A brief note on the causes, effect and impact of Disasters

1. Contents
Acknowledgement.................................................................................................................... 3
Unit - IITypes,classificationandImpactof Disasters,Causes,FactorsresponsibleforDisastersand
Consequence of Disaster...........................................................................................................5
Types and classification of Disasters........................................................................................... 5
Water and Climate Related Disaster (Natural Disasters).............................................................. 5
Geologically related disasters (Natural disasters)........................................................................5
Chemical, Industrial & Nuclear related disasters (Manmade disasters).........................................5
Accident related disasters (Manmade disasters).........................................................................5
Biologically related disasters (manmade) ................................................................................... 5
Causes of Disasters ................................................................................................................... 6
Factors Responsible for Natural Disasters like Flood and Cyclone................................................. 6
Consequences / Effect of Disasters ............................................................................................ 6
Physical Destruction:................................................................................................................. 6
Emotional Toll:......................................................................................................................... 6
Economic Concerns:.................................................................................................................. 7
Indirect Effects:........................................................................................................................ 7
Geography:............................................................................................................................... 7
Environment:............................................................................................................................ 7
Disruption of Utilities................................................................................................................ 7
Social Consequences................................................................................................................. 7
Differential impacts- in terms of Caste, Class, Gender, Age, Location, Disability............................ 7
Caste........................................................................................................................................7
Gender.....................................................................................................................................8
Age..........................................................................................................................................8
Location...................................................................................................................................8
Health......................................................................................................................................8
Concept on Climate Change & Global warming...........................................................................8
Global Warming........................................................................................................................ 8
Climate ....................................................................................................................................8
What do we mean Climate?.......................................................................................................9
What do we mean Climate “Change” ?....................................................................................... 9
Why do we use the term Climate Change? ................................................................................. 9

2. What do you mean CO2 ?..........................................................................................................9
Why is CO2 significant?............................................................................................................. 9
Effect of Climate change............................................................................................................ 9
What is adaptation to climate change........................................................................................ 9
Who controls climate in India ?..................................................................................................9
Why adaptation to climate change........................................................................................... 10
What are the adapting measures to climate change.................................................................. 10
Policy measures...................................................................................................................... 10
Technological an structural measures ...................................................................................... 10
(Change of use) (Activity on location.)..................................................................................... 10
Monitoring and forecasting).................................................................................................... 11
Preventimpacts...................................................................................................................... 11
Climatic adaptation also includes............................................................................................. 11
Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge........................................................................................ 11
Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge........................................................................................ 11
Option for adaptation ............................................................................................................. 11
Resources and technologies requiredfor climatic adaptation.................................................... 11
Technology............................................................................................................................. 11
Information and Skills ............................................................................................................. 12
Infrastructure......................................................................................................................... 12
Institutions............................................................................................................................. 12
Economic Resources ............................................................................................................... 12
Equity .................................................................................................................................... 12
Green House Effect................................................................................................................. 12
Carbon Credit......................................................................................................................... 12
References ............................................................................................................................. 13

