The atlas is a Chinese government research project that for the first time looks at how hazard, vulnerability and exposure integrate to help implement more effective prevention measures. Beijing Normal University, a partner of Aon Benfield Research’s academic collaboration, has led the collective work by key research institutes in China.

Over the past 20 years, the annual economic loss from Chinese natural hazards has reached nearly RMB 200 billion. Most recently, major events have included snow storm and the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the drought in north, northeast and southwest China in 2009, and the 2010 Yushu earthquake.

Aon said the Atlas pools almost a decade of research to deliver some 400 maps. It comprises all major natural perils including earthquake, flood, drought, landslide, storms, snow, hail, frost, forest fire and grassland fire. Presented on a national and local basis, the Atlas also includes maps showing topography, climate, vegetation zones and land use. 

Dominic Christian, co-CEO of Aon Benfield, said: "The Atlas of Natural Disaster Risk in China is an important resource for both domestic and global re/insurers that are intending to play a meaningful role in China, and I hope readers will be as impressed as I am by the sophisticated research and detailed data available in China on natural disaster risks. We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Atlas." 

Professor Peijun Shi, Executive Vice President of Beijing Normal University and Chief Editor of the Atlas added: "The previous atlas focused on spatial and temporal distribution of hazards and their impact based on historical records. The new atlas moves one step forward to include vulnerability and exposure. For example, the snow storm section looks at the impact on livestock, airports and their importance to the social-economic system.  The Atlas provides a scientific basis for the Chinese government and businesses to develop disaster risk measures, using state-of-art risk mapping in natural disasters, ecological safety and global change in China."