mashiki Lab, Kumamoto University for disaster recovery and restoration (Yuta Yoshikai, Ryuji Kakimoto and Yuji Hoshino), 

ii) Case of Kuroshio Town, Kochi, Japan for Tsunami evacuation (Katsuya Yamori), and 

iii) Case of Odisha, India for reducing avoidable deaths from snake bites (Hideyuki Shiroshita and Nibedita Ra-Bennet.)  

These presentations will be followed by a substantial open discussion which we hope will elicit more potential cases.

Professor Yoshiyuki YAMA, Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan, and Dr. Sebastian POLAK-ROTTMANN, German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tokyo, Japan, will serve as discussants.

Duration: 60 minutes

Chair(s): Dr. Shingo NAGAMATSU, Kansai University, Japan.

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

This session explores the emerging concept of transformative resilience—how communities fundamentally adapt and reorganize their systems in response to major disruptions. Unlike conventional notions of resilience, which emphasize returning to normal, transformative resilience involves deliberate and often systemic changes in livelihoods, governance, spatial patterns, and social values. Such shifts are particularly relevant in island and remote settings, where ongoing hazards, isolation, and demographic pressures challenge the viability of business-as-usual recovery approaches.

Greek island and peripheral communities, facing complex layers of risk—from earthquakes and wildfires to depopulation and tourism dependency—offer a rich context to examine transformative change in practice. This session brings together multi-national researchers including Greek and to engage in critical dialogue around how resilience is understood, enacted, and evaluated in these regions.

The session will serve multiple purposes. First, it provides a knowledge-sharing platform for academic and community-based perspectives on resilience, capturing diverse experiences and interpretations. Second, it aims to advance the theoretical and methodological discourse on transformative resilience by identifying local indicators, mechanisms, and outcomes of change. 

Ultimately, the session will contribute to developing more nuanced, people-centered approaches to disaster risk reduction in island and remote areas. By connecting research with practice and theory with lived experience, it seeks to inform both local adaptation strategies and global DRR discussions.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The session will feature short thematic presentations by Greek researchers and practitioners, followed by a moderated panel discussion and interactive Q&A segment. A central innovation is the inclusion of community narratives, offering firsthand insights into how transformation occurs in practice. This story-driven approach emphasizes the social and cultural dimensions of resilience. The session also serves as a preparatory platform for a planned post-conference field study, allowing organizers to gather contextual knowledge, identify key issues, and engage with relevant stakeholders. Insights from the session will help shape the design and focus of the subsequent research activities.

Panelists

• Dr. Harris COCCOSIS, Professor Emeritus at University of Thessaly, Greece. 
• Dr. Daisuke SASAKI, Tohoku University, Japan
• Dr. Yasmin BHATTACHARYA, University of Tokyo, Japan

Dr. Pavlos-Marinos DELLADETSIMAS, Emeritus Professor, Harokopion University, Greece

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Elena DASKALAKI, National Observatory of Athens, Greece; Maria Ana BAPTISTA, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Portugal; Ignacio AGUIRRE AYERBE, Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Spain

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Tsunamis are low–probability, high–consequence hazards, making tsunami risk awareness a challenge, especially in coastal tourist or urbanized areas. Therefore, community engagement is vital for risk reduction and disaster preparedness.
Following the Indian Ocean 2004 and the 2011 Great Japan tsunami events, much progress has been made concerning tsunami risk reduction and preparedness. New technologies, such as mobile alerts and personal devices, are designed to enhance preparedness. Adapting and preparing these tsunami risk reduction strategies and preparing them for the local context has proven successful worldwide. Involving local community leaders, integrating such programs into national disaster plans, and convergence with international organizations like UNESCO are beneficial steps towards their implementation. The UNESCO- IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP) delineates a pathway focusing on hazard and evacuation mapping, public education, and response measures, all of which are key to the culture of preparedness. 

