Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience

WITH over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca, the George Town was inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Historically, George Town was Malaya's first city on 1 January 1957. Since then, it has been offered so much to the world particularly cultural heritage and diversity.

Penang is one of the most economically vibrant states that contributes about 7 per cent to the national GDP with 40 per cent projected population growth by 2030.

Its capital city George Town is the second’s most inhabited city in Malaysia. Historically founded in 1786, George Town is prone to various natural hazards namely floods, landslides, coastal erosion, typhoon, as well as technological and industrial hazards.

Rapid urbanization and extreme climate are leading to broader development problems characterized by underlying risk drivers, e.g. unplanned urbanization processes, environmental degradation, and lack of regulations and enforcement.

Therefore, it is crucial to rejuvenate DRR resilience strategies towards making cities sustainable, equitable and resilient.

Promoting transdisciplinary approach and science-policy nexus

As part of the Master of Disaster Risk Management (MDRM) program offered by Malaysia- Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) in UTM Kuala Lumpur, a translational research with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been carried out to provide a new insight into risk-informed sustainable development and investment in Penang Island.

It covers the mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development planning, promoting risk-informed investment, and strengthening urban resilience, as a result of climate-induced disaster in a changing environment.

Current approaches to the risk assessment are inadequate to meet the challenges of the multi-faceted interconnectedness of climate-induced disaster in Penang Island.

This most populated island is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, such as floods, landslides, coastal erosion, sea level rise and typhoon.

An understanding of the systemic nature of risk is critical. It allows the understanding of anthropogenic systems in nature to intelligently assess disaster precursors.

This study reveals a newly practical approach for an integrated flood hazard assessment in George Town (Penang Island, Malaysia) by means of a transdisciplinary approach, science-policy nexus, and technology-assisted risk-sensitive urban development planning.

As enclaved in 2008, the area has been subjected to rapid urbanization, extreme climate, and high vulnerability leading to severe environmental degradation and water-based disaster events.

Typhoon Damrey struck the Island in November 2017 resulted in about 21,000 tourists stranded with outdated risk communication strategies.

In this study, we analysed a 40-year historical flood record in Penang, towards better understanding of local risk and its systemic pattern.

We quantified the spatial-temporal flood probability based on an advanced hydrodynamic model.

Hydraulic and hydrology processes with 20 inputs including land use data, rainfall, past floods, storm events coupled with local knowledge made the realistic scenario modelling is possible.

Design discharge, water level and velocity are further analyzed with respect to 3,643 heritage buildings and spatially presented in a GIS environment.

With a series of stakeholder’s engagement, field observation, expert-and-public consultation, we co-produced an Integrated Flood Hazard Map (IFHM) with significant improvements in its dynamic visibility, cartographic, and level of details.

Rejuvenating disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia had identified that 57.06 per cent of the area in Penang as impervious which causes surface run-off to continue to flow into the drainage system and cause river overflow and flooding in the surrounding area.

With disaster risk as a national interest, our development plans integrate it for the achievement of sustainable development, reflecting risk-informed development and resilience-building considerations.

Our scientific study with remarkable results made it possible to inculcate local climate- risk profile in projecting future scenarios, while intelligently protecting heritage assets based on a cloud-based GIS system.

The number of populations and tourists are projected about 40 and 60 per cent, respectively, in 2030 compared to the last decade record.

This result provides valuable negotiating tools to review any committed development and co-design an effective risk communication tool to support local DRR-resilience strategies in the risk-sensitive areas.

This study provides critical elements to re-strategize our effort for making our cities resilient, as recommended by the global assessment report (214 cities) on disaster resilience capacities.

This study supports the Making Cities Resilient (MCR) global campaign towards promoting risk-informed sustainable development and accelerating the achievements of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Our integrated study also reviews the state physical development planning and provides recommendations for promoting risk-sensitive urban development.

