| Experts in Water and
Disasters Featured Presenters at Workshop |
Dec 9th, 2004
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Since 1996, the number of water-related
disasters (floods and droughts) that have occurred in the
world has more than doubled. In the future, the world will be
facing more severe water-related events due to climate change
and escalating climate variability, meaning that proactive
disaster risk management strategies will become an
increasingly important part of prevention activity worldwide.
The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at The
University of Western Ontario is bringing together some of the
world’s leading researchers, policy and decision-makers for
its International Workshop: Water and Disasters, on Monday,
December 13, and Tuesday, December 14, 2004.
Nearly
100 participants from Canada, Germany, Venezuela, Japan,
Australia, Austria, Nigeria, France, Ghana and Jamaica will
share knowledge and expertise about international, national
and local initiatives aimed at minimizing the negative impacts
of water-related disasters. Presenters include representatives
of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (ISDR), UN University and other international and
national organizations responsible for mitigation of
water-related disasters.
Slobodan P. Simonovic, Chair,
Engineering, of the ICLR, and conference host says, “ICLR is
pleased to have a notable gathering of international experts
at our event such as Dr. Andras Szollosi-Naggy, Deputy
Director General of UNESCO and participants from three major
UN organizations. The goal of the conference is to jointly
produce a document which I will present to a World Conference
on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan in January 2005.”
In addition, conference participants will produce an
analytical report to address conclusions relevant to the
international and Canadian context with recommendations as to
what actions should be taken in Canada and internationally.
The documents generated by the International Workshop: Water
and Disasters will go a long way toward shaping international
strategy and action.
Paul Kovacs, Executive Director,
ICLR says, “2004 is the International Year of Water Disasters.
World wide, there is a shortage of effective disaster
preparedness and mitigation methods. Appropriate
risk-mitigation investment, and the redirection of resources
into prevention offers significant benefits as well as
reduction in loss of life and personal property.”
The
workshop, to be held at the Spencer Conference Centre in
London, has received support from the Canadian Commission for
UNESCO, UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme, the
United Nations University, the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction, the International Flood Network, the Upper
Thames River Conservation Authority, Infrastructure Canada,
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, and The
University of Western Ontario.
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Media
Contacts:
Christine Roulston, Communications &
Public Affairs, The University of Western Ontario, at (519)
661-2111 ext. 85165 or croulst@uwo.ca
Denise Jetten,
Manager, External Relations, ICLR at (416) 364-8677 ext. 3216
or djetten@iclr.org.
To learn more about water and
hydrological disasters and other natural hazards as well as
ways that you can protect yourself, your family and your
property, please visit the ICLR web site - www.iclr.org.
* * * * *
Established in 1998 by Canada's
property and casualty insurers, ICLR is an independent,
not-for-profit research institute based in Toronto and at The
University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. ICLR is a
centre of excellence for disaster loss prevention research and
education. ICLR's research staff is internationally recognized
for pioneering work in a number of fields including wind and
seismic engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources
engineering and economics. Multi-disciplined research is a
foundation for ICLR's work to build communities more resilient
to disasters. Ongoing ICLR funding is provided by the
insurance community, The University of Western Ontario and the
Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund.
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