Hugh Deeming

Risk Futures in Europe

Mitigation measures are those aimed at reducing the potential harm to people and damage to the built and natural environments resulting from natural extremes. Various actions, ranging from hazard mapping to structural and non-structural measures, to insurance and legislation have been proposed as components of risk mitigation.In this section scenario as a concept and a tool will be discussed, tracing a path from the very general and theoretical to the more applied aspects. The notable chapter “The History of the Future”, appearing in a book by Rescher (1991), will be taken as a starting reference. Rescher discusses the increasing importance of futurology in today’s practical life, including policy and science (see also Oreskes, 2000). This focus on the future has become extremely important because of the rapid quantitative and qualitative changes experienced in modern life. It is also a consequence of the role played by science in society in supporting decision-making processes, particularly in the field of risks and environmental issues in general.This chapter regarding present risk conditions, has been structured using significant “images” of Europe, addressing the hazard, exposure and vulnerability factors recognised as crucial components of any risk assessment. To draw such a picture, results of past research at the European level were extensively searched, showing achievements and gaps in data provision, as in current understanding of the most important risk parameters. What clearly emerges is the need to develop tools and methods for assessing risks on a European scale, beyond the individual evaluations that each country may have developed within national borders. The relevance on a European scale can be appraised either in case of regional events, transboundary in their nature, or as far as the consequences of events are taken into account.