UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN






Introduction

Rapid urbanisation, expanding built environments, and climate change are increasingly exposing societies to complex and interconnected disaster risks. Floods, landslides, droughts, earthquakes, infectious disease outbreaks, and climate-induced extreme events pose growing threats to lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems, and sustainable development. Addressing these challenges requires a proactive and integrated approach known as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), as promoted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and articulated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

Climate change acts as a critical risk multiplier, intensifying hazard frequency and severity while amplifying vulnerabilities in rapidly urbanising regions. In line with global priorities, the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (3CDRR) is dedicated to advancing multidisciplinary research that strengthens disaster resilience, supports climate change adaptation and mitigation, and contributes to sustainable development. Our work directly supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 13 (Climate Action).







Background

The centre was established in 2014 at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) as the Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR), with the objective of serving as a multidisciplinary research platform that integrates expertise from diverse academic fields and collaborating organisations. Its mission has been to generate scientific knowledge and practical solutions that inform disaster risk governance, policy formulation, and community-level resilience.

The centre’s research and engagement activities are structured around three core pillars, consistent with the priorities of the Sendai Framework:

  1. Risk Assessment through scientific and technological research to enhance understanding of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability
  2. Risk Management using integrated social, institutional, and scientific approaches to reduce disaster risk
  3. Risk Communication through human-centred, technological, and community-based strategies to promote preparedness and informed decision-making

In April 2025, the centre was renamed the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (3CDRR) to reflect its expanded mandate, recognising the intrinsic linkages between climate change and disaster risk. This transition reinforces the centre’s commitment to integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation into DRR research, in alignment with the Paris Agreement and national climate policies.






Rationale and Societal Needs

In Malaysia and across the region, disaster risks, particularly those associated with floods, landslides, and climate-induced extreme weather, are increasing as a result of rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and socio-economic transformation. These processes have produced highly interconnected urban systems in which disasters can trigger cascading impacts across transportation, energy, water, public health, economic activities, and ecosystems. Regional experiences, such as large-scale urban flooding in Southeast Asia, demonstrate the severe consequences of inadequate preparedness and risk-informed planning.

Climate change has further heightened these risks, with more frequent and intense rainfall events leading to recurring flash floods in major urban centres, including Kuala Lumpur. Such events not only result in loss of life and property damage but also generate substantial economic disruption, environmental degradation, and public health challenges. These realities highlight the urgency of shifting from reactive disaster response to preventive, risk-informed, and resilience-based approaches, as emphasised by UNDRR.

Malaysia has made notable progress in disaster management through national frameworks such as the National Security Council Directive No. 20 and sustained investments in flood mitigation, early warning systems, and preparedness initiatives. The country’s engagement with international frameworks, including the Hyogo Framework for Action and its successor, the Sendai Framework, reflects a strong commitment to global DRR principles. Nonetheless, national assessments have identified the need for enhanced multi-stakeholder coordination, stronger integration of scientific evidence into policy, and a dedicated platform to connect research, practice, and governance.