Risk Reduction Framework Research Articles

The Sendai Framework and Satellite Security

Abstract The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) aims to play a fundamental role in increasing global resilience. The focus of this research is to consider analysis of risks and recovery related to satellite disruption within the context of the SFDRR. Analysis of satellite disruption has often been more technical and less focused on supporting recovery. This research considers the framework’s relevance for preventing disruption to satellite systems and global recovery measures for related disasters that emerge due to dependence on satellites. First, the use of space terminology within the framework is considered. Next, principles within the SFDRR that are relevant to satellite system disruption are highlighted, and this is followed by presentation of key gaps relevant to this disruption, before potential improvements to expand the framework are proposed. This article outlines how concepts within the SFDRR could help to improve recovery from a disaster that occurs due to worst-case-scenario type satellite disruption. In this case, critical satellites are disrupted, preventing access to fundamental services such as navigation and timing. The aims of this research are to consider how the SFDRR can be expanded to consider disruption to critical satellite systems, by identifying aspects of the framework that are applicable to this type of disaster. Another outcome is to contribute to wider disaster recovery literature by encouraging consideration of disasters involving disruption to digital services.

Critical points in the views of G7’s country leaders on national agendas for SDGs and SFDRR

PurposeDisasters are catastrophic events that result in loss of life, injury and significant disruptions to everyday life. Unsustainable poverty, crises and migration policies worsen them. This study aimed to evaluate the critical perspectives of G7’s country leaders regarding their national agendas in 2022, focusing on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR).Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods. Using purposive sampling, we analyzed 20,215 words of X (Twitter) data from G7’s country leaders between January 1 and December 31, 2022, with a thematic approach using MAXQDA qualitative software. MAXQDA applied Code Cloud, Code Matrix Browser, Word Frequencies and MaxMaps Code Models tests. Results are presented based on codes, categories and themes identified during analysis.FindingsThe G7’s country leaders emphasized peace, justice and strong institutions as their SDGs priority. However, it was observed that developed nations often overlooked critical issues such as hunger, quality education and inequality in their agendas in 2022. Based on SFDRR, the leaders addressed crisis response and recovery topics, but it is crucial to note that there is a need for a shift towards proactive measures in their disaster policies. The study also noted limited coverage of migration issues affecting many countries globally. There is an urgent need to address hunger, provide quality education and reduce inequality worldwide.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several limitations: Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi did not have an X (Twitter) account in 2022, and the data only reflect the situation in 2022. Also, simply analyzing statements does not necessarily indicate what these countries support and promote in practice. However, this study could be enhanced by including analyses of funding allocations for projects that target various SDGs and SFDRR objectives. Lastly, this study focused on the strategic policy statements made by representatives of different countries. It does not include tactical and operational disaster management processes, which is a limitation because it is difficult to provide a broader perspective.Practical implicationsDeveloped countries’ approaches to disaster and development policies are essential for disaster risk reduction strategies. Future analyses of funding allocations for projects targeting various SDGs and SFDRR objectives can lead to practical implications.Originality/valueThe authors present a critical viewpoint on the SDGs and SFDRR perspectives of G7’s country leaders. As developed countries possess significant resources and capabilities, they should set a positive example in the global implementation of disaster policies. Consequently, their annual official statements are a valuable guide for disaster policymakers and practitioners.

Measuring Livelihood Resilience in Multi-Hazard Regions: A Case Study of the Khuzestan Province in the Persian Gulf Coast

Assessing community-level resilience and implementing strategies to enhance it are essential for maintaining fundamental community functions, coping with and mitigating risks, effectively reducing hazards, and promoting sustainable regional development. Accordingly, this study aimed to measure hazard exposure and livelihood resilience in the counties of Khuzestan Province. Hazard exposure to earthquakes, flooding, and drought was evaluated using decision-making techniques within a geographic information system (GIS). Additionally, a multi-criteria decision-making approach incorporating eight indicators was employed to calculate the integrated livelihood resilience indicator for the counties. The results indicated that the northern and northeastern counties exhibit the highest potential for flooding and earthquake hazards, whereas the southern and southwestern counties are most vulnerable to flooding and drought. Moreover, Dezful, Shadegan, and Ahvaz counties demonstrated the highest levels of livelihood resilience, while Lali, Haftkel, and Andika counties exhibited the lowest levels. Assessing hazard exposure and livelihood resilience represents critical steps in risk reduction management programs and initiatives. Evaluating community-level livelihood resilience in multi-hazard areas is a vital component in advancing the global objectives of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Peace Imperative for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

