The Blatten disaster and integrated risk management
Looking back at the events in Blatten, this webinar, organised by the CDE network, brought together insights from the scientific community and from the application of integrated risk management to this emergency. The presentation of a case from a less developed country led to a discussion on what good practices and lessons learned could be used in developing countries.
Event Summary
Some 100 participants joined us on a CDE network webinar on The Blatten disaster and Integrated Risk Management. The webinar was opened and co-faciliated by SDC and featured inputs from four different experts.
Christian Huggel from the University of Zurich provided a science perspective on the Blatten disaster, giving insights into the cascade of physical processes behind the event and the interlinkage to anthropogenic climate change. He also emphasized that unmitigated climate change will lead us into a future, where adaptation options can be limited and thus relocation of settlements will most likely become more frequent.
Martin Proksch from the canton of Valais highlighted the comprehensive risk management approach adopted by the canton of Valais for this major event. He meticulously outlined the practical implementation of IRM by those involved and pointed out that, despite the already comprehensive approach applied, IRM should be further developed.
Prabhakar Rai, Director, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority in India, illustrated how IRM was applied in a country in the Global South, using the example of a GLOF event in South Lhonak.
Finally, Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Regional DRR Advisor, SDC, Delhi, presented the differences and similarities between contexts in Switzerland and the Himalayas.
The inputs were followed by a moderated panel discussion, where the experts provided answers to questions from participants.
The different inputs and the discussion evidenced the importance of thematic competence for comprehensive and integrated risk management, including technical and local knowledge, close collaboration with the science community as well as South-North learning and exchanges.
Recordings
The 2025 Blatten disaster: A science perspective
Christian Huggel, University of Zurich
Blatten – the Integrated Risk Management (IRM) Approach
Martin Proksch, Canton of Valais
Challenges from high mountains hazards in India
Prabhakar Rai, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority
Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IRM) - Reflections on similarities and contrasts between the Swiss and Himalayan contexts
Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Embassy of Switzerland in India and Bhutan