Abstract
This study focuses on governance over trans-boundary volcanic disaster. By analyzing
policy decision making processes relating to international air traffic disturbances caused by
2010 Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull eruption, it tries to describe characteristics of global
disaster governance. The 2010 volcanic eruption caused airport closures or flight cancelations
in Europe which resulted in huge socio-economic damages. In order to solve the problem,
scientific data, such as changes in volcanic activities, prediction of volcanic ash dispersion
or volcanic ash concentration were required for adequate policy making. This means that a
disaster response for trans-boundary volcanic disasters needs a different approach from that
for other disasters which requires humanitarian assistance coordination. What is more, the
scientific data defining the policy making were uncertain in 2010, which made the decision
making more difficult. This event has triggered the emergence of new disaster risk governance,
which is based on self-sustaining and decentralized development of scientific platforms
(epistemic communities) by scientists and public officers across countries and from different
fields with a common purpose to solve problems.
