Forces gather behind proposal for a natural-disaster agency

摘要

Following the recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean, momentum is building behind a plan for an international body that would coordinate preparations for natural disasters. David King, the UK government's chief scientific adviser, is actively pushing for such a body. He says the idea will be promoted by UK officials at meetings of the G8 — the world's eight largest industrialized countries — which will take place in Britain this year. "With world attention focused on natural disasters, it's an idea that many people feel is ripe," says King. Academics who were contacted by Nature had varying ideas about how such a panel should function, but gave the thrust of the proposal almost unanimous support. "This needs to be put together now," says Robert Watson, chief scientist at the World Bank in Washington DC.