ReSolVE (Resilient Solutions for Vulnerabilities and Emergencies): An Effective National Risk Management Plan for Qatar

Cities are the hub of economic and social capitals and survive on environmental capital. A complex and integrated infrastructure supports them to ensure the conservation and sustainable growth of these capitals. Furthermore, cities exist within a dynamic world and face complex and interconnected challenges, ranging from adverse effects of climate change and natural hazards, unprecedented pandemic outbreaks, terrorism, and even simultaneous, random failures. The widespread climate change effects on coupled humans-natural systems are well known, including the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (i.e., heatwaves and flooding). Thus, it is imperative to develop predictive as well as operative models for response and risk reduction applications. For instance, the outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the vulnerabilities in the health, education, transport, and communication systems of many countries. Throughout the world, COVID-19 has revealed and amplified weaknesses in economic structures to be exploited, as well as fueled events characterized by disorder and social tension. This outbreak has resulted in significant and unexpected changes to demand and consumption patterns, as well as redefining the workplace, causing a significant impact on infrastructure and unusual demand concentrations. Worldwide, political tensions and security challenges are increasing with such unprecedented events, causing the rise of cybersecurity precautions aimed at protecting highly interconnected and integrated critical infrastructure and cities. Readiness for such adverse events has proven essential; a recent example is Beirut, Lebanon’s port explosion, which devastated the already failing infrastructure, hindering any reconstruction efforts. It is of utmost importance to reassess the existing infrastructure and service provision, evaluate their vulnerabilities, and enhance their resilience within this context. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, health systems have been tested throughout the world. However, global warming-induced climate change and its attributes may have a more critical influence on human health and well-being over the long term. During unexpected events or disasters, two major categories of infrastructure and systems are significantly impacted: (i) physical infrastructure (transportation, energy, and water systems) and (ii) healthcare infrastructure; climate-change-driven environmental catastrophes may cause significant damage to these infrastructures. This cluster's main objective is to create an integrated framework for a Risk-Resilience-Sustainability (RRS) nexus to tackle the effects of climate change, natural hazards, and associated uncertainties in Qatar. The cluster is divided into five sub-projects: (SP-1) Data Analytics Framework, and Project Management, (SP-2) Climate Change Modelling & Hazard Identification, (SP-3) Healthcare Infrastructure, (SP-4) Physical Infrastructure, and (SP-5) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure. SP-1 focuses on data analytics framework and project management, and spans over the whole project period and depends on all SPs. A holistic framework and metrics will be created through a robust data-management plan in a system-of-systems fashion using analysis of the different infrastructures. SP-2 will identify the necessary climatic conditions and probability of natural hazards (both historical and future), and these will be used as input to analyze healthcare (SP-3), physical infrastructures (SP-4). As inefficient communication systems may disrupt responses to disasters and may escalate the adverse impacts, thus communication solutions will be developed in SP-5, based on the outcomes of other subprojects. The SP-1 and SP-5 represent the tangible outcomes of this project. As this cluster focuses on developing resilient systems across different critical sectors in Qatar, it requires experts in the respective sectors, relevant datasets, and participation of governmental and policy/decision-making entities. Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a renowned national institute, will lead and coordinate with all the teams for successful project execution. HBKU has gathered experts from reputable institutions and sectors. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and HBKU will focus on climate change and hazard identification. Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), and Qatar Petroleum (QP) will analyze the public health and healthcare system. HBKU and the University of Maryland (UM) will assess the physical infrastructure. The Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Qatar University (QU), and partner universities from Jordan and Turkey will study and evaluate the information and communication systems. In addition, HBKU will examine public, legal, and economic policies in the framework development. HBKU will propose and quantify the risk indicators tailored to Qatar. Moreover, for the project's effective execution, a steering committee will be formed, comprised of high-ranking officials from government agencies and institutions, to monitor the project progress and to share their periodic feedback. This project will help in creating a resilient emergency preparedness structure and corresponding policies for the State of Qatar. Taking local action in identifying and mitigating climate change causes and consequences is a significant step towards achieving global sustainability goals.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)