Application of An Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Design Framework for Compound Rainstorm and Heatwave Extreme risk

Abstract

Cities face a growing threat from compound rainstorm and heatwave (CRH) extremes. However, prevailing research and practice remain fragmented, treating the hazards in isolation and neglecting the critical need for integrated solutions. While Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) is a theoretically promising approach, its practical application is hampered by a lack of integrated, multi-scale risk assessment and design frameworks. To address this gap, this study proposes a novel Eco-DRR design framework for CRH extreme mitigation and adaptation. First, it identified CRH extreme events and assessed the spatial distribution of CRH extreme risk in Shanghai using Random Forest models. Results reveal that CRH extreme risk is intensively driven by urbanization, with a distinct spatiotemporal concentration in central districts during the plum rain and summer seasons. Then, we operationalized the framework through an Eco-DRR Toolbox, demonstrating its efficacy in a site on Jiangchuan Street. The demonstration site shows that the Toolbox forges site-specific, synergistic combinations of Eco-DRR and traditional measures, guided by a structured process of selection, integration, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). This design framework provides an actionable pathway for robust CRH risk assessment and moves beyond theory by offering a replicable Toolbox for embedding Eco-DRR into urban climate adaptation, thereby advancing urban resilience against compound climate extremes.