#Disaster risk reduction

[reasonsforhope]

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

With Spain and Portugal saying that hundreds of people have died from the heat waves sweeping through Europe this month, the longer-term view might come as a surprise. Over the past 50 years, the number of deaths attributed to weather-related disasters has actually fallen. Yes, you heard that right. The World Meteorological Organization says that the number of disasters has increased five times over the past 50 years, but the number of fatalities has fallen by two-thirds. Vox climate writer Umair Irfan has delved into this paradox and joins us now. Welcome to the program, Umair.

UMAIR IRFAN: Thanks for having me, Ayesha.

RASCOE: So how can this be? Like, how can the number of deaths be falling even though we hear the news, we see the disasters? You know, seas are rising, summers are hotter, hurricanes seem to be getting stronger. So how is it possible that deaths can be down?

IRFAN: Well, there are two main factors here. One is better forecasting - basically being able to get ahead of these disasters and then hopefully being able to get people out of harm's way. So that's really prominent with things like hurricanes and heat waves. We can actually see those things days in advance. The other side of the equation is how well we can cope with things like storms, fires and heat waves when they do occur. So we have better tools - things like sea walls. We have better building codes. We have firefighting teams that can get people out of fire zones. And so between those two aspects - you know, the better forecasting and the better tools - we've been able to avert a lot of deaths, even though the global population has grown about fourfold since the start of the 20th century.

RASCOE: Are the technological advances that you're talking about available even in less-developed areas?

IRFAN: It's not, unfortunately. And you're hitting on a very important point. You know, the WMO pointed out that about 90% of disaster-related fatalities that occur today are occurring in developing countries. And there's a huge gap in terms of being able to anticipate these disasters before they occur and being able to respond to them and being able to rebuild in their aftermath. And that really is a big shortfall that a lot of world leaders are starting to get concerned about...

You know, the World Meteorological Organization, they launched this initiative to basically say that they want the whole world covered by disaster early warning systems over the next five years. And they think that this is something that's going to be taking a big bite out of the fatalities and the casualties caused by these disasters. So I think it's worth highlighting the progress that's made, but also the progress that we still need to make.

-via NPR, July 17, 2022

Thanks so much to @gardening-tea-lesbian for the link!

[disasterriskreductionday]

Infrastructure Resilience – safeguarding gains in sustainable development (HLPF 2023 Side Event.

This side event will discuss opportunities and strategies to enhance investments in quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure in the context of the most vulnerable countries such as the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

It will contextualize the current state of play in increasing the resilience of hard, soft and natural infrastructure across different infrastructure systems, including water and transportation. Good practices related to gray and green/blue infrastructure, including nature-based solutions, will be presented. Panellists will also discuss next steps to implement the infrastructure-related calls for action in the GA Resolutions 77/282 and 77/289.

This event is being organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and is co-sponsored by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), as well as the Permanent Mission of India, the Permanent Mission of Poland and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

[westvalleyfaultph]

Philippines Hosts Asia-Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Conference; Secretary Loyzaga Emphasizes Media’s Vital Role in Building Resilience

The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 is underway at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), drawing over 4,000 delegates from 69 countries in a robust show of commitment to strengthening regional resilience against disasters. Hosting this conference for the first time, the Philippines is spotlighted as a model in advancing disaster risk…

[motherearthday]

Strengthen monitoring of the state of the Earth. 

The portal is implemented and operated by the European Space Agency and provides a single internet discovery and access point to the ever-growing quantities of heterogeneous collections of Earth observations from satellites, airplanes, drones and in-situ sensors at global, regional and local scales through the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The GEOSS is a social and software ecosystem connecting a large array of observing systems, data systems and processing services to strengthen monitoring of the state of the Earth. It facilitates data and information accessibility and interoperability to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda and the Disaster Risk Reduction.

The GEOSS Platform is the cornerstone around which the GEOSS software ecosystem is implemented. The GEOSS Platform is the “glueware” that enables the connection and coordination of the many autonomous and multi-organizational systems and services contributing to GEOSS

[tsunamiawrenessday]

20 Years After the Tsunami: Revisiting the International Law Commission's Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters.

