UK to propose international science panel to reduce impact of natural hazards

Brussels, 13 Jun 2005

The UK is to use its presidency of the G8 group of nations to seek support for the creation of an international science panel to help reduce the impact of natural hazards.

A proposal for such a panel came about after the UK's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, asked the country's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, to bring together experts who could advise on mechanisms for detecting and giving early warning of global physical natural hazards. An international panel was the mechanism favoured by the Natural Hazard Working Group.

The group assessed the current state of global natural hazard frameworks as well as the effectiveness of their use of science. The experts also considered what research may be needed to fill existing gaps in knowledge.

Sir David King welcomed the government's support for the group's report, saying: 'Scientific knowledge has an essential role to play in improving global preparation for unavoidable natural hazards. Science can help save lives. Despite considerable progress it appears that scientific knowledge is often not effectively applied to disaster risk management policies and programmes. There is a need to assess more systematically what the science base has to offer, and to strengthen and improve the integration of scientific knowledge and evidence into decision making.'

The proposed panel would be responsible for:
- advising decision takers on potential natural hazards that would have significant regional and global impact;
- pooling the work of individual scientists and research groups and identifying gaps in knowledge;
- addressing how science and technology could help to reduce the impact of natural hazards on vulnerable populations.

The setting up of a world meteorological organisation early warning system to provide a more coordinated and authoritative warning system for other natural hazards has also been proposed, along with national capacity building for risk management.

'This new international science panel could play a vital role, complementing and building on existing work, in helping to cope with, and reduce the human and economic impact of, natural hazards,' said Sir David. To access the Natural Hazard Working Group's report, please visit: http://www.ost.gov.uk

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