illustration for the drivers of inequality

Driver Category 5.6

Unequal exposure to accidents, disasters and environmental risk

This driver captures all aspects of investment for disaster preparedness and risk reduction (for droughts, floods, famine, natural disasters) and the state response to ensure people impacted are supported so that they can recover and once again live comfortable, secure lives.

Guiding Questions

Infrastructure safety and security

  • Is there a difference between neighbourhoods when it comes to construction standards and the risk and vulnerability of communities to natural disasters?
  • Which neighbourhoods have adequately constructed and protected houses?
  • Is social housing built according to appropriate safety and security standards?
  • Are there adequate and enforceable building standards to ensure construction is in zones that are safe to build on and that buildings can withstand natural disasters, as well as focusing on issues such as appropriate drainage and flooding?
  • Does the government gather information on slums and poor neighbourhoods in relation to exposure to hazards and risks?
  • Are interventions such as flood protection programmes proposed and financed where necessary (in both wealthy and poor neighbourhoods)?
    • Are there any urban programmes related to disaster risk management and seeking to build resilience, particularly in marginal zones?

Road traffic and public transport safety and security

  • What information is available on the safety of users travelling on different modes of transport?
  • Is information collected on transport-related deaths and the incidence of accidents and fatalities on different modes of transportation (e.g. moto-taxis vs. buses)?
  • How does the risk of being killed in a transport accident compare between rural and urban areas?
  • What standards are being introduced to improve the safety of public transport vehicles and operators (e.g minimum technical standards for vehicles, better traffic management systems and more appropriate road safety rules)?

Environmental risks, policy and regulation

  • Is information available on the risks to public health from different kinds of environmental pollution (e.g from pollution of drinking water, air pollution, solid waste pollution, soil pollution, hazardous and industrial waste handling, environmental noise)?
  • Where are the biggest environmental pollution problems in your country?
  • Is information available on the risks to public health from different kinds of environmental pollution (e.g from pollution of drinking water, air pollution, solid waste pollution, soil pollution, hazardous and industrial waste handling, environmental noise)?
  • Where are the biggest environmental pollution problems in your country?
  • What is the scope of the current regulatory framework to protect public health from environmental pollution?
  • Is regulation adequate in this area?
  • Is regulation appropriately designed to actually lower pollution (not simply to enable polluters to pay to be allowed higher emissions for example)?
  • What response have companies had to the policy debates and any new standards or regulations being put in place to prevent environmental pollution and protect public health?
  • Are companies lobbying the government or undertaking legal challenges to overturn new legislation?
  • Is there evidence of companies lobbying against any particular regulations or helping draw up the rules for the sector?
  • Is information transparently available on lobbying activities, and any research grants and donations from polluting companies to universities and/or political parties?

Indicators

Potential indicators to monitor the drivers of inequalities in this main driver category

  • Number of homes located in known disaster zones and socio-economic profile of dwellers
  • Amount spent on disaster risk reduction infrastructure efforts by location
  • Amount spend on disaster relief and share of expenditure in the form of international aid
  • Number of companies breaching clean air and other standards
  • Number of staff employed by the environmental standards regulator and annual budget of the regulator
  • Amount spent on slum upgrading programmes
  • Number of violations recorded in relation to environmental standards that protect human health

Candidate Policies

To see related Candidate Policies in this main driver category please click here.