Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 12049 | 30 September 2009

Preventing natural disasters

Signatories: Ms Christine MARIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Ruhi AÇIKGÖZ, Turkey, EDG ; Mr Alain COUSIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Paata DAVITAIA, Georgia, EDG ; Mr Hubert DEITTERT, Germany ; Mr Bill ETHERINGTON, United Kingdom ; Ms Francine JOHN-CALAME, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Juha KORKEAOJA, Finland, ALDE ; Mr Bernard MARQUET, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr Pier Marino MULARONI, San Marino, ALDE ; Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Fidias SARIKAS, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Mykola SHERSHUN, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Ladislav SKOPAL, Czech Republic ; Mr Valeriy SUDARENKOV, Russian Federation, SOC ; Mr Mustafa ÜNAL, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Rudi VIS, United Kingdom ; Mr Hansjörg WALTER, Switzerland, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

There has been a considerable increase in natural disasters in recent years, and we are witnessing a growing number of floods, tropical storms and instances of drought.

According to the Red Cross, over 200 million people a year have been affected by these natural scourges.

Some experts believe these phenomena are largely due to human activity, an example being the rapid urbanisation of areas at risk of flooding and earthquakes.

In the circumstances, it is desirable that the Parliamentary Assembly embark on a study of the prevention of natural disasters and examine the measures taken to date for this purpose, for example the introduction of early warning systems and the adoption of appropriate construction plans, and consider the efforts that need to be made to make society less vulnerable to natural hazards.