In the North Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Region (NEAM), the UNESCO-IOC TRRP is being implemented to promote tsunami preparedness in coastal communities. The main objective of this initiative is to inform all stakeholders about tsunami risk and response measures and to raise public awareness. To this end, the Programme includes preparing tsunami hazard maps that show the area prone to tsunamis and drafting evacuation maps that provide clear information on tsunami evacuation zones so that people are not misled during emergencies. Moreover, it requires developing tsunami emergency plans, especially at a local level, and practicing regularly through drills to refine plans and make them apt to be applied in case of a tsunami. 

The session will showcase the implementation of TRRP in the NEAM region and share experiences, good practices, successes, and challenges found in the first years of implementation. Furthermore, it will promote cross-fertilization between tsunami preparation policies and practices worldwide. 

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Each speaker will share their viewpoint aligned with the session rationale, focusing on case studies or examples from their respective countries. Furthermore, there will be presentations on global and regional initiatives such as the UNESCO-IOC TRRP. 

Panelists

• Alessandro AMATO, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome, ITALY (online)
• Musavver Didem CAMBAZ, Bogaziçi University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, İstanbul, TÜRKIYE
• Lorenzo CUGLIARI, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome, ITALY
• Derya DILMEN-VENNIN, Tsunami Resilience Section, UNESCO-IOC, Paris, FRANCE (TBC)
• James D. GOLTZ, Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, USA
• Nikos KALLIGERIS, Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, GREECE
• Ardito M. KODIJAT, UNESCO-IOC Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre, UNESCO Office Jakarta, INDONESIA (online)
• Nikolas PAPADIMITRIOU, Seismology and Geophysics Section, Geological Survey Department, Lefkosia, CYPRUS (TBC)
• Nurcan Meral Özel, Bogaziçi University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, İstanbul, TÜRKIYE

Chairs-convenors 

Maria Ana BAPTISTA, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, PORTUGAL (online)

Ignacio AGUIRRE AYERBE, Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, SPAIN (online)

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Irene PETRAROLI, University of Twente, the Netherlands, Mark Ashley PARRY, Northumbria University, the UK, & Funda ATUN, University of Twente, the Netherlands 

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

Disasters expose and exacerbate societal inequalities, particularly in access to information and resources. Vulnerable populations—such as youth, women, foreigners, and individuals with disabilities—often experience greater challenges due to socio-economic marginalization and limited inclusion in resilience strategies. Providers of disaster services face difficulties understanding the specific concerns of these groups, while marginalized populations often receive incoherent or inaccessible information, leading to heightened stress and cognitive biases.

The “Building Resilient Communities by Strengthening Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Practice” session aligns with the IDRiM Conference’s mission to advance multi-dimensional accessibility (physical, social, economic, institutional, etc.) in disaster prevention and mitigation, emergency response, and disaster recovery. This session, promoted by the IDRiM Women in Disaster Science and Practice Committee, centres on the importance of inclusivity and representation in disaster-resilient communities and infrastructures. Underpinning this session is the understanding that resilience in disaster preparedness extends beyond physical structures to incorporate the social and emotional needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups, particularly women, youth, and ethnic minorities.

This session highlights the efforts of the IDRiM Women in Disaster Science and Practice, emphasizing the transformative role of art, media, and technology in fostering resilience. The session will showcase innovative participatory research methods, using creative mediums to reach and engage vulnerable groups not as potential victims but as empowered contributors—actively promoting resilient and inclusive societies.

The session will allow space for the presenters to share art, media and technology platforms interactively with the audience.

Format of the session: Interactive

Opening speech by Funda Atun (co-founder of IDRiM Women in Disaster Science and Practice Committee). 

A series of flash talks (about 2 minutes each). 

Panel Discussion on the role of inclusion, diversity, art and technology for building disaster resilient communities. The ambition is that the discussion will stimulate a dynamic dialogue between panel speakers and the audience, facilitating in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange.

Participants will engage in simultaneous group activities (5–6 participants per group), such as: Paratus (In-person), Map@Me (In-person or online)

Example of flash talks: 

• Narratives of Risk: Exploring Hazard Maps and Capabilities in Europe and Japan, Irene PETRAROLI, University of Twente
• Children Citizen Geo-Science Project: Children as Co-researchers for Developing Climate Adaptive Cities, Funda ATUN, University of Twente

The list will be extended and more IDRiM members talks will be included. 

