No abstract

This study characterizes evacuation behavior in Ibaraki Prefecture in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunamis based on geographic information, questionnaires, and interview surveys. We identified several factors on which the starting time of evacuation depended, including awareness of evacuation warnings, understanding of anticipated tsunami inundation areas (hazard maps), and distance from anticipated inundation areas. We found that those who were aware of evacuation sites, hazard maps and/or anticipated inundation areas maps, and who lived in inundated areas tended to evacuate earlier. Conversely, many residents delayed their evacuation because they chose to go home and take care of their family first. To improve future responses to likely threats, evacuation behavior and local disaster management plans must be reviewed based on the knowledge gained from this disaster.

Ongoing international climate negotiations are putting greater emphasis on the need for greater cooperation between developed and developing countries as well as among developing countries in order to promote climate change adaptation at all institutional levels. The pace at which adaptation is being implemented, however, does not meet the demands of climate sensitive communities due to various institutional barriers. While various adaptation networks, both globally and in the Asia-Pacific region, have recently formed to overcome these barriers, they have not met their full potential in enabling economies to become climate resilience. Among these is the lack of communication and collaboration among different domains of expertise. In this paper, we examine the role of existing networks, the stakeholders involved, operational modalities, and their expected outcomes and we identify recent activities that are helping to overcome these barriers and creating synergy by improving efficiency, strengthening coordination, and aiding in the convergence of multiple priorities.

No abstract

No abstract