Panel discussion revisiting the International Law Commission's Draft Articles on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (PPED)

Concept Note

Watch the 20 Years After the Tsunami: Revisiting the International Law Commission's Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters!

[internationalwomenday]

Launch of the Gender Action Plan to support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (CSW68 Side Event).

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) seeks to "prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience."

Watch of Launch of the Gender Action Plan to support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (CSW68 Side Event)

Objectives of the event The event will:

Launch the Gender Action Plan to Support Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai GAP)

Showcase good practices in gender-responsive disaster risk reduction

Provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to make commitments of support to implement the Sendai GAP.

Related Sites and Documents

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 Concept Note

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Empowering Societies Through Nature-Based Solutions

[filipinawanderer]

Filipino Innovations: A Leap into the Future with Philippine Tech

Journey with us as we explore ingenious Filipino tech breakthroughs, shaping a sustainable and resilient future. #FilipinoInnovation #GreenTech #PublicSafety #WomenEmpowerment

As a gem in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Philippines is recognized globally for its diverse cultural heritage and breathtaking natural landscapes. Yet, the country’s achievements extend far beyond its picturesque islands and vibrant traditions. Today, the Philippines stands at the forefront of numerous technological breakthroughs, fostering a dynamic environment of creativity and…

[emeraldreverie]

just went on a rabbit hole on a nonbinary scientist's website fascinated by their various accolades and abstracts

find a nonbinary scientist near (maybe?) you at https://isnbs.org/

I'm legit trying to figure out a way to get my new job to host some kinda nonbinary scientist....thingy now

[carlocarrasco]

Las Piñas City Mayor expresses thanks to local rescuers and volunteers who worked during Typhoon Kristine

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar expressed her thanks to the local rescuers and volunteers who took part in helping almost five hundred families whose lives were severely disrupted by Typhoon Kristine, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface… Las…

[disasterriskreductionday]

El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet.

Held pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/152 of 19 December 2023.

15:00: Panel discussion 1.

16:30: Panel discussion 2.

Watch the Joint event of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on the theme "El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet" - 78th session

[westvalleyfaultph]

The Big One: Why the Philippines Must Urgently Prepare for a Massive Earthquake

Scan the QR code to get this blog on the go. Filipino communities are being urged to intensify preparations for a potentially catastrophic earthquake, often referred to as “The Big One,” which experts warn could strike anytime. As disaster readiness leaders emphasized at the recent Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), the potential impacts of this quake could…

[qhsetools2022]

Disaster Risk Reduction Delegate - 6 months - On a rolling Basis

Job title: Disaster Risk Reduction Delegate – 6 months – On a rolling Basis Company: Job description: technical quality of CBDRR activities in Taroudant Support MRCS in planning and implementing CBDRR and Community Resilience… and operations planning. Provide logistical and technical support to conduct eVCA facilitator training and ensure meeting quality… Expected salary: Location: Taroudant Job…

[rightnewshindi]

जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण अत्यधिक जोखिम में है एक अरब बच्चे, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आपदा जोखिम न्यूनीकरण दिवस पर पढ़ें विशेष लेख

#ClimateChange #Children #RanjanKumarSharma जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण अत्यधिक जोखिम में है एक अरब बच्चे, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आपदा जोखिम न्यूनीकरण दिवस पर पढ़ें विशेष लेख

Himachal News: हर साल बढ़ती आपदाएं, जिनमें से कई जलवायु परिवर्तन से प्रेरित और तीव्र होती हैं, बच्चों और युवाओं की भलाई के लिए खतरा हैं। यूनिसेफ के अनुसार, जलवायु संबंधी आपदाओं सहित जलवायु प्रभावों के कारण दुनिया भर में लगभग एक अरब बच्चे अत्यधिक जोखिम में हैं। 2022 में, चाड, गाम्बिया, पाकिस्तान और बांग्लादेश में बाढ़ से प्रभावित बच्चों की संख्या 30 वर्षों में सबसे अधिक थी। मृत्यु और चोट के जोखिम…

[reasonsforhope]

No paywall version here.

"Two and a half years ago, when I was asked to help write the most authoritative report on climate change in the United States, I hesitated...

