Shift in Thinking

Abstract

The Scenario project has set a rather ambitious and even risky goal: to lay down a roadmap for future research in natural risks and mitigation policy in the European Union, drawing on ten years of research on natural hazards, mainly funded under the V (1998–2002) and VI (2002–2006) Framework Programmes. The goal is not only ambitious, but could be easily labelled as unrealistic and even arrogant. Initial meetings of the project set the stage for harsh discussions on methodology, specific steps and basic definitions to be followed by the research teams. Despite initial differences, many of which persist, between diverse hazard communities, and between climate change and natural hazards scholars, it is interesting to note that it was possible to achieve some commonalities and convergence points.