AbstractDisasters disproportionately affect conflict-affected regions, where approximately two billion people reside, posing significant challenges for disaster risk reduction (DRR). This reality has increasingly spurred calls for violent conflict to be included in the global DRR agenda. However, consideration of peace has been lacking, despite that challenges for peace can distinctly impact capacities to set, pursue, and achieve DRR objectives. This study investigated how the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) engages with peace through a document analysis, revealing three key findings. First, the SFDRR does not mention “peace,” mirroring its lack of reference to conflict. Second, while peace-related terms appear throughout the SFDRR in themes related to partnership and all-of-society approaches, this engagement is superficial. Third, the SFDRR’s approach is fundamentally problematic for advancing peace due to its avoidance of the complex social and political dynamics inherent to disaster risk and its reduction. The SFDRR united United Nations Member States in its ambition to “leave no one behind,” but has taken approaches that smooth over diversity rather than strengthen pluralistic connections. A radical, integrated DRR-peacebuilding agenda must take conflict as the new starting point and carve new pathways toward peace including through disaster diplomacy and environmental peacebuilding. By embracing the ambiguity between war and peace and addressing the root causes of risk, societies can cultivate peaceful interactions and collectively advance safety. This study concludes with recommendations for a global DRR policy that not only implicitly relies on peace but actively contributes to peacebuilding in the world’s diverse and divided societies.

The Systematic Multi-domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT) intervention: A personalized approach to dementia risk reduction.

Addressing modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity and social isolation could reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease and all-cause dementia, but little is known about which factors individuals are most willing to address or how they prefer to address them. To examine and describe behavior change goals set by participants during the Systematic Multi-domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT). In SMARRT, older adults worked with a health coach and nurse over 2 years to set incremental, personalized goals to reduce dementia risk. We performed quantitative analyses to summarize the numbers of goals per risk factor and qualitative content analyses of health coach and nurse notes to describe types of goals and useful strategies. 82 dementia-free adults (70 to 89 years) with at least two dementia risk factors participated in the SMARRT intervention arm (mean age, 76 ± 5 years; 72% women; 11% Black/African American, 4% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 7% another non-White race). Participants set a median of 12 health coach goals and 1 nurse goals. The risk factors participants chose to work on most frequently were physical activity (95%), hypertension (72%), and cognitive activity (60%). Participants reported that the most useful strategies included support and accountability from the health coach/nurse, setting small goals, and learning to manage setbacks. When given support, older adults at increased risk for dementia set a wide range of goals to reduce dementia risk. A flexible, personalized approach that focuses on setting feasible goals and managing setbacks provides a useful framework for dementia risk reduction.

Enhancing systemic risk management to strengthen community resilience: Key recommendations from state-of-the-art practices of past complex incidents

Traditional hazard risk analysis methods have historically encouraged single-hazard resilience, yet complex events often precipitate systemic risks, surpassing established resilience measures and presenting novel policy dilemmas in disaster risk management. Recent studies, including the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFMTR) from 2015 to 2030, reveal significant gaps and uncertainties in the compartmentalised aspects of resilience strategies, particularly in recognizing systemic risk perspectives. This highlights the necessity for an all-encompassing approach to building resilience, with a focus on vulnerable communities and a comprehensive understanding of the integration among state-of-the-art practices from previous complex incidents. This research aims to investigate disaster management practices related to complex disasters, with a specific focus on systemic risk management within community resilience approaches. To examine the state-of-the-art applications and challenges of various disaster management practices, a research team conducted a comprehensive analysis of seven disaster incidents in Europe and Asia, encompassing tsunamis, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, flash floods, industrial accidents, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through comparative analysis of these disaster management practices, and synthesizing literature findings and counterfactual thinking from the identified cases, innovative key recommendations were extracted. These recommendations are centred on recognizing the drivers of systemic risk on vulnerable communities for leveraging systemic risk management. They underscore the imperative need for understanding integrated risk diagnosis and risk governance strategies essential for addressing systemic risks. Collectively, these recommendations provide a comprehensive way forward for enhancing community resilience in the face of multifaceted hazards and challenges.