With 40 per cent projected population growth and expecting 60 per cent more tourists in next 10 years, an integrated approach (risk-based, all-hazards, people-centred and multi-sectoral) is important to strengthen local government resilience.

Preparing for the worst, 10-year road map to achieve Sendai Framework

In congratulating George Town on its 12 years UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the total planning and development of the city revolve around proper heritage planning and development.

George Town has withstood the test of time through the preservation of its culturally diverse physical structures.

Business and other various economic activities have simultaneously adapted to protect George Town's rich cultural heritage through the enforcement and implementation of proper heritage planning and development during the construction of physical structures.

Disaster risk management should be able to prevent or reduce the impact of the disaster on the values of World Heritage site properties and to human lives and livelihoods.

The community and spirit of the place have to be resilience to preserve cultural identity and sustainable for heritage conservation.

The climatic-induced disaster vulnerability is on the rise due to climate shocks and stress and human intervention.

This has resulted in a loss of life and belongings for local communities; and threatens the security of tourist; adversely impacts the local economy and tourism.

The Sendai Framework promotes a culturally sensitive approach to DRR in general and calls for the protection of cultural heritage from disasters across its four priority areas of action.

Meanwhile, the SDGs Goal No. 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities have outlined the targets to protect the world's cultural and natural heritage and to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters.

George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site is not an exceptional.

Some of the challenges, including a lack of water-collecting areas and lack of drainage channels due to the heritage and conservation issue, contribute to flooding.

Therefore, managing hydro-climatic disaster risks at cultural and natural World Heritage properties which are primarily inspired by an inclusive and participative approach to risk is mandatory.

Particular focus should devote to risk preparedness for flood, through the participation of highly qualified multi- disciplinary international and local experts on such fields of expertise along with the stakeholders to focus on the substantial advancement in securing better capacity in risk management and reduction.

Building up the scientific knowledge, innovation and education and strengthening the disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels are among the holistic approach that the state should consider.

In addition, the historical disaster data generated and hazard mapping are considered to be very important by assigned site managers to adapt the activities to the degree and complexity of the risk at stake.

The policy effect on risk may prove to be highly significant, as definitive scientific evidence can provide critical guidance to decision-makers on hydro-risk management at UNESCO approved sites.

A vital role to play in building a global culture of disaster preparedness and mitigation, building a culture of risk resilience in people's minds, promoting awareness, education and capacity, and, above all, a different approach to DRR and preparedness.

Risk management plans are not stand-alone plans. They need to be integrated into the management plans of the site.

Charting our own way for building societal resilience in the vulnerable cities

Nowadays, 55 per cent of the world’s population is living in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to rise to 68 per cent by 2050.

Remarkably, 60 per cent of the area to be urbanized by 2030 has yet to be built. Therefore, strengthening urban resilience is the key to achieve sustainable development.

Managing disaster risk in the UNESCO World Heritage Site is challenging, even so in the area characterized by densely populated island, sparsely developed-land, and highly prone to anthropogenic activities.

Our study provides a set of key recommended actions to strengthen policy, technical solutions and advocacy based on science and technology.

It also promotes a Transdisciplinary Approach (TDA) for building disaster resilience in the tropics.

Collective action by the multi-stakeholders (public, private, academia, civil society) is critical to support targets and goals underlying Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, New Urban Agenda and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a changing environment.

Some national policies, state-level strategies and best practices, supported by local actions are critically required. Our study addresses development problems characterized by underlying risk drivers.

We urge the need for smart innovation and cross-sectoral partnership, linked to practice and diverse stakeholders to support the evidence based decision-making for reducing current risk and preventing future disaster risk in the George Town World Heritage Site and its vicinity.

It also provides an insight into more dedicated action needs to be focused on tackling underlying disaster risk drivers and strengthening good governance and risk communication in DRR strategies, at all levels and across sectors and actors.

Happy George Town Heritage Day!

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Khamarrul Azahari Razak is Director of Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Center (DPPC), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur. He can be contacted at khamarrul.kl@utm.my

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.