3. Causes, Effect and impact of Disasters
Acknowledgement
Disasters both of natural and technological in nature has been a very common phenomena across the world
today. India has been one of the major partners to this kind of devastation since time immemorial. The
Indian subcontinent is highly vulnerable to cyclones, droughts, Earthquakes, floods, avalanche, forest fire
and landslides occur frequently in the Himalayan region of northern India. Among the 35 total states/ Union
Territories in the country, 25 are disaster prone. On an average, about 50 million people in the country are
affected by one or the other disaster every year, besides loss of property worth several million.
The 482 km long of coastline of Odisha exposes the State to flood, cyclones and storm surges. Heavy rainfall
during monsoon causes floods in the rivers. In Odisha, rivers such as the Mahanadi, Subarnarekha,
Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya, Vansadhara and their many tributaries and branches flowing through the
State expose vast areas to floods. Damages are caused due to floods mainly in the Mahanadi, the Brahmani,
and the Baitarani. These rivers have a common delta where flood waters intermingle, and when in spate
simultaneously, wreak considerable havoc. This problem becomes even more acute when floods coincide
with high tide. The entire coastal belt is prone to storm surges. The storms that produce tidal surges are
usually accompanied by heavy rain fall making the coastal belt vulnerable to both floods and storm surges.
People die; livestock perish; houses are washed away; paddy and other crops are lost and roads and bridges
are damaged.
The analysis of history of natural calamities illustrates that Odisha has been a regular victim of flood,
cyclone and drought almost in every alternative year. Extreme rainstorms and the geo – climatic condition
induce occurrence of natural calamities like flood, cyclone, lightening, hailstorm and so on. The major rivers
of the state like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Rushikulya, Vamsadhara
and their tributaries cause major floods in the state causing intensive and extensive misery to the lives of
people and properties.
The socio-economic vulnerability of people turns these hazards into disasters. With nearly 90% of population
living in disaster-prone areas and about 66% below the poverty line have been witnessing the hard realities
of disasters in every alternative year. The primary and secondary sources of data uncover the fact that
despite of constant efforts and investment of people on agriculture and other allied activities with an eye to
improve their socio – economic condition, the recurrent disasters like flood and cyclone devastate
investment, hopes and aspiration of people every alternative year.
The coping mechanism of people especially the small and marginal farmers, share croppers, petty traders,
fishermen communities are constantly under severe strain. Affected people themselves, state government,
district administration, national and international supporting agencies, grass root level organizations take a
lot of initiatives every year preparing communities to battle against natural calamities, there is hardly any
time left to complete the process. For example a lot many inputs have been given to the farmers on
sustainable agriculture especially promoting disaster tolerant crops and on allied activities, but the intensity
of disaster like Phailin induced flood was so shocking and stupendous that people’s socio - economic fabric
almost retrieved back to zero level.
Similarly under Phailin rehabilitation work huge numbers of partially damaged houses were repaired and
transitional houses were rebuilt but just after one year, the cyclone Hudhud again devastated physical
infrastructures and people have to again spend money on such aspect and there is hardly any money
remains to invest on farm or off farm activities. The frequency and the gravity of the disasters pr ovide little
scope to reap the benefits of these initiatives. The focus of the State and other supporting agencies keep

4. shifting between repair/reconstruction and preparedness on the one hand and relief and rehabilitation on
the other. Recurrent natural calamities have been a major stumbling block in the path of enhancing GDP of
the State.
The natural disasters directly impact economies, agriculture, food security, water, sanitation, the
environment and health each year. Therefore it is one of the single largest concerns for the govt and non
govt. agencies, academic institutions, corporate world and more importantly the youth and scholars to get
acquire on disaster management and its risk reduction measures so as to lessen an impact of disasters in the
different parts of India.
School of Disaster Management - under Centurion University of Technology and Management has realized
and felt the need to prepare, prevent, respond and recover from an intense impact of disasters in and
through education, capacity building trainings and action research for and with the various stakeholders
like students, professionals, govt. and non govt. organizations both at state, national and international
level.
Jaya KrishnaBehera
AssistantProfessor, DisasterManagement
CenturionUniversity,Bhubaneswar

5. Unit - II Types, classification and Impact of Disasters, Causes, Factors
responsiblefor Disasters and Consequenceof Disaster
Types and classification of Disasters
1. Water andClimate RelatedDisaster
2. Geologicallyrelated disasters
3. Chemical ,Industrial & Nuclearrelateddisasters
4. Accidentrelateddisasters
5. Biologically related disasters
Water and Climate Related Disaster (Natural Disasters)
 Floods and DrainageManagement
 Cyclones
 Tornadoes and Hurricanes
 Hailstorm,Cloud Burst
 Heat Wave and Cold Wave
 Snow fall
 Avalanches
 Droughts
 Sea Erosion and Thunder and Lightning
Geologically related disasters (Natural disasters)
 Landslides and Mudflows
 Earthquakes
 Tsunami
 Dam Failures/ DamBursts and Mine Fire
Chemical, Industrial & Nuclear related disasters (Manmade disasters)
 Chemical and industrial disasters
 Nuclear disasters
Accident related disasters (Manmade disasters)
 Forest Fires
 Urban Fires
 Mines
 FloodingOil Spill
 Major Building,
 Serial Bomb Blasts,
 Festival related disasters
 Electrical disasters and Fires
 Air, Road and Rail Accidents
 Boat Capsizing
 VillageFire
Biologically related disasters (manmade)
 Epidemics
 Pest Attacks

6.  Cattle epidemics
 Food poisoning.
Natural disasters arenatural phenomenon and occur without any intention while man-made disasters are
events which, either intentionally or by accidentcausesevere threats to public health and well -being. Because
their
Causes of Disasters
A natural disaster is a disaster caused by nature, such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis,
avalanches, lahars (volcanic mudslides), landslides, sinkholes, blizzards, drought, hailstorms, heat waves,
hurricanes, tropical storms, typhoons, Ice Ages, tornadoes, and wildfires. Epidemics caused by bacteria or
viruses are sometimes considered natural disasters, but sometimes put into a different category. A biological
threat such as locusts or toxic fungi could also be considered a natural disaster.
Some disasters are on the edge of natural and non-natural. Famines, the chronic lack of food, may be caused
by a combination of natural and human factors. Two space-originating categories of natural disaster, both of
which rarely effect humans on the surface, include asteroid impacts and solar flares. Although the risk of
asteroid impact in the short term may be low, some scientists argue that in the long term, the likelihood of
death by asteroid is similar to that of death by traditional natural disasters such as disease.
Factors Responsible for Natural Disasters like Flood and Cyclone
Some of the states in India are vulnerable to many disasters like earthquake, drought, flood, cyclones etc. In
Odisha, factors which contribute to the vulnerability to various di sasters are having one of the longest
coastlines of India which creates/generates air pressure and becomes responsible for disaster like cyclone. It
has also good number of rivers and tributaries silted with good amount of sand and mad and drainage systems
are silted, there are breaches or breakage of river embankments which also contributes for causing natural
calamities likeflood and cyclones. Other than this it has also hilly and rocky lands having not much rainfall so
this results into drought condition.
According to distribution of zones based on the frequency of earthquake in India many regions of Gujarat
come under zone five which is the most vulnerable zone for earthquake. During monsoon period rivers get
over flooded and due to that flood situation becomes worst. There are many active faults present under the
earth surface which create earthquake situation.
Consequences / Effect of Disasters
Natural disasters have become so commonplace that they hardly receive passing notice on the news unless
there have been a largenumber of casualties.Volcanoes, mudslides, tsunamis and floods are just a few of the
ways nature strikes on a daily basis, leaving behind destruction and heartache. Humans have learned to
prepare for the possibility of tornadoes,flood, cyclones,earthquakes,hurricanes and wildfires, but no amount
of preparation can lessen the impact that natural disasters have on every aspect of society.
Physical Destruction:
The biggest visible effect of natural disasters is the physical ruin they leave behind. Homes, vehicles and
personal possessionsareoften destroyed within a short period of time, leavingfamilies homeless and shutting
some businesses down permanently. Tornadoes destroy structures at whim, earthquakes can cause structural
damage that might not be apparent at first glance, and tsunamis and floods sweep homes off their
foundations.
Emotional Toll:
Possessions are not hard to replace, as many people keep insurance on their property and tangible goods. The
emotional toll of natural disasters is much more devastating. The death of a loved one may be the worst-case
scenario but it's not the only lasting emotional effect victims experience. Whole communities may be
displaced, separating friends and neighbours; victims face anxiety and depression as they wonder if it could
happen again. In extreme cases, they may experience post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

7. Economic Concerns:
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina cost the U.S. $75 billion when it slammed into
New Orleans in August 2005. That doesn't include the damage caused in the Florida counties of Miami -Dade
and Broward by the same storm. Whiledestruction of this magnitude is not commonplace, even a minor storm
can cause considerable damage. At the very least, the local economy must be able to absorb the cost of
cleanup and repairs.
IndirectEffects:
While the visible effects of natural disasters are immediate and strongly felt, communities that surround
ground zero can be indirectly affected by them as well.Natural disasters almost always lead to a disruption in
utility services around the area impacted. This can mean life or death for those who rely on dialysis or oxygen
to live.Medical assistance is also often slowed, as emergency crews must focus on the victims of the disaster.
Banks and other businesses mightbe closed,affectinga family's ability to withdrawmoney to pay billsand buy
groceries.
Geography:
Geography plays a largerolein how natural disasters affect an area. In rural or isolated communities, natural
disasters can thrust families into a situation where they must do without modern conveniences like electric
and running water. They may not be able to get to town to buy necessities and have to rely on what they have
stocked up. Densely populated areas facetheir own unique problems from natural disasters. Hygiene becomes
a concern, as people crowd into temporary relief centers and competes for limited resources.
Environment:
Humans aren't the only livingthings affected by natural disasters. As is the case with humans, animals can be
displaced from their homes. Sometimes they have no alternative but to leave the area and try to fit into a new
habitat.Volcanoes,earthquakes, floods, wildfires and mudslides often permanently alter an area's Landscape,
leading in some cases to the destruction of a local species
Disruption of Utilities
Communities that surround areas affected by natural disasters are seriously affected by the disruption caused
to utility services. Generally, power is the first thing to go when there's a natural disaster. This can literally
mean life or death to the people who are on life support systems such as oxygen and dialysis. Medical
assistance becomes hard to get since the crews are busy helping the victims of the disaster. Banks can be shut
down; causing a shortage of cash circulation that prevents people from accessing funds for much needed
provisions for babies and small children.
Social Consequences
The social consequences of natural disasters in the short and long term are wide ranging. The disasters affect
housing; people are left homeless and rebuilding a home takes a long time and a lot of money. Health care
infrastructure is affected; the impacts are worse in developing countries that already have poor facilities to
begin with. Disease starts spreading and, without proper medical attention, makes a bad situation worse.
Education is a bigloser when a natural disaster happens,schools areoften closed,teachers are unable to come
in to work and children are displaced and unable to attend school. Transportation capacity is reduced
hindering relief efforts and disrupting normal life.
Differential impacts- in terms of Caste, Class, Gender, Age, Location, Disability.
Caste
 Scheduled Caste people are inhabited at lowland areas
 Housingcondition of these people areprecarious and risk
 Duringflood they have no spaceto take shelter, neither the higher castepeople allowthem to take
temporary shelter in their paka houses.
 Sheer poverty and disaster make them worse.
 Lack of information about a possible occurrenceof disaster make threat to their lives and livelihood.
 Bonded labour increases.

8.  Scheduled Tribe people inhabited at the foot of the hillsand mountain and flash flood wash them
away.
Gender
 Women, children,widow,destitute and adolescentgirls aremostvulnerable and threat to various
types of health hazards.
 Young women, adolescentgirls and youngwidows areexposed to sexual violence.
 Elderly persons are bothwomenandmenare neglected inall respectandaspect.
Age
 Youngest and oldest people are mostly impacted destructively duringany disasters for thatmatter.
Location
 People livingin the low land area,river sides, sideof the rive embankment, Sea coastlines aremost
prone to be affected by the natural calamities.
 Places often prone to ethnic or communal violence.
 Places more prone to earthquake.
Health
The field research indicates that health issues of women are intrinsically linked to the factors such as
conditions of toilets, availability of water and firewood, domestic violence, overburdened schedules with low
wages for productive work, lack of control over the household income, lack of decision-making power, and
social norms and tradition which make women and girl children eat last and least. While the Government
Order on reversal surgery, on the one hand, has expanded reproductive choices for women, on the other ithas
also increased a senseof inadequacy,family pressure to conceive as well as fear of rejection in case of failure
to conceive after the surgery. Tsunami has thus compounded gender-based vulnerabilities. The discussions
with Dalit and Irula finger fishers and Dalit Azhi Pickers reveal that the need for occupational health needs
have not been adequately
Concept on Climate Change & Global warming
Global Warming
‘Global warming is defined as an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, especially a
sustained increase great enough to cause changes in the global climate’. The term global warming i s
synonymous with Enhanced green house effect, implying an increase in the amount of green house gases in
the earth’s atmosphere, leading to entrapment of more and more solar radiations, and thus increasing the
overall temperature of the earth.
Climate
The climate is defined as’ the general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including
temperature, rainfall,and wind’. The earth’s climate is most affected by latitude, the tilt of the Earth's axis, the
movements of the Earth's wind belts, and the difference in temperatures of land and sea, and topography.
Human activity, especially relating to actions relating to the depletion of the ozone layer, is also an important
factor.
The climate system is a complex, interactive system consisting of the atmosphere, land surface, snow and ice,
oceans and other bodies of water, and living things.
• Why do we use the term “Climate Change”?
• What are the main characteristics of Climate Change?
• What are the possible consequences of Climate Change?
• Do we really need adaptation measures, what is it?

9. What do we mean Climate?
 The climate is defined as’ the general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including
temperature, rainfall, and wind’.
What do we mean Climate “Change” ?
 When the average global temperatures are higher than they have ever been during the past
millennium, and the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have crossed all previous records.
Why do we use the term Climate Change?
“Global warming is for real. Every scientist knows that now, and we are on our way to the destruction of every
species on earth, if we don't pay attention and reverse our course”. Theodore C. Sorensen
Global warming is the ‘talk of the town’ in this century, with its detrimental effects already being brought to
limelight by the recurring events of massive floods, annihilating droughts and ravaging cyclones throughout
the globe. The average global temperatures are higher than they have ever been during the past millennium,
and the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have crossed all previous records. A scrutiny of the past records of
100 years indicates thatIndia figures in the first 10 in the world in terms of fatalities and economic losses in a
variety of climatic disasters.
Before embarking on a detailed analysis of Global warming and its impacts on Indian climate, we should first
know what climate, green house effect and global warming actually mean.
What do you mean CO2 ?
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Why is CO2 significant?
Carbon dioxide(CO2) is the chief greenhouse gas that results from human activities and causes global
warming and climate change.
Effect of Climate change
• The detrimental effects already being brought to limelight by the recurring events of
– Warming of the oceans,
– Rising of the sea levels,
– Melting of glaciers,
– Diminished snow cover.
– Average temperature from 0.35°C to 55°C
– Massive floods,
– Annihilating droughts and
– Ravaging cyclones throughout the globe,
– Average global temperatures are higher than they have ever been during the past
millennium.
– Economic losses in a variety of climatic disasters.
– Irregularity in normal climatic affair.
– Changes in seasonality
What is adaptation to climate change
• A d a p t a t i o n refers to adjustments in ecological,social,or economi c systems in response to actual
or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts.
• Adjustments in human and natural systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their
impacts that moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities
Who controls climate in India ?
 The freezing cold winters in the Himalayas to the scorchingheatof the Thar Desert.
 The above two regions play a very significantrolein controllingthe weather of India.

