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Regulator Theory, Natural Hazards, and Climate Change

Author

Listed:
  • Geoff Kaine

    (Manaaki Whenua—Landcare Research, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand)

  • Vic Wright

    (UNE Business School, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia)

Abstract

Climate change is increasing variability in environmental conditions and the frequency and severity of natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In this paper, we use general systems theory to describe how disaster management systems are composed of four types of system regulators (aggregation, passive, error control, and anticipation) that are deployed to provide protection from natural hazards. We argue that climate change, by changing causal relationships in the environment and thereby reducing the predictability of related hazards and altering exposure to them, is likely to require that disaster management systems be restructured by changing the combinations of system regulators that are employed to prevent or mitigate disasters. This leads to the conclusion that one of the keys to developing effective policies to support adaptation to climate change and to promote sustainability hinges on understanding how disaster management systems can be interpreted as mechanisms for regulating exposure and vulnerability to minimise the threats from natural hazards. Consequently, developing methods for interpreting and modelling system regulators in disaster management systems is an important next step.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoff Kaine & Vic Wright, 2025. "Regulator Theory, Natural Hazards, and Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2979-:d:1622000
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Gianluca Pescaroli & David Alexander, 2018. "Understanding Compound, Interconnected, Interacting, and Cascading Risks: A Holistic Framework," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2245-2257, November.
    3. Liang Guo & Bingshun He & Meihong Ma & Qingrui Chang & Qing Li & Ke Zhang & Yang Hong, 2018. "A comprehensive flash flood defense system in China: overview, achievements, and outlook," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(2), pages 727-740, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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