Combined GIS, FR and AHP approaches to landslide susceptibility and risk zonation in the Baso Liben district, Northwestern Ethiopia

In mountainous places, landslides pose severe environmental threats, weakening infrastructure, resulting in death and costing the economy. This article assesses landslide susceptibility and risk in the Baso Liben district of Northwestern Ethiopia using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Frequency Ratio (FR). Eleven key environmental and geological components— height, slope, lithology, soil type, and land use—were studied. After field research and Google Earth photos, 342 landslide incidents were collated and separated into validation (30%) and training (70%) datasets. ROC curves provide a technique for analyzing the efficacy of the FR and AHP models. With an Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 83.4%, the AHP model exhibited superior accuracy than the FR model, with an AUC value of 74.4%. Very low, low, moderate, high, and very high vulnerability are five categories defined as landslide hazard zones. The AHP model assessed 10.5% of the area as very high risk, 19.8% as high danger, 25.6% as moderate risk, 28% as medium risk, and 16.1% as very low risk. The FR model meanwhile assessed 10.16% of the area as very high risk, 21.3% as high risk, 28.9% as moderate risk, 22.5% as low risk, and 17.04% as very low risk. The results reveal that slope angle, lithology, and elevation are key factors impacting landslide vulnerability. These findings equip a practical framework for land-use planning and disaster risk reduction, providing decision-makers with appropriate instruments to help lessen landslide hazards. The research underscores the significance of combining objective data analysis with expert knowledge to enhance the accuracy and reliability of landslide susceptibility models.

Progress and challenges in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction at sub-national levels: insights from Aceh, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Common gaps in the current reporting system regarding the progress of meeting the targets Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) implementation in low- and middle-income countries include (1) systematic bias towards central governments’ interests and narratives; (2) reports suffer from lack of independent process committed to evidence-based reporting; (3) progress reports do not reflect adequate aggregation of progress from sub-national levels. This research focuses on assessing the progress of SFDRR implementation at sub-national levels in Aceh province, Indonesia – the place where Indian Ocean Tsunamis killed around 170,000 people on Boxing Day 2004. The authors combined key informant interviews and content analysis of policy documents to collect evidence of the progress in the four SFDRR priorities for action. Two case villages in Aceh demonstrated challenges and opportunities at local levels. Findings suggest gaps in SFDRR implementation include a lack of deliberation of risk assessment and knowledge dissemination, discontinuity of regional DRR forums, lack of incentives for mitigation and shared commitments, and responsibility. Progress at village levels is equally challenging due to the lack of funding allocation, discontinuity of village-level preparedness, and lack of adoption of sustainable recovery and community participation. In summary, since the progress of implementing DRR across four priority areas of the SFDRR in Aceh is not optimal, Aceh authorities (e.g. provincial and district secretariats), provincial and district Disaster Management (DM) Agencies, and other relevant DM actors need to comprehensively improve DRR across all four Priorities for Action of the framework in the province.

Analysing institutional responses towards disaster risk reduction: challenges and antecedents

Globally, the frequency and magnitude of weather-related hazards poses significant challenges for governments and the private and the not-for-profit sectors. This paper provides exploratory insight into the challenges that hinder institutional responses to risk reduction. This study specifically considered public sector organisations within disaster risk reduction (DRR) organisational fields. The paper identifies 3 major constraints, which include fragmentation, difficulties in using risk information and cultural identities that affect public sector organisations and community responses. To analyse these issues, an institutional theory lens was used to explain the antecedents under which institutional actors may respond based on events and stakeholder expectations and demands. The findings suggest that challenges hindering response to risks and emergencies are strategic, institutional or operational in nature. A selection of public sector organisations response initiatives is presented within an Australian context with analysis of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2023 Priority 4. Recommendations and further research to identify and address other institutional constraints and sectors are recommended.

