DRRM & CCAM Terminologies

The following DRRM and CC Terminologies are defined according to the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the 2009 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

DRRM CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGIES

Hazard

A dangerous phenomenon , substance , human activity or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.

Disaster

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Disaster Risk

The potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a society over some period of time.

Disaster Risk Reduction

The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of the land and environment and improved preparedness for adverse events.

Disaster Risk Management

The systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations and capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster.

Recovery

Decisions and actions taken after a disaster with a view to restoring or improving the pre-disaster living conditions of the stricken community while encouraging and facilitating necessary adjustments to reduce disaster risks.

Preparedness

Activities and measures taken in advance to ensure effective response to the impacts of hazards, including the issuance of timely and effective early warnings and the temporary evacuation of people and property from threatened locations.

Response

The act of implementing or translating into actions what are called for by the preparedness plans. Response includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further damage in a disaster or emergency situation. Seeking shelter from strong winds accompanying a typhoon and evacuating to higher grounds due to an impending flood are examples of response.

Vulnerability

The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.

Capacity

The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.

CLIMATE CHANGE (CC) CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGIES

Climate Change (CC)

A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (UNFCC).

Greenhouse Gases

Gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation of thermal infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere itself, and by clouds (IPCC).

Adaptation

Adaptation is adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits benefit opportunities (IPCC).

Adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change (UNFCCC).

Mitigation

An anthropogenic intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases (IPCC).

Human interventions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by sources or enhance their removal from the atmosphere by “sinks”. A “sink” refers to forests, vegetation or soils that can reabsorb CO2 (UNFCCC).