Land use planning for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: Operationalizing policy and legislation at local levels

Abstract

Purpose

The Hyogo Framework for Action focussed disaster risk reduction (DRR) on land-use planning, with international agencies, research organisations and national governments recognising the importance of DRR through hazard informed land-use planning. This paper aims to examine the roles of planners in reducing hazard risk through settlement design, land-use plans and legislation, and identify shortcomings and constraints towards achieving Disaster Risk Reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses community-based research from Australia, Thailand and Indonesia to discuss land-use planning in local governance frameworks following major disasters, including cyclone, flood and tsunami.

Findings

This paper shows that land-use planning systems are still primarily geared toward promoting and facilitating development and have not evolved sufficiently to take account of DRR and climate change.

Social implications

Land-use planning frameworks for hazard-resilient communities remain disconnected from the emergency management and disaster risk reduction systems. The goal to create disaster-resilient communities through the land-use planning systems requires a fundamental change to the way in which planning is conceptualised and practised. Social equity is also a huge issue where investment focuses on urban development.

Originality/value

The study contributes to an understanding of the opportunities and constraints for land-use planning to enhance climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through legislation, policies, regional and local statutory planning schemes, enforceable planning and development controls and building codes.

Citation

King, D., Gurtner, Y., Firdaus, A., Harwood, S. and Cottrell, A. (2016), "Land use planning for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: Operationalizing policy and legislation at local levels", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 158-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-03-2015-0009