Comprehensive Risk Management for Climate Change and Extreme Events

Abstract

Climate change and extreme events have increased Ecuador’s territorial, social, and institutional exposure, particularly in coastal, Andean, and river basin areas, where risk management required a comprehensive approach. The objective of the study was to analyze comprehensive risk management in the face of climate change and extreme events, taking into account threats, vulnerability, governance, financing, and early warning. The methodology adopted a mixed-methods, documentary, non-experimental, and longitudinal approach, based on official secondary sources, technical reports, and recent scientific literature. The results revealed 1,854 hazardous events recorded across 24 provinces, predominantly floods and landslides; furthermore, human, productive, health, and institutional impacts were identified, associated with rural poverty, multidimensional deprivation, an increase in dengue, and limited subnational climate investment. The discussion showed that climate risk did not depend solely on the physical threat, but rather on the interaction between exposure, vulnerability, and response capacities. It is concluded that Ecuador needs to strengthen multilevel coordination, expand early warning systems, and consolidate advance financing for preventive, inclusive, and territorially sustainable management.