Multi-hazard susceptibility mapping of landslides and earthquakes in Bhagirathi Valley region of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

ABSTRACT This study addresses impact of increasing frequency of natural hazards, particularly in mountainous regions like the Himalayas. The research develops a comprehensive multi-hazard susceptibility mapping methodology. . The integrated methodology involving majorly machine learning, remote sensing and GIS tools is applied to generate the multi-hazard susceptibility map of the test site. This integrated approach offers a nuanced understanding of hazard interactions, providing a robust framework for disaster risk reduction, government and non-government agencies in planning future developmental projects and infrastructures in the study area. The study’s findings show that 11.30% of the area is labeled as highly susceptible to multi-hazards.

Why Are Community-Based Early Warning Systems Inadequate? A Case Study of the Licungo River Basin, in Mozambique

This study examined the effective implementation of a community-based early warning System (CBEWS) as an early evacuation tool in at-risk communities in the Licungo River Basin Mozambique. Using the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) framework, this study evaluated the effectiveness of the CBEWS, focusing on the identification of factors that impede its functionality. The research employed a qualitative approach, conducting one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders at the national, provincial, and district levels, and group discussions with community members in the Licungo River Basin. Interviews and group discussions were conducted in Portuguese and Echuabo, facilitated by a local translator, and included a diverse representation of community members and leaders. The results revealed that the four pillars of the UNDRR framework - risk knowledge, monitoring and warning, communication and dissemination, and response capacity - lacked interdependence, resulting in the CBEWS failing to effectively facilitate early evacuation. Specifically, the study identified several critical factors: a lack of trust in the early warning system, inadequate monitoring and warning systems, communication challenges, and insufficient response resources. Additionally, the lack of social capital significantly affected community members’ willingness to implement and respond to CBEWS warnings and voluntarily evacuate. These findings highlight the need to address social capital and use incentive-based approaches to enhance the effectiveness of the CBEWS. Therefore, promoting strategies that strengthen social capital and incorporate incentives is essential to ensure community engagement and effective evacuation.

A mechanistic framework for the leakage risk reduction of mobile hydrogen refueling stations based on inherent safety concepts

This study presents a mechanistic framework for assessing and mitigating hydrogen leakage risks in Mobile Hydrogen Refueling Stations (MHRS) based on inherent safety concepts. A bow-tie model is proposed to identify potential hazards, event pathways, and consequences. Subsequently, this model is mapped into Bayesian Networks (BN) to enable quantitative risk assessment. Fuzzy set theory is adopted to address the uncertainty of prior probabilities, using a Noisy-MAX model to optimize the BN conditional probabilities. To mitigate leakage risks, a dedicated inherently safer design checklist is developed to identify opportunities for incorporating inherent safety. A case study demonstrates that the leakage potentials decrease from 0.2600 to 0.1997, and the leakage consequences decrease by approximately 22%. This work presents a novel mechanism using inherent safety to reduce the hydrogen leakage risk of MHRS, which is useful for creating an inherently safer MHRS with fundamental and natural robustness against hydrogen leakage.

Changes in Human Vulnerability to Flood and Landslide: Evidences from Historical Data

Human impact by floods and landslides (FLs) is a significant concern, necessitating a deeper understanding to implement effective reduction measures, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’s goal to reduce disaster mortality between 2020 and 2030. This study examines the evolution of human interaction with FLs over the past 70 years in Calabria, Italy. By systematically analyzing regional newspapers and historical archives from 1951–1960 and 2011–2020, a database was created documenting fatalities, injuries, and the involvement of people in FL incidents. For each victim, the database includes demographic details, accident time and place, circumstances of death or injury, and whether the victim’s behavior was hazardous or protective. Results indicate a drastic reduction in both the total number of fatalities (196 versus 20) and high mortality events from 1951–1960 to 2011–2020 (6 versus 1). However, the number of people involved in incidents has increased (202 versus 1102), although this may be partly due to improved dissemination of information. Changes in population habits and the construction of more robust houses have significantly reduced high-fatality events, enhancing security. The study highlights the importance of data collection for developing locally tailored risk reduction strategies, increasing community resilience by addressing specific vulnerabilities and strengths.

