Review of Hazards Definition and Classification 

Background

Our current risk landscape is increasingly interconnected, with hazards occurring simultaneously, cascading or cumulating over time. This demands a much better understanding of the underlying interdependencies and amplification of hazards and vulnerabilities. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, therefore, calls for a multi-hazard approach and expands the scope of disaster risk reduction to biological, environmental, geological, hydrometeorological and technological hazards.

This project stems from the partnership agreement between UNDRR and the ISC. In May 2019, the two organizations jointly established a Technical Working Group (TWG) to identify the full scope of hazards relevant to the Sendai Framework and the scientific definitions of these hazards, drawing on the internationally agreed UN definitions and available scientific literature.

Building on existing hazard definitions and other technical expertise in various sectors, the TWG brings together technical experts from relevant science groups, UN agencies, the private sector and other partners to develop comprehensive technical guidance for the full scope of hazards comprised by the Sendai Framework

The project aims to: 

• define the full range of hazards that are encompassed in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction;
• provide a scientific definition of all the hazards identified, drawing mostly on the internationally agreed UN definition and available scientific literature. 

Activities and impact 

• 2019: ISC and the UNDRR sign a partnership agreement and establish the hazard definition project as a first collaboration.  
• 2019: Work by the ISC’s Technical Working Group is highlighted at the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland. 
• July 2020: The Hazard Definition & Classification Technical Working Group published a new report on hazards definition with six key recommendations, peer-reviewed by the Technical Hazards Task Team and the ISC science community. 

Hazard Information Profiles

This report is a Supplement to the UNDRR-ISC Hazard Definition and Classification Review – Technical report released in July 2020. Aligned with the list of hazards published in the Technical Report, this Supplement comprises of a description of each of the 302 hazard information profiles (HIPs), developed using a consultative process by scientists and experts across the globe.

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• April 2021: The project team launched an online survey for the development of a global science agenda on risk.  
• April 2021: Publication of a supplement to the July 2020 report. 
• March 2022: The ISC, UNDRR and Risk Knowledge Action Network released a briefing note on Systemic Risk, outlining an integrated perspective to understand and respond to the cascading, wide-ranging effects of systemic and uncertain risks which face the world today. 

Systemic Risk

Review and opportunities for research, policy and practice from the perspective of climate, environmental and disaster risk science and management

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• August 2023: the Steering Group is established to scope and lead the review of Hazard Information Profiles. Eight Technical Teams for eight hazard types are formed. 
• August 2023 – onwards: monthly meetings take place. The Technical Teams engage additional expert to do the review. 
• February 2024: In-person meeting of the Steering Group took place, resulting in the decision to establish a group on multi-hazard context and another group on machine actionability. Another group of HIPs users will be established to collect feedback. 

The revised HIPs will be launched at the Global Platform for DRR on 2-6 June 2025, together with a report to guide HIPs users. Additional publications are planned, with a focus on the multi-hazards approach in the HIPs.  

Steering Group

Dr. Andrea Hinwood

Dr. Andrea Hinwood

Chief Scientist

United Nations Environment Programme

Dr. Andrea Hinwood

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Senior Science Officer, Head of Global Science Policy Unit

International Science Council

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Bapon Fakhruddin

Bapon Fakhruddin

Water and Climate Leader

Green Climate Fund

Bapon Fakhruddin

Jenty Kirsch-Wood

Jenty Kirsch-Wood

Head of Global Risk Analysis

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

Jenty Kirsch-Wood

Jim Douris

Jim Douris

Project Officer

World Meteorological Organization

Jim Douris

John Rees

John Rees

John Rees

Justin Ginnetti

Justin Ginnetti

Senior Officer

Information Management and Risk Analysis at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Justin Ginnetti

Katie Peters

Katie Peters

Katie Peters

Michael Nagy

Michael Nagy

Michael Nagy

Nicholas Bishop

Nicholas Bishop

Global DRR Programme Lead

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Nicholas Bishop

Nick Moody

Nick Moody

Nick Moody

Ohran Osmani

Ohran Osmani

Ohran Osmani

Osvaldo Luiz Leal de Moraes

Osvaldo Luiz Leal de Moraes

Full Professor

Federal University of Brazil

Osvaldo Luiz Leal de Moraes

Qudsia Huda

Qudsia Huda

Head of Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Unit

Health Emergency Program of World Health Organization (WHO)

Qudsia Huda

Richard Hartshorn

Richard Hartshorn

Richard Hartshorn

Simon Hodson

Simon Hodson

Executive Director

CODATA

Simon Hodson

Tom De Groeve

Tom De Groeve

Head of the Disaster Risk Management Unit

Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Tom De Groeve

Urbano Fra Paleo

Urbano Fra Paleo

Full Professor of Human Geography

University of Extremadura, Spain

Urbano Fra Paleo

Victoria Hollertz

Victoria Hollertz

Head of Global Programmes

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

Victoria Hollertz

Virginia Murray

Virginia Murray

ISC Fellow (2023)

Virginia Murray

Wirya Khim

Wirya Khim

Lead of the Disaster Risk Reduction Team

FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience

Wirya Khim