Guidance for Assessments

How to include environmental concerns and considerations in risk assessments

• Map hazards, analyze and assess disaster risk and vulnerabilities, making sure to include:
  • Environmental data (see the sections on Environmental Situation Analysis and Information & Data Sharing for more guidance on information sources and data).
  • Associated risks with existing environmental pollution, such as chemical contamination, waste and industrial objects, as well as critical infrastructure objects, such as water or energy sites that contain hazardous/toxic materials.
  • The role ecosystems play in people’s lives and livelihoods (see here for detailed information on the links between ecosystem services and human well-being).
• In combination with existing environmental analysis or environmental data for the country / region (e.g. the Environmental Performance Index), environmental assessments are crucial to develop pre-disaster baselines, needed to fully understand the immediate and long-term impacts of a disaster on the environment.
• Actively seek to exchange knowledge and information.
  • Engage local environmental and conservation NGOs and communities as well as private sector (for example those in charge of industry and infrastructure) in risk analyses.
  • Engage the scientific community and set up data-sharing mechanisms and risk monitoring processes.
  • Share Environmental Situation Analysis with response and relief organizations, e.g. through the OCHA coordination mechanism.
• Develop capacities for environmental risk assessments, including:
  • Training staff in the use of various environmental impact assessment tools (see Assessments in Crisis Response and Recovery).
  • Developing skills and systems to quickly collect information from affected communities.