Towards capacity building in Natech risk management in Central America

This document is a first approach to understanding the Natech risks in Central America and in general terms in the entire Latin American and Caribbean region, considering its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, geological hazards, multi-hazard scenarios and its exposure to the occurrence of Natech events that may affect business continuity A simple structure is then proposed, which first analyses the natural events that have historically impacted Central America, as well as the technological accidents reported in some international databases. This document then presents the generalities of Natech risk and some examples of impacts on industries in Latin America, and then shows some initiatives that have been developed in the region to strengthen capacities for Natech risk management. Finally, a roadmap on this issue is presented.

Central America's high-risk countries, such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, underscore the urgency for effective disaster risk management, given the amplification of negative impacts by inequality and pre-existing vulnerabilities. The region, facing a convergence of natural hazards and technological accidents known as Natech events, demands holistic approaches to mitigate short, medium, and long-term consequences. Despite a lack of systematic records, evidence of impacts on regional industries from tropical cyclones, floods, and other natural hazards emphasizes the imperative for comprehensive risk management strategies.