In the end, I said yes, but reluctantly. Frankly, I was sick of admonishing people about how bad things could get. Scientists have raised the alarm over and over again, and still the temperature rises. Extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more severe and frequent, exactly as we predicted they would. We were proved right. It didn’t seem to matter.

Our report, which was released on Tuesday, contains more dire warnings. There are plenty of new reasons for despair. Thanks to recent scientific advances, we can now link climate change to specific extreme weather disasters, and we have a better understanding of how the feedback loops in the climate system can make warming even worse. We can also now more confidently forecast catastrophic outcomes if global emissions continue on their current trajectory.

But to me, the most surprising new finding in the Fifth National Climate Assessment is this: There has been genuine progress, too.

I’m used to mind-boggling numbers, and there are many of them in this report. Human beings have put about 1.6 trillion tons of carbon in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution — more than the weight of every living thing on Earth combined. But as we wrote the report, I learned other, even more mind-boggling numbers. In the last decade, the cost of wind energy has declined by 70 percent and solar has declined 90 percent. Renewables now make up 80 percent of new electricity generation capacity. Our country’s greenhouse gas emissions are falling, even as our G.D.P. and population grow.

In the report, we were tasked with projecting future climate change. We showed what the United States would look like if the world warms by 2 degrees Celsius. It wasn’t a pretty picture: more heat waves, more uncomfortably hot nights, more downpours, more droughts. If greenhouse emissions continue to rise, we could reach that point in the next couple of decades. If they fall a little, maybe we can stave it off until the middle of the century. But our findings also offered a glimmer of hope: If emissions fall dramatically, as the report suggested they could, we may never reach 2 degrees Celsius at all.

For the first time in my career, I felt something strange: optimism.

And that simple realization was enough to convince me that releasing yet another climate report was worthwhile.

Something has changed in the United States, and not just the climate. State, local and tribal governments all around the country have begun to take action. Some politicians now actually campaign on climate change, instead of ignoring or lying about it. Congress passed federal climate legislation — something I’d long regarded as impossible — in 2022 as we turned in the first draft.

[Note: She's talking about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Act, which despite the names were the two biggest climate packages passed in US history. And their passage in mid 2022 was a big turning point: that's when, for the first time in decades, a lot of scientists started looking at the numbers - esp the ones that would come from the IRA's funding - and said "Wait, holy shit, we have an actual chance."]

And while the report stresses the urgency of limiting warming to prevent terrible risks, it has a new message, too: We can do this. We now know how to make the dramatic emissions cuts we’d need to limit warming, and it’s very possible to do this in a way that’s sustainable, healthy and fair.

The conversation has moved on, and the role of scientists has changed. We’re not just warning of danger anymore. We’re showing the way to safety.

I was wrong about those previous reports: They did matter, after all. While climate scientists were warning the world of disaster, a small army of scientists, engineers, policymakers and others were getting to work. These first responders have helped move us toward our climate goals. Our warnings did their job.

To limit global warming, we need many more people to get on board... We need to reach those who haven’t yet been moved by our warnings. I’m not talking about the fossil fuel industry here; nor do I particularly care about winning over the small but noisy group of committed climate deniers. But I believe we can reach the many people whose eyes glaze over when they hear yet another dire warning or see another report like the one we just published.

The reason is that now, we have a better story to tell. The evidence is clear: Responding to climate change will not only create a better world for our children and grandchildren, but it will also make the world better for us right now.

Eliminating the sources of greenhouse gas emissions will make our air and water cleaner, our economy stronger and our quality of life better. It could save hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives across the country through air quality benefits alone. Using land more wisely can both limit climate change and protect biodiversity. Climate change most strongly affects communities that get a raw deal in our society: people with low incomes, people of color, children and the elderly. And climate action can be an opportunity to redress legacies of racism, neglect and injustice.

I could still tell you scary stories about a future ravaged by climate change, and they’d be true, at least on the trajectory we’re currently on. But it’s also true that we have a once-in-human-history chance not only to prevent the worst effects but also to make the world better right now. It would be a shame to squander this opportunity. So I don’t just want to talk about the problems anymore. I want to talk about the solutions. Consider this your last warning from me."

-via New York Times. Opinion essay by leading climate scientist Kate Marvel. November 18, 2023.