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Kostas KALABOKIDIS, University of the Aegean, Greece; Urbano FRA PALEO, University of Extremadura, Spain

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

The temporal and spatial patterns of wildfires are changing as the result of climate change and of the interaction with multiple human processes, such as land use change, rural depopulation, reforestation and urbanization. Wildfires in Europe are increasingly more intense and less manageable if adopting emergency response as the preferred policy option. They are, as well, more frequent in regions where they were less common. The European Union needs to adjust multiple sectoral policies and integrate them by adopting a landscape approach to reduce wildfire risk. The unintended consequences of certain European policies in increasing wildfire risk need to be identified, while synergies between others have to be sought, in order to drive change and help to indirectly strengthen the proactive capacities of the EU policies, in the absence of a specific mandate.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

The main scientific findings, as well as the policy options proposed in an ad hoc Report by the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC), will be examined in a conference session, and will serve as the basis for the discussion with the participants and for the further elaboration of an integrated approach to wildfire risk by the European Union and countries elsewhere.

Presentations

“Civil protection field exercise under the code name “AINEIAS 2024 – VARI VOULA VOULIAGMENI” for fire response” by Eva FRAKTOPOULOU, Independent Civil Protection Department, Municipality of Vari Voula Vouliagmeni, Greece

“Report “Changing Wildfires: Policy Options for a Fire-Adapted and Fire-Literate Europe” by Kostas KALABOKIDIS, University of the Aegean, Greece; and Urbano FRA PALEO, University of Extremadura, Spain

“Emerging Innovations toward Integrated Fire Management” by David GREEN, Director for S&T Innovation, Transition and Integration Systems, Green Resilience Insights, LLC, USA

“Living Fire Lab Greece: Scenario planning for optimizing forest and fuel management in Europe” by Kostas KALABOKIDIS, University of the Aegean, Greece

“OPTIFUEL: A multi-criteria web-GIS tool for optimizing fuel treatment scenarios in fire-prone landscapes” by Nikos SOULAKELLIS, University of the Aegean, Greece

Duration: 90 minutes

Chair(s): Dr. Claudia BERCHTOLD, Senior Researcher – Project Manager, Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis – INT; JoAnne LINNEROOTH-BAYER, Acting Programme Director Risk and Resilience, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) 

Rationale and introduction of the topic of the session

The European Union has invested more than 70 Mio. € in wildfire risk management related research and innovation activities. Collectively, these projects proposed governance advances at European level. However, wildfire risk is a multi-scalar challenge that requires the involvement of national and regional levels of managing risk. Specifically, in light of an increasing number of extreme wildfire events, we want to explore key aspects on the intersection of equity, nature-based solutions (NbS), and stakeholder engagement in addressing wildfire challenges and the potential for advancing their uptake. The overall aim is to discuss how justice considerations can inform wildfire risk management strategies, the potential of nature-based solutions to foster resilience, and effective methods for engaging stakeholders in face of changing risks. This session aims to inspire collaborative action towards a just and sustainable approach to wildfire risk management.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Justice in Wildfire Management: We will examine how marginalized communities disproportionately face wildfire impacts and discuss the need for equitable resource allocation, access to information, and inclusion in decision-making processes.

2. Nature-Based Solutions: The session will highlight how NbS—such as reforestation and sustainable land management—can enhance ecosystem resilience while mitigating wildfire risks. These solutions provide environmental benefits and promote social equity.

3. Stakeholder Engagement: Effective wildfire risk management requires the participation of diverse stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous peoples, and government agencies. We will explore best practices for inclusive dialogue and co-development of strategies that ensure all voices are heard.

4. Case Studies: Real-world examples will illustrate successful integration of justice, NbS, and stakeholder engagement in wildfire management, showcasing innovative approaches that enhance community resilience and promote equitable outcomes.

Format of the session: Panel discussion

Panelists

Valentina BACCIU, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo siu Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Italy (TBC)

Ramona VELEA, ISIG – Istituto di Sociologia Internazionale di Gorizia, Italy

Eduard PLANA BACH, Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Spain

Tim FOREMAN, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria