Preliminary study of Chinese Antarctic data management in accordance with the international framework

Antarctic data management is the research focus, which the international Antarctic organizations, e.g. Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting(ATCM) , Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research(SCAR), and Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes(COMNAP) have been paying close attention to and promoting actively. Through the co effort of international Antarctic organizations and member countries concerned in recent years, Antarctic Data Directory Syatem(ADDS) is established as the most important basic programme for development of the international Antarctic data management system. At present, Joint Committee on Antarctic Data Management(JCADM) is responsible for organizing and coordinating the international Antarctic data management, and implementing the project ADDS.In this paper the background on Antarctic data management in time sequence and the structure of international framework are introduced, meanwhile, it is necessary to develop ADDS first of all. The ADDS mainly consists of the two principal parts: National Antarctic Data Center(NADCs) of all the party members and Antarctic Main Directory(AMD), the best available technology for creating ADDS is to make full use of International Directory Network(IDN) and adopt its Directory Interchange Formats(DIF). In the light of the above requirements, combined with Chinese specific situation, the contents, technical and administrative methods on Chinese Antarctic data management are discussed to promote our related work.

From Yokohama to Sendai: Approaches to Participation in International Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks

Taking the importance of local action as a starting point, this analysis traces the treatment of participation of local and community actors through the three international frameworks for disaster risk reduction(DRR): the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World, the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR). The study finds a concerning shift away from valuing local community input and toward promoting technological advances. Community actors went from valued partners with their own expertise and relevant beliefs in Yokohama Strategy to ‘‘aid recipients’ ’ to whom tailored risk information must be transmitted(in SFDRR). This shift may reflect the top-down nature of negotiated international agreements or a broader shift toward investments in technological solutions. Whatever the cause, given widespread recognition of the importance of local knowledge and participation and growing recognition of the importance of intra-community differences in vulnerability, it suggests the need for reconsideration of both the discourse and the practice of involving community-level actors in DRR planning and implementation.

Disaster risk reduction in mountain areas: an initial overview on seeking pathways to global sustainability

As disasters cripple the world’s prospects for sustainable development, protecting the most vulnerable groups exposed to hazards is one of the main challenges facing humanity. Owing to the systemic nature of risk and the interactions and interdependencies between upland and lowland systems, healthy and productive mountain households and livelihoods are essential to global sustainability. This paper argues that, building on existing international frameworks, and integrated knowledge and praxis, the development of a global policy agenda should be established to build sustainable peace, sustainable security, and development.