The governance approach based on the disaster management cycle and represented by a specialized disaster risk management sector may have reached its limit, while at the same time a new governance paradigm has yet to emerge. However, the governance arrangements required to manage emergencies effectively are not necessarily appropriate to address development challenges related to urban development and environmental management. Put simply, while the fire services at the local level may be completely capable of rescuing flood victims from their roofs or earthquake victims from collapsed structures, these capabilities and the underlying institutional and legislative arrangements have little connection with those required to address issues of land use or water management.