Sustainable Disaster Management: Theory and Practice

Dear Colleagues,

Disasters, whether natural or human-induced, have the potential to cause widespread destruction, loss of life, and long-term disruptions to social, economic, and environmental systems. In recent decades, the frequency and intensity of disasters have been on the rise, exacerbated by factors such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and environmental degradation. As a result, the need for effective disaster management strategies that not only address immediate relief and recovery efforts but also promote long-term sustainability has become more critical than ever.

This Special Issue, “Sustainable Disaster Management: Theory and Practice”, aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications in the field of disaster management. It seeks to bring together a diverse range of perspectives, from scholars and practitioners alike, to explore the concept of sustainability within the context of disaster management and to showcase innovative approaches and best practices that have been implemented around the world.

Theoretical contributions in this Special Issue will delve into the underlying principles and frameworks that underpin sustainable disaster management. This includes exploring the relationships between disaster management and various aspects of sustainability, such as environmental conservation, social equity, and economic viability. Articles will examine how concepts such as resilience, vulnerability reduction, and adaptive capacity can be integrated into disaster management strategies to enhance the long-term sustainability of communities and regions.

On the practical side, this Special Issue will feature case studies and real-world examples that demonstrate how sustainable practices have been successfully implemented in different disaster scenarios. These may include initiatives related to disaster risk reduction, such as the use of nature-based solutions for flood and erosion control, or the development of community-based early warning systems. Additionally, articles will explore how post-disaster recovery efforts can be designed to not only rebuild but also to “build back better”, incorporating sustainable infrastructure, livelihood restoration, and social inclusion.

By highlighting both the theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable disaster management, this Special Issue hopes to provide valuable insights and inspiration for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working in the field. It aims to foster a dialog and exchange of ideas that will contribute to the development and implementation of more effective and sustainable disaster management strategies, ultimately leading to more resilient and sustainable communities in the face of future disasters.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome and research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Sustainable disaster management concepts, frameworks, policies, and strategies;
• The risk assessment and vulnerability of infrastructure systems to natural hazards;
• Advances in early warning systems;
• Resilient infrastructures under disaster management;
• Human-based solutions for disaster management;
• Climate change adaptation and disaster management;
• Community resilience to natural disasters;
• Disaster risk management and sustainable development;
• Safety in disaster-prone areas;
• Advances in disaster response and recovery practices;
• Other topics relevant to sustainable disaster management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ming Shan
Dr. Chun Fu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• disaster management
• resilience
• infrastructure systems
• sustainable development