China is one of the countries in the world hardest plagued by natural disasters. In the context of climate warming, extreme weather and climate events occur frequently and repeatedly. Economic and social development, and production and life are more sensitive and vulnerable to natural disasters.

National Comprehensive Survey on National Disaster Risk in China is a fundamental work in elevating natural disaster prevention capacity.

The first national comprehensive survey on natural disaster risks was carried out in 2020. The survey is aimed at figuring out hidden hazards across the country and enhancing the disaster prevention capabilities across all sectors of the society.

Various ministries and administrations have been organized to formulate and revise 109 assessments and zoning technical specifications, which solves the long-standing problem of inconsistent technical specifications and standards, and supports specifications and zoning under a unified technical system.

For the first time, a comprehensive survey which spans the whole chain of natural disaster risk factor investigation, risk assessment, risk zoning and comprehensive prevention and control zoning has been conducted. Both the attributes and spatial locations of disaster risk factors, risk assessment and zoning of one or all of the 6 categories of disasters, and prevention and control zoning of one or all of the 6 categories of hazards have been surveyed.

For the first time, disaster data has been integrated with disaster impact data. The data of 6 categories of natural disasters has been integrated with disaster impact data such as the impact of disasters on population, economy, houses and buildings, infrastructure and public service systems under the framework of disaster risk assessment.

For the first time, risk assessment and zoning has been performed under a unified technical system. Different sectors have been organized to carry out single hazard assessment and zoning using a unified technical framework with the same technical specifications for disaster risk assessment and zoning, and comprehensive prevention and control zoning.

Editor: Liu Shuqiao