Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for transformative change: Addressing multi-hazard vulnerability in the context of risk-informed development.

Summary

Disaster risk weakens climate adaptation. This PhD will explore the DDR-CCA nexus by assessing the vulnerability of adaptation assets to multi-hazards; and examining the transformative potential of risk-informed development.

Project background

Climate risk is outstripping adaptation action, creating a widening gap. This gap is worse in Majority World geographies that experience interacting geophysical (e.g., earthquakes) and climate (e.g., flooding) hazards exacerbated by structural, social and economic inequalities. Consequently, many adaptation gains are at risk of being lost by these overlapping rapid onset geo-climate hazards. Despite recent progress, the connections within and between policy and practice in DRR and CCA remain weak – encouraging unsustainable development planning practices and maladaptation. Moreover, DRR and CCA policy is often developed in isolation, with risk assessments and planning tools not conventionally co-developed or aligned. Additionally, limitations in research and practice are imperiling ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ adaptation measures in place e.g., the development of non-earthquake resilient cyclone shelters or green energy technologies located in areas of land instability or on floodplains. Critically, the repercussions for Loss and Damage could be considerable but are currently unknown and under researched. We lack key information to drive policy-ready integrated multi-hazard climate risk assessments and planning, without which, a sustainable just and green transition is impossible. 

Adopting a place-based and comparative approach, this project will identify a range of adaptation actions which will then be stress-tested through a DRR prism. Utilising a multi spatial-temporal perspective, the project will examine both locally led adaptation (LLA) actions and nationally or regionally implemented built adaptation infrastructure. The student will examine the challenges, barriers, opportunities for operationalising risk-informed sustainable development at local and national levels according to 2030 and 2050 climate scenarios. They will design a method to stress test identified adaptation actions and design relevant risk scenarios that could be used as evidence for decision making. 

Research questions

1. What are the international and national policy gaps, overlaps and opportunities for harmonising DDR and CCA?
2. What are the spatial-temporal connections between maladaptation and lack of multi-hazard awareness, and what implications does this have for loss and damage?
3. To what extent can an LLA perspective support communities to achieve feasible adaptation pathways?
4. What approaches are needed to ensure a multi-hazard risk framing for adaptation pathways in Majority World geographies?
5. How can integrated climate risk scenarios be created for development planning?

Methodology

The PhD will adopt an explicitly interdisciplinary modality across research, practice, and policy. It will draw on natural and social science epistemologies, and employ qualitative, hybrid, and quantitative methods, that connect key environmental and physical attributes with social-technical systems. 

This student will carry out the following four phases of research in partnership with the British Geological Survey: 

0-6 months: Scoping the DRR and CCA policy landscape and case selection

• Critical analysis of existing DRR and CCA policies and practice and the identification of relevant case study site(s).
• Deliverable: Critical policy review of climate risk, adaptation and DRR examining divergence and overlaps.
• Deliverable: Identification and mapping of key case study sites for scenario development

6-18 months: Identification and analysis of key adaptation gains that are exposed or vulnerable to geophysical risk.  

• Deliverable: A set of data/indicators for integrating disaster risk principles for adaptation pathways for selected case study site
• Deliverable: Foundational data and methodology for future climate scenario development

18 – 30 months: Integrated risk scenario development and testing 

• Deliverable: Multi-stakeholder critical analysis for future national DRR and CCA policy development.
• Deliverable: A set of integrated climate risk scenarios for selected sites
• Deliverable: A scalable framework for integrated climate risk assessment

30-36 months: Thesis writing, delivery and completion

Training

A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills.

The supervisory team comprises experts spanning physical, natural and social sciences and through that disciplinary expertise and institutional networks can provide opportunities to support the students training development in aspects core to the PhD proposal.

Requirements

Essential:

• BA/BSc in GeoSciences/Geography/Environmental Sciences/Social Science
• Experience/desire to use participatory approaches with stakeholders
• Desire to carry out international/UK field work

Desirable:

• Knowledge of climate change science, risk and adaptation
• Knowledge of sustainable or international development (inc. policy)
• Experience using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

UK students can apply directly *For international students* The application process has changed this year, it is important to note that you need to be pre-approved before you can submit a formal application. That means getting in touch directly with me ([Email Address Removed]) as soon as possible and sending through a CV and degree transcripts. After reviewing potential candidates, a maximum of two will be pre-nominated to make a formal application via the E5 DTP portal in the usual way.