RM - FP7-ENV-2008-1 Cooperation Work Programme 2008: Environment <25Feb08

Area 6.1.3.2. Vulnerability assessment and societal impacts
ENV.2008.1.3.2.1. Natural Hazards: Social perception, behaviour and responses to risks
The aim of this action is to contribute to a better assessment of risk perception of societies and
communities confronted by natural disasters. The project should identify and assess key
studies, initiatives, best practices and existing legal tools in order to elaborate strategies and
recommendations for actions to improve capacity building, preparedness and resilience of the
society in the context of natural hazards. Gaps in research in these fields need to be assessed.
Education on disaster prevention and awareness raising of the society as a means to improve
social perception and change behaviour needs to be considered in a multidisciplinary context.
The actions described under this topic could be mainly organised by means of small
workshops enabling synthetics vision papers, guidelines and recommendations to be
elaborated.
Funding scheme: coordination and support actions (coordinating type)
Expected impact: State-of-the art knowledge and know-how inventory, improving
ways for raising awareness, enhanced strategies for social perception and
preparedness to natural hazards, guidance for future actions and the role of research.

Area 6.1.3.3. Risk assessment and management
ENV.2008.1.3.3.1. Prediction of triggering and risk assessment for landslides
Taking into account how climate change and human activity influence slope instability,
research should improve our ability to forecast landslide hazards and detect risk zones. There
is a need to better quantify the triggering mechanisms, conditions and thresholds, and related
uncertainties. Synergies between knowledge in several types of gravity driven mass
movement should be looked for. Effort should also focus on the development of a generic
quantitative risk assessment frame for a better risk management. The methods and procedures
developed in the project should help to choose an appropriate set of mitigation and prevention
measure. International cooperation is welcome. (Policy relevant topic)
Funding scheme: collaborative project (large-scale integrating project)
Expected impact: According to the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, landslides
are one of the main eight threats to which soils in the EU are confronted. proposal for
a Soil Framework Directive requires Member States to identify areas at risk to
landslides on the basis of a common methodology. A programme of measures
including at least risk reduction targets will also need to be drawn up. The project will
contribute to the development of the common risk assessment methodology as well as
FP 7 Cooperation Work Programme 2008: Environment (including climate change)
a harmonised toolbox of mitigation measures and to the adaptation to climate change
impacts.

ENV.2008.1.3.3.2. Preparedness and risk management for flash floods including generation of sediment and associated debris flow
Flood risk management in the case of flash floods, associated events and generation of
sediment and debris flows in these extreme events will be analysed using and capitalising on
ongoing research on forecasting and warning systems for flash floods. Focus needs to be
given to flash flood risk management, included specifications for associated debris flow,
taking into account issues such as the required resolution for this type of events and socioeconomic,
land use and climate change impacts. The part of the study on the debris flow will
consider natural and anthropogenic debris as well as floating and bed borne debris. Within the
frame of a multi-factor setting analysis, aspects like climate change, land use –urbanisation,
planning and deforestation, will be analysed and integrated into the solution. There will be an
analysis of the driving factors determining the choice of responses and measures to flash
floods events, including economical and social assessments. The ultimate aim of this topic is
to contribute to reduce loss of life and economic damage as well as to contribute to
sustainable development through reducing damages to the environment. The project should
produce methods and tools to be used by practitioners.
Funding scheme: collaborative projects (small or medium-scale focused research
projects)
Expected impact: Improve the understanding, preparedness, risk management and
measures for the reduction of flash flood risk. In addition, it will produce fundamental
elements for management of debris flow associated with floods. Provide a direct input
to the implementation of the upcoming Flood Risk Management Directive and to
produce key elements to be used for practitioners responsible for flood risk
management and associated effects and damages. It will contribute to the adaptation
to climate change impacts. The impact is expected in a short to medium term and the
topic has policy relevance.

Area 6.1.3.4. Multi-risk evaluation and mitigation strategies
ENV.2008.1.3.4.1. Natural hazards in Europe: Coordinated research strategy between European and national levels
The objective of this activity is to capitalise the important know–how acquired so far in the different fields of natural hazards, vulnerability and risks and multi-risks research and to elaborate a (Pan-)European science plan that would contribute to the Hyogo framework for action and would enable a European vision and its complementarity with national efforts with the help of the ISDR national platforms and key Natural Hazards communities). In addition, a European symposium should be planned towards the end of the project in order to present to key stakeholders/ end users the key messages of research results along the disaster cycle and to discuss the future perspectives. Series of summer courses for young researchers dedicated to relevant state-of-art knowledge and emerging science should be planned as a dissemination tool. This action would also contribute to the International Year of Planet Earth 2007-2009.

Funding scheme: coordination and support actions (coordinating type)

Expected impact: Elaboration of a vision document that will highlight and contribute
to the future research questions on European level in the context of ISDR. Disseminate
through a final symposium and dedicated courses state-of-the-art knowledge in
hazards, vulnerability and (multi) risk science for better prevention and mitigation
strategies and actions. Improve coordination between European and national level
research activities and programmes.

Area 6.3.3.1 Risk assessment of chemicals and alternative strategies for testing
ENV.2008.3.3.1.1. Safety and risk assessment as the basis of risk-based
management of chemicals and products in a global perspective and
Alternative Testing Strategies
This coordination action among European and national programmes aims at the development
of a reliable consistent risk management framework accompanying the introduction and use
of new chemicals, products, and technologies by addressing the critical points throughout the
product's life cycle to allow for faster and more effective innovation. Starting with the
conceptual development of a global strategy for a risk-based management of chemicals, it
should address the key elements of a risk management framework applied to the requirements
of a circular economy at global scale. The development of the appropriate risk communication
strategies should accompany the research and development work in order to close the gap
between risk and perceived risk. As an overarching key requirement, the safety and risk
assessments necessary for the development of the risk-based management of chemicals should
develop or make use of alternatives to animal tests and in particular of 'intelligent testing
strategies' and the full replacement of tests using animals.
Funding scheme: coordination and support actions (coordinating type)
Expected impact: This action will support the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM) of UNEP and should contribute to a significant
reduction of the risk to human health and the environment posed by the production,
trade, use, re-use, recycling of chemicals and products and the respective treatment of
waste in a circular economy at global scale.