ICSU Science Plan for
Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR)

International Council for Science (ICSU) launches major research programme on natural disasters at the 29th ICSU General Assembly in October 2008. In response to the urgent need to reduce the impacts of natural disasters, the International Council for Science (ICSU) has launched a new, 10-year, international research programme designed to address the gaps in the knowledge and methods that are preventing the effective application of science to averting disasters and reducing risk.

"Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) will provide an enhanced capacity around the world to address hazards and make better decisions to reduce their impacts", said Gordon McBean, Canadian climatologist and Chair of the ICSU Planning Group for Hazards.

The new programme, which builds on existing research activities, will address the impacts of disasters on all scales, from local to global. It will combine experience and expertise from around the world, and provide an unprecedented opportunity for the natural and social sciences to work together as never before. IRDR will focus on all hazards related to geophysical, oceanographic, climate and weather trigger events—and even space weather and impact by near-Earth objects. The programme will also take account of the effects of human activities in creating hazards—or making them worse.

Download the Science Plan for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (PDF)

English (1.5 MB)