Environment Networks & Communities

Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM)

AUEDM is a network of universities undertaking education and research in the field of environment and disaster management. AUEDM was established in 2008 with 14 members, and as of January 2011, consists of 22 universities from 17 countries and areas. The network is hosted in Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies. The network has one president, two vice presidents (education and research), and an Executive board. The board runs for 3 years, and currently consists of 7 members from Asian universities. Additionally, there are observers and /or advisors which also include civil society (NGOs).

The aims of the network are:
1. To share and work together in promoting environment and disaster management in higher education
2. To collaborate on field-based and policy oriented research
3. To broaden the scope of education and learning with other stakeholders
4. To document, develop and disseminate knowledge products
5. To provide a forum for consultation, information sharing and cooperation among universities on matters and themes of common interest
6. To enhance recognition of the vital role of universities in implementation-oriented education and research in environment and disaster management

Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP)

The CZCP of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO; see http://www.earthobservations.org) brings together scientific and non-scientific experts in an effort to support coastal zone management through utilization of Earth observations and derived products. The CZCP focuses both on research and practical applications related to coastal zone management. A strong focus of the CZCP is on information for disaster risk management in the coastal zone.

Commission of Ecosystem Management (CEM)

The Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) is one of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s six scientific Commissions. CEM is a network of volunteer experts from around the world working on ecosystem management related issues. The Commission works closely with other IUCN Commissions, regional offices and global thematic programmes. CEM and its individual members are involved in a wide range of Ecosystem Management activities and is supported by the Ecosystem Management Programme as its Secretariat, located at the IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.

Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN)

ELAN enhances poor and marginalized people's resilience to the impacts of climate change by integrating ecosystem and right-based approaches into adaptation policies and practices.

ELAN is founded on a need for shared experiences, further research and increased capacity to implement innovative and practical ecosystem and livelihood solutions to adaptation and risk reduction based on the latest information and the diffusion of knowledge among adaptation practitioners and policy-makers. ELAN is creating a global network of scientists, policy makers and practitioners dedicated to supporting the integration of sound ecosystem management in adaptation policies, plans and programmes – especially in the world’s most vulnerable countries.

Green Recovery and Reconstruction Toolkit (GRRT) CoP

The Green Recovery and Reconstruction Toolkit (GRRT) is a training program designed to increase awareness and knowledge of environmentally sustainable disaster response approaches. The GRRT is made of ten modules which are designed to be delivered in a one-day training workshop: (i) opportunities after disasters - introduction to green recovery and reconstruction; (ii) project design; (iii) monitoring and evaluation; (iv) environmental impact assessment tools and techniques; (v) green guide to strategic site selection and development; (vi) green guide to materials and the supply chain; (vii) green guide to construction; (viii) green guide to water and sanitation; (ix) green guide to livelihoods; and (x) green guide to disaster risk reduction and greening organizational operations.

Humanitarian & Development Network (HDN)

HDN functions as a loose association of consultants who join HDN for specific assignments, selected for their competence and knowledge, and their expertise and skills in relation to the consultancy. 



Through tailored consulting and project management, HDN provides advisory and operational services in a variety of activities:
• Review and evaluation of organizational strategies
• Programme design and project development strategies
• Facilitation of private and public sector partnerships (PPPs)
• Advice on corporate social responsibility strategies (CSR)
• Coordination of events and fora
• Facilitation of international workshops and meetings, and private bilateral meetings in support of the humanitarian-development agenda
• Drafting of strategy, programme, and budget documents;

HDN works in:
• Humanitarian aid and coordination
• Disaster risk reduction and risk management
• Global migration including refugee and displacement problems
• Environment/climate change and poverty reduction
• Food security
• Health

In its first four years of operation, HDN has undertaken a variety of assignments in Geneva and outside by both its partners as well as with collaborating associates.

Among its clients are the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC, Bern), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN (Geneva) and a consortium of donors, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR, Geneva), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, Geneva), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC, Geneva), the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA, London), Geneva University, EPFL (Lausanne), the Fleet Forum (Geneva), the German Committee for Disaster Reduction (DKKV, Bonn), the Global Risk Forum (GRF)/International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC, Davos), and InSTEDD (Innovative Support to Emergencies, Diseases & Disasters, Palo Alto, CA, USA).

Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR)

The Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) is a global partnership comprised of UN agencies, international and regional NGOs as well as specialist institutes that collectively aim to influence policy, enhance implementation and better coordinate efforts in environmental management for disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihoods. It promotes ecosystems management as the key strategy to reduce disaster risk, increase local resilience and adapt to a changing climate. As a global thematic platform of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) system, PEDRR works to reduce underlying risk factors related to the environment and mainstreams ecosystems-based DRR in development planning processes at global, regional, national and local levels.

Probability, uncertainty and risk in the environment (PURE)

What is Probability, Uncertainty and Risk in the Environment (PURE)?

PURE has two elements: the PURE Network and the PURE Programme:

PURE Network

The PURE Network is a research and knowledge exchange network, which will run for four years (2011-2015) to stimulate good practice guidance and the standardisation of the assessment and quantification of uncertainty and risk across natural hazards science. The network will achieve this by bringing together researchers, industrialists and policy-makers through collaborative working and knowledge exchange. The network will help to shape the direction of future research and provide valuable information to practitioners in environmental risk management.

The network is hosted on the Technology Strategy Board's Connect-me platform which is open to all to join.

PURE Programme

The PURE Programme is a four year research programme which will run from 2012 until 2016. The aim of the programme is to improve the assessment and quantification of uncertainty and risk in natural hazards by developing new methods and demonstrating their applicability to enhance the uptake of natural hazards science.

A consortium group will deliver the programme and will focus on the following priority hazards:

Flooding hazards
Multi-phase fluid flow hazards such as avalanches, landslides, rockslides and pyroclastic flows
Earthquake hazards
Hydro-meteorological non-flooding hazards such as storms, droughts and heatwaves.

Who will Benefit?

- Academia, industry and government will benefit hugely from the sharing of techniques and methods used to quantify risk and uncertainty in natural hazards science.

What will PURE achieve?

Outputs:

- Enhanced interaction between industry, academia, Government Departments and Research Councils.

- The opening up of new commercial opportunities for UK businesses in the financial services and insurance sectors.

- Good practice user guidance for flooding.

- A web-based Knowledge Portal which willact as a directory of research and data for users of research. The Knowledge Portal may also contain an experimental zone where techniques and knowledge can be shared.

Outcomes:

- Good practice guidance and standardisation of uncertainty and risk assessment and quantification across the natural hazards community.

- Greater clarity and consensus about the most appropriate methods to quantify uncertainty and risk in natural hazards science.

- New and improved methods, tools and benchmarks for quantifying and assessing uncertainty and risk in natural hazards developed, accepted, disseminated and used.

Impacts:

- Improved assessment and quantification of uncertainty and risk in natural hazards science and also in other scientific areas.

- Improved communication of uncertainty and risk in natural hazards science increases public confidence in natural hazards information.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Start and End dates: 2011-2016

Sustainable Development-L (SD-L)

SD-L is a free and moderated community communications tool for knowledge-sharing on Sustainable Development. It is a grassroots, peer to peer service meant to advance understanding and application of the SD framework by allowing subscribers to post announcements related to contributions and activities with a strong focus on sustainable development. SD-L provides an excellent way to circulate cutting edge information on meetings, policy developments, publications and new initiatives, as well as keep abreast of the latest sustainable development-related issues and events. SD-L offers users a chance to better publicize and coordinate their efforts through virtual knowledge exchange.