10.  The Himalayas participatein this warmingby preventing the cold winds from blowingin.
 Thar desert attracts the summer monsoon winds,
Why adaptation to climate change
Climate Change Adaptation
Adaptation to global warming is a response to climate change that seeks to reduce the vulnerability of
biological systems to climate change effects. Even if emissions are stabilized relatively soon, climate change
and its effects will lastmany years, and adaptation will be necessary. Climate cha nge adaptation is especially
important in developing countries since those countries are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of
climate change. That is, the capacity and potential for humans to adapt (called adaptive capacity) is unevenly
distributed across differentregions and populations, and developing countries generally have less capacity to
adapt. Adaptive capacity is closely linked to social and economic development. The economic costs of
adaptation to climatechange arelikely to costbillions of dollars annually for the next several decades, though
the amount of money needed is unknown. Donor countries promised an annual $100 billion by 2020 through
the Green Climate Fund for developing countries to adapt to climate change. However, while the fund was set
up during COP16 in Cancún, concrete pledges by developed countries are so far missing. The adaptation
challenge grows with the magnitude and the rate of climate change. A theoretical, physiological limit to
adaptation is that humans cannot survive temperatures of above 35 degrees Celsius.
-
 Adaptation to present climatevariability also prepares for futureclimatechange.
 Adaptation to present climatevariability also prepares for futureclimatechange also supports
sustainabledevelopment.
 Early pro active adaptation to coming changes is more cost – effective than reactive, shortterm
emergencies measures.
What are the adapting measures to climate change
A. Policy measures
B. Technological an structural measures
C. Change of useactivity on location.
D. Monitoringand forecasting
E. Risk sharing
Policy measures
 Formulation of policy by Government on effective climatic adaptation is essential.
 Government must in consultation with people must adopt some of the feasible activities for
sustainable climatic adaptation. E.g. Multi Disaster Proof housing, Reforestation, Bio – diversity and
adequate use of water etc.
 The use of climateinformation,strategic orientation,cross-sectoral coordination and mainstreaming
needs to be promoted.
Technological an structural measures
 Agricultureas the most water intensive sector requires measures to increasewater productivity,i.e.
to produce more food with less water – more crop per drop.
 E.g. Line Plantation,System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Bio – Farming, sustainableagricultureetc.
(Change of use) (Activity on location.)
 Change of use : Change crops or soil management.
 Activity on Location : Relocation of settlements or economic activities.
 Change behaviour and rules : Rainwater harvesting;conservation.
 Modify threat : Change in the management of dykes and dams to modify flood
patterns.

11. Monitoring and forecasting)
 Regular weather forecasting,Cycloneforecasting,seasonal rainfall predication and other natural
disasters in and through phone, radio,TV and other technologies would help for sustainableclimatic
adaptation.
Prevent impacts
• Redistribution of water to avoid scarcity
• Research : Improve seed research
Climatic adaptation also includes
• Activities that increase human development and address drivers of vulnerability, e.g. diversification
of livelihoods;
• Activities that reduce climate risks in affected sectors, e.g. reforestation and other measures related
to natural resource management;
• Activities that aim at building response capacities through training, strategic use of climate
information and its integration into planning, eg. monitoring water quality or disaster risk
management;
Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge
Indigenous or traditional knowledgerefers to the knowledge and know-how accumulated across generations,
and renewed by each new generation, which guide human societies in their innumerableinteractions with
their surroundingenvironment.
Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge
• Practices of Bio – Fertilizers and bio – Pesticides since from the decades are relevant indigenous
knowledge for climatic adaptation.
• Use of Traditional seeds and its process of preservinghas been playinga greater rolefor adaptation to
climatic change.
• Land use and its preparation
• Dependence on forests fruits, seeds, roots and leafs are used both as safe food and as medicines to
certain diseases.
• Traditional governancesystemcan play pivotal roleon spreading knowledge on adaptation to climate
change.
• Rearing of domestic animal like goat, cows, hen, birds used to add a sure sustainable income and
could use them as meat.
• Crop diversification and multi cropping can enhance climatic adaptation.
Option for adaptation
• Change topography of land
• Use artificial systems to improve water use/
• availability and protect against soil erosion
• Change farming practices
• Change timing of farm operations
• Use different crop varieties
• Governmental and institutional policies and programs
• Research into new technologies
Resources and technologies required for climatic adaptation
Technology
• Lack of technology has the potential to seriously impede a nation’s ability to implement adaptation
options by limiting the range of possible responses E.g. (e.g., warning systems, protective structures,
crop breeding and irrigation, settlement and relocation or redesign, flood control measures).
• It is very important to develop appropriate technology for determinant adaptive capacity.

