Multi-hazard risk assessment and management: pathways for the Sendai Framework and beyond

Abstract. Multi-hazard events pose increasingly complex challenges as natural hazards interact in cascading and compounding ways that amplify risks beyond individual hazards. Understanding these interactions – from hazard processes to cascading effects across social, economic, governance, and infrastructure systems – is critical for effective disaster risk management. National and international frameworks increasingly recognise these risk dynamics, most notably the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. The Sendai Framework Mid-Term Review (MTR) in 2023, however, identified substantial implementation challenges across its four priorities; these challenges include gaps in risk data governance, fragmented multi-scale coordination, insufficient investment mechanisms, and limited coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems. With the Sendai Framework approaching its conclusion, there is a pressing need to address these current shortcomings. Responding to this need, the 3rd International Conference on Natural Hazards and Risks in a Changing World took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 12–13 June 2024, with the objective of: (1) assessing current progress in multi-hazard risk research and policy practice; and (2) identifying scientific priorities to support further implementation of Sendai Framework until 2030 and beyond. Here, we document the arc of the scientific discussions held at the conference, synthesise the main findings from sessions, and set forth expert knowledge on how state-of-the-art science can fill gaps outlined by the MTR by identifying four perspective themes: (1) assessments and tools for risk understanding and decision-making; (2) understanding and management of complex risk landscapes; (3) emerging technologies for risk and resilience; and (4) multi-level governance for coordinated risk management. Ultimately, we call for governance reform enabling multi-scale coordination, investment in knowledge brokers translating across systems and scales, and participatory technology deployment ensuring emerging tools are applied to reduce disaster risk management inequalities. This perspective emphasises that effective Disaster Risk Reduction requires both incremental technical improvements and fundamental shifts in governance, data sharing, and inclusive engagement to address systemic risks and implementation gaps.