The impact of natural and human-induced environmental hazards and disasters on humans and the environment continues to rise. ICSU is in the process of establishing a major new international initiative on natural and human-induced environmental hazards and disasters. Keeping the above in mind and considering that the geographical area covered by ICSU Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP) accounts for more than one-half of the world population, and about 80% of all losses due to natural hazards globally, ROAP has identified work in natural and humaninduced hazards and disasters as a priority. A Science Plan on Hazards and Disasters was needed to address research needs in three categories of hazards and disasters, namely earthquakes, floods and landslides.