Understanding Compound, Interconnected, Interacting, and Cascading Risks: A Holistic Framework.

Area of Science:

• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Resilience Studies
• Complex Systems Analysis

Background:

• Growing research on interconnected, compound, interacting, and cascading risks.
• These concepts are central to climate adaptation, critical infrastructure, and societal resilience.
• Ambiguous definitions risk research duplication and superficial understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• Provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in complex risk research.
• Propose a holistic framework to clarify the complementarities of four complex risk types.
• Support the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR).

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current research on complex risks.
• Development of a conceptual framework to differentiate and integrate risk types.
• Analysis of how these concepts can inform SFDRR implementation.

Main Results:

• Identified overlapping definitions and potential for confusion in complex risk terminology.
• Proposed a framework to distinguish and connect compound, interconnected, interacting, and cascading risks.
• Demonstrated how a coherent understanding supports SFDRR objectives.

Conclusions:

• A clear, holistic framework is needed to avoid ambiguity in complex risk research.
• The proposed framework aids researchers and policymakers in implementing the SFDRR.
• Improved understanding enhances policy, crisis management, and system-wide resilience.