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Earthquakes are a major natural hazard in many OECD and non-OECD countries. Earth sciences have lead to enormous progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of earthquakes, but they remain a major threat.
The Global Science Forum, under the leadership of the Delegation of Germany, held a workshop on Earthquake Science, on 1-2 June, 2006, in Potsdam. The aim of the workshop was:
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To review the history and current trends in earthquake science, with an emphasis on new developments and paradigms.
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To compare and contrast national and regional approaches, plans, projects and priorities.
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To identify potential new sources of data and the relevant needed infrastructures.
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To examine the state of international cooperation and to explore prospects for new initiatives.
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To agree on a set of findings and conclusions that would be included in a brief, policy-level report.
Participants to the Workshop included 37 participants from 15 OECD countries (including 5 non-member countries).
Chairman’s report
The principal recommendation of the Potsdam Workshop was the creation of an international “Global Earthquake Risk Map” initiative. An experts meeting (13 experts from China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the US), took place in Gebze (Turkey), at a Tübitak research centre, on January 25-26 2007, to further explore the substance and the practical aspects of this recommendation.
The goal of the initiative would be to create a global earthquake risk analysis information resource, using internationally agreed standards.
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This resource would provide a model, not just a map.
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A technically consistent model is proposed, rather than a model build by consensus.
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The spatial resolution at which information can be provided should be at least at community level (10-20 km scale), with zooming capacities on hot spots and major cities (a “Google Earth-like” system).
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Damage assessment information should be provided using both macro-seismic (empirical) and analytical approaches (based on intensity and ground displacement, respectively).
Expected use and impact for such a resource includes:
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Possibilities for global risk monitoring, global risk comparison and future risk prediction
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Contributing to raising earthquake risk awareness and enabling populations (especially in developing countries) to confront such hazards
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Providing useful frameworks for stimulating the cat bond (catastrophe bond) and derivative market (and hence providing affected governments with immediate cash for recovery), policy and decision making, and earthquake risk management
Interested countries and stakeholders have been invited to further discussion in order to move this initiative forward (defining an organisational model, a business plan, solutions for the continual updating of the information and long-term funding of the platform, solutions for data access, interoperability, etc.).
For more information please contact the Global Science Forum secretariat at gsforum@oecd.org
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