The differential approach in disaster risk transfer: a strategy for reducing vulnerability to climate threats.

Supervisor/s: José Manuel Mendes and Eduardo Jorge Barata

Doctoral Programme: Territory, Risk and Public Policies

Reducing disaster risk and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations are at the top of the global socio-political agenda. The increased impacts of climate-related threats and failures in reducing socioeconomic vulnerability are the main causes that have led to the current unstable situation. To deal with disasters, risk management makes extensive use of the Risk Transfer (RT) mechanism but fails to include social vulnerability differentially. Therefore, this research aims to generate a disaster RT model with a differential approach. The model will be applied to a territorial unit in Colombia as a case study. To achieve its main objective the project will study the perception of national/local authorities about climate-RT. Subsequently, will apply a methodology for the prioritization of territorial units and the formulation of a differential RT model will be implemented. This innovative approach will advance the effectiveness of the RT mechanism considering the social differences of vulnerable populations.