Bráðabirgðaaðgerðir

Bráðabirgðaaðgerðir are provisional measures or interventions taken to address urgent problems or risks when a permanent solution is not yet available. The term is used in Icelandic to describe actions that are intended to be temporary, time-limited, and reversible, with the aim of preserving safety, stability, or essential functions until a longer-term remedy can be designed, approved, and implemented.

The concept is applied across multiple domains, including public policy, urban planning, infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental management. Bráðabirgðaaðgerðir are typically implemented under intensified urgency, often with streamlined procedures, simplified oversight, and limited funding. They are planned with a sunset or review clause and are subject to evaluation and replacement by more durable solutions.

Common forms of bráðabirgðaaðgerðir include temporary facilities or barriers, interim regulations or permits, emergency procurement, and rapid-response procedures that maintain services or safety while longer-term strategies are developed. Effective use requires clear criteria for termination or upgrade, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, transparency, and accountability.

Etymology and usage notes: The word combines bráðabirgða-, meaning provisional or temporary, with aðgerð, meaning action or procedure. In Icelandic official and academic language, bráðabirgðaaðgerðir denotes plural provisional actions applied to manage urgent needs.

See also: emergency measures, provisional measures, interim solutions.