Institute for Environment and Human Security 1 "Advancing Knowledge for Human Security and Development“ United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) “Advancing human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks“ United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

Institute for Environment and Human Security 2 Flood risk mitigation: Does culture matter? 4th International Symposium on Flood Defense May 6-8, 2008 Toronto, Canada Xiaomeng Shen

Institute for Environment and Human Security 3 Table of Content  Flood risk and mitigation  A comparative case study  Role of culture in risk mitigation  Conclusion

Institute for Environment and Human Security 4 Notion of Risk  Formal-normative: Risk can be calculated using mathematical formulas such as R=f(V,H)  Psychological-cognitive: Risk can be observed from psychological perspective such as using the Psychometric Approach  Social-economic approach: Risk can be related to people’s social-economic status  Cultural theory on risk

Institute for Environment and Human Security 5 Risk is a Social Construct

Institute for Environment and Human Security 6 Disaster cycle and Fields of Action Response Prevention Building codes Insurances Behavior Information Technical measures Natural retention Land use adaptation Reconstruction Aid for affected people Emergency relief Flood German committee for disaster reduction

Institute for Environment and Human Security 7 Case Studies Wuhan 1998 Köln, 1995

Institute for Environment and Human Security 8 Cologne Köln

Institute for Environment and Human Security 9 Wuhan

Institute for Environment and Human Security 10 Flood Risk Perception in Comparison COLOGNE Germany WUHAN China Unified:  Manageable through structural measures  Chain of command in flood fighting involving military and general public is indispensable Diverse:  Politicians and private sector: more land for construction  Flood management agency: preventive spatial plan and building codes  Environmental agencies and NGOs: more space for nature  Farmers’ unions: “We don’t want to lose more land and our way of life!”

Institute for Environment and Human Security 11 Actions Taken Response Prevention Building codes Insurances Behavior Information Technical measures Natural retention Land use adaptation Reconstruction Aid for affected people Emergency relief Flood Wuhan Cologne

Institute for Environment and Human Security 12 Flood Risk Management Strategy Integrated and participative:  Land use planning, building codes  Insurance  Information, public participation  Natural retention areas  Horizontal co-operation risk communication  Technical flood protection  Early warning  Flood fighting  Disaster relief Engineered and top-down:  Dams and dikes  Reservoirs  Retention areas  Technical early warning  Flood fighting and dike defence  Top-down chain of command  Disaster relief WUHAN China COLOGNE Germany

Institute for Environment and Human Security 13 Culture as a Driving Factor for Risk Perception Culture is defined as a way of life by Cultural Theory. Way of life is a viable combination of cultural bias and social relations. Nature Begnign Nature Ephemeral Nature CapriciousNature Perverse / Tolerant

Institute for Environment and Human Security 14 Risk Portfolio of Different Cultural Types Cultural TypesRisk PortfolioAttitude towards Risk egalitarian cultureenvironmental risks amplification of risks, precaution, criticising hierarchical culture war, terror jeopardizing their power, but tend to neglect future risks reductionist, depoliticising, emphasis of measurability individualistic culture state control, limitation to freedom which may interrupt their free market activity acceptance and deflection fatalistic culture natural disasters as punishment of superior power, hence unavoidable neutral position

Institute for Environment and Human Security 15 Cultural Types in Comparison  Hierarchical  Egalitarian  Individualistic  Dominantly hierarchical  Trend of individualistic way of life WUHAN China COLOGNE Germany

Institute for Environment and Human Security 16 Integrated Approach: a Universal Concept?  Top-down vs. bottom-up  Hierarchy vs. participation  State responsibility vs. individual responsibility  Stakeholders vs. actors ... Political and cultural change can only ideally take place from within – Johnson, 1991

Institute for Environment and Human Security 17 Thank you for your attention! Towards a Balanced Risk Mitigation Concept