Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This proposed project is based on programme areas 17A and 17B of China's Agenda 21, concerning improving the management of natural disasters and promoting the establishment of disaster protection and mitigation systems to reduce losses from natural disasters.

1. Background

China frequently experiences various types of severe natural disasters which result in considerable loss of life and extensive economic damage. In recent years, the annual economic loss caused by natural disasters approached about US $11.5 billion, which approximately equals 25 percent of the total GNP. The human and social cost of these disasters in terms of life and property loss as well as the disruption of communities and livelihood has also placed a considerable strain on the social fabric of the affected areas and China's ability to recover and further develop.

Following the adoption of the "International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction" (IDNDR) agreement by the United Nations General Assembly, the China National Committee for IDNDR (CNCIDNDR) was established in 1989 with 28 participant Commissions and Ministries. In 1993, the International Conference on Disaster Management in China was held in Beijing. At that time, China announced that disasters were having a significant adverse impact on its economic reforms and development. Natural disasters continue to take a heavy toll thus China considers disaster prevention and management as vital to the national interest.

In order to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, China has adopted a national policy for strengthening and promoting natural disaster information gathering, prevention, mitigation, and management capabilities. The government has also committed substantial resources for the development of national capabilities and has made considerable advances in natural disaster monitoring, prevention, and management. Bilateral cooperation has also resulted in significant progress. However, a systematic strategy has not yet been fully developed resulting in continued human and economic loss. This is in part due to a lack of funds, data gathering technology, and expertise.

Under the leadership of CNCIDNDR, two government Commissions and Ministries were organized to formulate a national disaster management strategy. The national policy report on natural disaster management was drafted and adopted, and has received a favourable response from many countries. The United Nations has also created a special team of experts to assist China with disaster prevention and management planning. There remains however, a considerable shortfall in needs and capabilities, therefore this international technical assistance programme has been proposed to support China in its disaster management efforts through information, expertise, and technical transfer.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • To perform nationwide natural disaster surveys and assessments.
  • To develop a comprehensive management system for disaster prevention and mitigation suited to China's economic conditions so as to mitigate the economic loss and social impacts of natural disasters.
  • To promote continued national development.

• Immediate Objectives
  • To perform natural disaster monitoring and information analyses.
  • To develop a disaster management data base.
  • To perform disaster risk assessments.
  • To establish a national centre for disaster management.
  • To establish a disaster response and management system.
  • To promote disaster management capability development.

• 3.1 Conduct natural disaster monitoring and their information analysis.
  • Evaluate and improve natural disaster monitoring and analysis methods by adopting advanced techniques and technologies.
  • Analyze disaster information obtained from satellites and aerial remote sensing to provide real-time data.
  • Evaluate digital radar imagery and disaster analysis technologies.
  • Compare and analyze satellite, aerial, remote sensing, radar, and conventional monitoring methods.
  • Evaluate disaster information processing and transmission technologies.

• 3.2 Develop a disaster management data base and establish a comprehensive disaster database for major events using existing disaster information and using a county as the smallest national administrative unit.

  This data base is to be used for risk assessment, disaster zone ranking, and as a basis to formulate policies for establishing a national disaster insurance system. The data base will include:

  • Physical geography;
  • Population demographics, society, and economy;
  • Historic and real-time disasters;
  • Natural and physical causes for disasters;
  • Disaster management organizations;
  • Structures and facilities for disaster prevention and management;
  • Personnel and resources available for disaster preparation and management;
  • Disaster management technical and information resources;
  • A Management Information System (MIS) for the above data bank.

• 3.3 Conduct disaster risk assessments to provide dependable data for formulating and implementing strategic decisions at the national and local levels.
  • Formulate disaster classification standards and risk assessment protocols.
  • Evaluate natural disaster assessment methodologies.
  • Formulate economic loss and environmental impact assessment models.
  • Formulate natural disaster risk assessment protocols for use at provincial locations.
  • Formulate protocols to evaluate the impact of natural disasters on social development.

• 3.4 Establish a national centre for disaster management which would compile and disseminate national and regional information concerning the impact of natural disasters on social and economic development.
  • Formulate the terms of reference for the national centre for disaster management.
  • Compile a national natural disaster classification chart.
  • Finalize the classification chart to identify major high risk areas.
  • Compile a comprehensive natural disaster prevention and management chart.

• 3.5 Establish a disaster response and management system based on monitoring, assessment, and zonation data. Develop national and regional disaster mitigation and management strategies to effectively address Chinese conditions.
  • Formulate a national disaster management strategy and programme.
  • Institute a national disaster management system which would make strategic decisions concerning disaster prevention, preparation and response.
  • Evaluate mitigation measures implemented at disaster reduction demonstration areas in:
    • Economically developed coastal areas;
    • The national capital;
    • Seriously affected areas in Southwest China.

• 3.6 Develop the capability for disaster management and improve disaster management skills, and promote technology, technique and information transfer.
  • Assist in the development and strengthening of China's disaster management administrative structure from the national to the county level.
  • Implement comprehensive disaster management training programme at various levels of government. Include training in GIS applications, disaster evaluation and risk assessment, response and mitigation, and field applications in the demonstration areas.
  • Encourage international cooperation and exchange to obtain technical material and data. Invite collaboration with international disaster management specialists.
  • Upgrade disaster management equipment and software.

    These activities will be implemented by the State Science and Technology Commission, the State Planning Commission, the State Economic and Trade Commission, and the CNCIDNDR. The duration of the project will be five years.

5. Benefits

The implementation of this programme will improve the disaster management, preparedness and mitigation capabilities of Chinese agencies and promote the continued social and economic development of the country. Averting the severe impact of natural disasters will assist China in its transition toward an international economy by insuring that high risk areas are known and avoided, mitigation plans are effective, and management is well coordinated at all levels.

The programme will be widely implemented throughout China. As a result, the economic and social risk of disasters can be quantified, thus providing a basis for formulating a national disaster mitigation plan, and also rational disaster laws. It is anticipated that the programme will result in a 30 to 50 percent greater efficiency in the utilization of disaster expenditures, and reduce economic loss by 20 to 30 percent. According to previous analyses, the ratio of input to output is estimated as over 1:30.