Evolution of disaster risk governance and its implication to resilience building in Nepal

The concept of disaster risk governance has evolved in line with international trends in the face of various challenges, such as sustainable development, climate change, and urbanization. Nepal, a country prone to natural disasters, has a history of disaster risk governance. The 2015 Earthquake caused extensive damage, but disaster risk governance in Nepal was re-established as reconstruction progressed. Ratification of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR) was also adopted in 2015, and the establishment of a federal system on a new constitution was promulgated in the same year, decentralized responsibility for disaster risk management from the center to the regions. This paper attempts to identify the evolution of disaster risk governance in Nepal, considering the above background and the impact of civil society interventions and technological advances in the disaster risk reduction field.

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT MODELS AND APPROACHES BASED ON AMERICAN STUDIES

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the research that has significantly impacted the advancement of disaster management models and approaches since the early 20th century. This review article focuses on scholarly papers indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, which present disaster management models. The selection criteria for these articles were based on their circular models or visual representations of disaster and crisis management from a diverse range of perspectives since 1920. Various disciplines, including public administration, sociology, geography, psychology, and civil defence, have shaped disaster management. Before the 1970s, pioneers in the field, including Prince (1920), Carr (1932), Powell (1954), Chapman (1962), and Stoddard (1968), analysed the impact of disasters on society, and their studies were a significant contribution to the development of disaster management. The circular disaster management model was first introduced by Baird et al. in 1975, focusing on relief-based initiatives. In 1987, Mitroff and fellow researchers delved deeper into the subject, exploring reactive and proactive approaches while integrating the notion of vulnerability. Later models incorporated entitlements such as development, economic progress, risk, hazard, and strategic planning. As time passed, these models grew more extensive and all-encompassing. Nevertheless, disaster management still requires further advancement to tackle crucial challenges like climate change, sustainable development goals, resilience, and the Sendai risk reduction framework. It is recommended that these issues be addressed under the leadership of public administration.

Placing Islands at Risk: Developmentalism, Militarism, Geopolitics, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

AbstractIslands have come to be seen as a distinct object of disaster risk and climate change policy and research. This is reflected in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR), which specifies Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as in need of specialized policies, attention, and support. This article directs an island studies perspective toward the SFDRR, discussing obstacles to the framework’s implementation in island contexts. Focus is placed on two interrelated sets of issues: (1) problematic aspects of the concepts of “development” as it is applied to islands (particularly in the SIDS category); and (2) international cooperation, militarism, and geopolitics. The study found that although island societies can benefit from the attention brought to them by the SFDRR, the framework engages in rhetoric that may limit island possibilities and potentials while distracting from more fundamental changes that should be made by other state and non-state actors.

Governing green change to improve resilience by assessing urban risks for localizing nature based solutions in fast sprawling Dehradun, India

Considering the increasing disaster risks, vulnerability and reduced resilience across Himalayas due to urban sprawling, our study attempts to understand the crucial environmental concerns in the valley town of Dehradun. We assessed the long-term risks due to the rise in population density, changing land use patterns, land surface temperature, groundwater shortage, air pollution concerns, vegetation loss and concretization using remote sensing tools. Results reveal the deleterious impact of urban sprawling affecting different wards of the city, with the burgeoning population pressure in the central part of the city (200 people per hectare (pph)) while, peripheral areas have lesser pressure (4 pph) but projected to rise. Loss of vegetation for development across the city has resulted in insufficient and unequal distribution of green spaces. The builtup area increased from 23.63 to 59.78 % after the city became the state capital has led to the increased heat islands and surface temperature (21.23–25.53 °C). Depleting groundwater levels in erstwhile water sufficient wards of Raipur (01), Shastradhara (02) and Adhoiwala N (28) is alarming. Increasing air pollutants (P.M.10, SO2 and NO2) and the risk of urban floods are severe for 10 wards. Dehradun city seems to be at tipping point about to cross its bearing capacity, any additional pressure may have serious repercussions for city residents. City municipal corporation along with diverse stakeholder groups need to mainstream Nature based Solutions, designing and implementing ward specific customized solutions for addressing societal challenges according to Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN SDG 11.

