prof. dr. Maarten van Aalst, A second-supervisor: still to be identified, Catalina Jaime (advisor; PhD reseacher ITC \ Senior Climate Risk Adviser in the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre)
People affected by conflict suffer disproportionately from climate and weather-related hazards. In these complex contexts Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) can help to protect people’s lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing in the face of predictable hazards (see: IFRC, 2009). Yet, compared to other countries, in areas affected by conflict much less has been invested in early warning systems, and even basic knowledge about their potential is lacking.
This research aims to inform practices and policies that can protect people at risk of extreme weather and climate events in conflict contexts. By joining this research topic, you will have the opportunity to contribute to transforming the humanitarian sector towards better and effective anticipatory action in the most vulnerable contexts.
In this research the following major questions should be addressed:
- What climate risks and disaster impacts have occurred in a specific conflict-affect country (historical hazard and impact analysis)?
- What forecast skill exists in these areas for a specific hazard (e.g. extreme rainfall, floods, landslides, storms, droughts), mainly based on international models?
- To what extent can this hazard forecasting be combined with exposure and vulnerability information in these settings to create impact-based forecasts?
- And finally, how might such information reach the people that need it, and how they could act on that information given the lead times and quality of the forecasts.
This analytical work would include joint work with experts on that country, including Catalina Jaime and others from the Red Cross Red Crescent network and other partners.