The Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program contributes to transforming the way societies manage the risks to interconnected economic, ecological, and social systems, such as natural disasters, climate change, and technological and ecological transitions. RPV develops strong analytical foundations for approaches to improve the management of such risks and thereby promote resilience.
In 2014 RPV focused on effective and equitable management of catastrophic risks associated with mainly climate-related hazards that are projected to increase with climate and demographic change. RPV is an innovator in tackling challenges that include: estimation of “fat-tailed” and correlated probabilistic losses; identifying feasible and fair policy paths; reconciling risk reduction with safety nets for the most vulnerable; contributing to building resilient communities; and designing and implementing stakeholder–expert processes for managing risks.
RPV is also a leader in researching available, cost-effective, renewable energy technologies that can enable societies to meet the 2ºC climate warming goal set by the world community at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009. It also assesses political and governance obstacles to the implementation of such technologies and the risks posed by renewable energy implementation to investment communities.