Investigation and analysis of lightning mass casualty incident in a Ugandan village

On 28 August 2020, the press reported ten children killed and four injured by a lightning strike while they were playing soccer near Odramacaku trading center, a small town close to the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In October 2020, less than two months after the incident, the African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network (ACLENet) sent a team to make a detailed investigation through interviews and site inspection. Four survivors had sustained injuries, physical and psychological, many with potentially life-long medical after- effects and disabilities. Some local people connected spiritual connotations to the incident. Local officials and community members expressed frustration with the government's lack of acknowledgment and response to the disaster despite the new district structure for disaster response initiated in response to the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to which Uganda is a signatory.

Vulnerabilities and exposure of recent informal urban areas in Lima, Peru

Urban areas are experiencing rapid growth, accompanied by significant disorder in Lima Metropolitan area and many other cities in South America. Due to decades of uncontrolled construction practices, it is imperative to identify and better understand the types of informalities prevalent in these recent urban areas. Addressing this lack of information is crucial for implementing appropriate countermeasures and developing new policies that benefit the communities residing in such areas. It is worth noting that understanding disaster risk aligns with the first priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. In this study, we propose the use of radar satellite imagery recorded by the Sentinel-1 constellation since 2017 to identify clusters of urban growth in Lima Metropolitan area. Then, the informal urban clusters can be depicted by visual inspection of the last recorded high-resolution optical image. With good spatial and temporal resolution, we identified 25 clusters informal areas. Among our findings, we observed that several of these clusters are situated in landfills comprised of construction and other waste, increasing their vulnerability to debris flow, landslides, and earthquakes. Additionally, we noted that some new urban areas mainly consist of temporarily empty houses, highlighting the feasibility of implementing countermeasures, such as relocations, in the early stages of informal occupation. These results underscore the significant contribution of satellite radar imagery in identifying recent informal urban areas.

Paving the complex path to building climate resilient cities through disaster health diplomacy and international public health policy

Disaster resilience defines society’s capabilities to resist/adapt/recover from hazardous events. Priorities for action were outlined at the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to reduce disaster risks by understanding the process, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, improving preparedness/effective response capacities/rehabilitation processes/reconstruction procedures. Disaster diplomacy is a fast growing interdisciplinary field. Natural disasters potentially generate opportunities for diplomatic interaction between rival parties/conflicting states. Climate crisis is growing. By large, Summer 2023 was globally the warmest on record. The 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark; UNOHCHR proposes a universal decleration of disaster rights. Climate change has widespread impacts on human health. “The greatest health threat of the 21stcentury” affects socio environmental determinants of health, clean air/water/food/shelter. Ninety percent of all disasters are climate/weather related, resulting in >410,000deaths in the last decade, expected to cause 250,000 additional deaths/year from malnutrition/malaria,/diarrhoea/heat stress in 2030 2050. IFRC focuses on strengthening ownership/community leadership/outreach/funding/forecasting/anticipatory action. Climate related flashpoints are the early warnings of impending crises. Turkey Greece have a lot in common from a climate change/disaster resilience viewpoint. Successive earthquakes generated rescue responses/mutual aid/outpouring of sympathy between the two countries within the last decade. Extreme weather events, high temperatures, severe rainfalls continue to batter both countries. Global warming brought intense flooding/wildfires to Southeast Europe/Southwest Asia. Climate change is expected to become the strongest driver of human migration through complex mechanisms in the Mediterranean Basin. The sustainability of Greece’s migration policies may be challenged against the global climate crisis. Environmental change has potential impacts on human health. Health diplomacy in international relations focuses on protecting health/well being. In the past, health interventions as foreign policy were regarded not to be associated with diplomatic disaster efforts. This oral presentation challenges earlier opinions and proposes a “climate change health diplomacy model” for improving capacities in disaster resilience. Around the world, health care professionals speak a unique/universal language of their own. Countries with “otherwise conflicting interests,” stand in solidarity during natural disasters. Through further elaborating on the principles of sustainable collaboration on disaster risks/health diplomacy/climate change, a “first time disaster health diplomacy model” may be developed to serve the world. An outline is hereby presented, 1 to define paths of communication versus the current ad hoc disaster diplomacy efforts, 2 to incorporate risks into the disaster diplomacy plan, 3 to incorporate a well planned disaster health diplomacy agreement. As the Turkish saying goes, “HEALTH COMES FIRST”.