12. Information and Skills
• Successful adaptation requires recognition of the necessity to adapt, knowledge about available
options, the capacity to asses.
• E.g. As information on weather hazards becomes more available and understood, it is possible to
study, discuss, and implement adaptation measures
• Lack of trained and skilled personnel can limit a nation’s ability to implement adaptation options.
Infrastructure
• The capacity on Social infrastructures is more viable for sustainable adaptation to climate. E.g.
Disaster proof housing, better drainage system, canals etc
Institutions
• The role of institutions “as a means for holding society together, giving it sense and purpose and
enabling it to adapt.” In general, countries with well developed social Institutions are considered to
have greater
• adaptive capacity than those with less effective institutional arrangements —commonly, developing
nations and those in transition
Economic Resources
• Whether it is expressed as the economic assets, capital resources, financial means, wealth, or
poverty, the economic condition of nations and groups clearly is a determinant of adaptive capacity.
E.g. It is widely accepted that wealthy nations are better prepared to bear the
• costs of adaptation to climate change impacts and risks than poorer nations.
• It is also recognized that poverty is directly related to vulnerability.
• It is also recognized that poverty is directly related to vulnerability. it is “a rough indicator of the
ability to cope.
Equity
• It is frequently argued that adaptive capacity will be greater if social institutions, communities,
governments and allocated resources are equally distributed among the stakeholders.
Green House Effect
Green House effect is the phenomenon whereby the earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, and is mediated
by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow
incoming sunlight to pass through, but absorb the heat radiated back from the earth's surface.
Thus the Green house gases (GHGs) provide a blanketing effect in the lower strata of the earth’s atmosphere,
and this blanketing effect is being enhanced because of the human activities like burning of fossil fuels etc.
Carbon Credit
The burning of fossil fuels is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, especially for power, cement, steel,
textile, fertilizer and many other industries which rely on fossil fuels (coal,electricity derived from coal,natural
gas and oil). The major greenhouse gases emitted by these industries are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), etc., all of which increase the atmosphere's ability to trap infrared energy
and thus affect the climate.
The concept of carbon credits came into existence as a result of increasing awareness of the need for
controlling emissions. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has observed that:
Policies thatprovidea real or implicit price of carbon could create incentives for producers and consumers to
significantly invest in low-GHG products, technologies and processes. Such policies could include economic
instruments, government funding and regulation,
A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit
one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e)
equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. Carbon credits and carbon markets are a component of national
and international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs). One carbon
credit is equal to one metric tonne of carbon dioxide, or in some markets, carbon dioxide equivalent gases.

13. Carbon tradingis an application of an emissions trading approach. Greenhouse gas emissions are capped and
then markets are used to allocate the emissions among the group of regulated sources.
References
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 Manual on Natural Disaster Management in India, 2001, NCDM, IIPA publication.
 India: IDNDR & beyond, 2000, NCDM, IIPA publication
 High Powered Committee Report, 2001, NCDM, IIPA Publication.
 Disaster Management in India –A Status Report (2004) by NDM Division,Ministry of Home Affairs,
Govt. of India.
 Bhandari,R.K. (2006). Disaster Management in India: A New Awakening, Disaster & Development,
1(1): 1 -27.
 NCDM (1999): Natural Disasters in India: Some Recent Case Studi es, 1999.
 National Policy on Disaster Management (2009), National Disaster Management Authority
 World Disasters Report 2006- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies