Mitigation and adaptation strategies for coping with the potential adverse effects of global climate change. If the predictions are right, we will be living with the effects of global climate change for the rest of our lives. Presentation courtesy of Dr. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction.

1. SNOW IN AMMAN, JORDAN:
JANUARY; 2008

2. MAKING (OR NOT MAKING) OUR
WORLD DISASTER RESILIENT
IS OUR LEGACY
History Will Decide Which Legacy We
Actually Leave
Part 1

3. PART 1:
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT
GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE?

4. DISASTER RESILIENCE HAS A
VERY HIGH BENEFIT/COST
1 < BENEFIT/COST <
1000
THE PAYOFF IS
GREATER SAFETY,
SECURITY, AND
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
EVRYONE

5. BOOKS OF KNOWLEDGE
UNIQUE TOOLS FOR
MEDITERRANEAN REGION NATIONS
TO USE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION,
MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND
ADAPTATION FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS

6. BOOK
OF
BOOK
OF
KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE
- Perspectives
- Perspectives
On Science, Policy,
On Science, Policy,
And EM
HI-ED
And EM
HI-ED

7. MEDITERRANEAN REGION

8. • MEDITERRANEAN REGION
• EUROPE
• NORTH AMERICA
• SOUTH AMERICA
• CARIBBEAN BASIN
• OCEANIA

9. • ASIA
 RUSSIA
 INDIA
 CHINA
 SOUTHEAST ASIA

10. • GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
• DROUGHTS
• EARTHQUAKES
• FLOODS
• SEVERE WINDSTORMS
• WILDFIRES
• LANDSLIDES
• VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
• TSUNAMIS

11. GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE
GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE
DROUGHTDROUGHT
WILDFIRESWILDFIRES
VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS
VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS
LANDSLIDESLANDSLIDES
TSUNAMISTSUNAMIS
LANDSLIDESLANDSLIDES
EARTHQUAKESEARTHQUAKES
HURRICANES/
TYPHOONS
HURRICANES/
TYPHOONS FLOODSFLOODS
GCC AND NATURAL HAZARDSGCC AND NATURAL HAZARDS
ATMOSPHERICATMOSPHERICATMOSPHERICATMOSPHERIC GEOLOGICGEOLOGICGEOLOGICGEOLOGIC HYDROLOGICHYDROLOGICHYDROLOGICHYDROLOGIC

12. THE DILEMNA OF
DISASTER SCENARIOS
FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE OCCURS AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL
WHERE, BROAD BRUSH
STROKES ARE TOO
UNCERTAIN

13. THE ISSUE:
WERE THE UNUSUALLY SEVERE
PHYSICAL EFFECTS NORMAL, BUT
EXACERBATED BY SOME OF MAN’S
PAST ACTIONS, OR
EVIDENCE OF GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE?

14. WAS THE WINTER OF 2008
UNUSUAL?
VERY COLD IN CHINA
VERY COLD IN NEW YORK
SNOW IN AMMAN, JORDAN
VERY WARM IN SWEDEN
VERY WARM IN NORWAY
VERY WARM IN ENGLAND

15. SNOW IN AMMAN, JORDAN:
JANUARY; 2008

16. WARM IN TYNEMOUTH, UK:
FEBRUARY 2008

17. NO ICE IN NORWAY:
JANUARY 2008

18. VERY COLD IN GUANGZHOU,
CHINA: JANUARY 2008

19. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN:
WARMEST SINCE 1755

20. VERY COLD IN NEW YORK:
FEBRUARY 2008

21. YOURYOUR
COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY
DATA BASESDATA BASES
AND INFORMATIONAND INFORMATION
HAZARDS:
GROUND SHAKING
GROUND FAILURE
SURFACE FAULTING
TECTONIC DEFORMATION
TSUNAMI RUN UP
AFTERSHOCKS
•MONITORING
•HAZARD MAPS
•INVENTORY
•VULNERABILITY
•LOCATION
RISK ASSESSMENTRISK ASSESSMENT
RISK
ACCEPTABLE RISK
UNACCEPTABLE RISK
BOOKS OFBOOKS OF
KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE
•EDUCATION
•PREPAREDNESS
•PROTECTION
•EARLY WARNING
•EM RESPONSE
•RECOVERY
POLICY TOOLS FORPOLICY TOOLS FOR
DISASTER RESILIENCEDISASTER RESILIENCE

22. POLICYPOLICY
ADOPTIONADOPTION
POLICYPOLICY
ADOPTIONADOPTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
• VULNERABILITYVULNERABILITY
• EXPOSUREEXPOSURE
• EVENTEVENT
POLICY ASSESSMENT
• COSTCOST
• BENEFITBENEFIT
•CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES
BUILDING A CULTURE OFBUILDING A CULTURE OF
DISASTER RESILIENCEDISASTER RESILIENCE
GLOBALGLOBAL
CLIMATECLIMATE
CHANGECHANGE
NATURALNATURAL
HAZARDSHAZARDS
GLOBALGLOBAL
CLIMATECLIMATE
CHANGECHANGE
NATURALNATURAL
HAZARDSHAZARDS
EXPECTEDEXPECTED
LOSSLOSS
EXPECTEDEXPECTED
LOSSLOSS

23. MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH THE
POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
IF THE PREDICTIONS ARE RIGHT, WE WILL BE
LIVING WITH THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES

24. ANTICIPATE YOUR RISK

25. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
• GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE WAS
ONLY DISCUSSED
IN A HYPO-
THETICAL WAY
FOR MANY YEARS.
• If CONSIDERED AS
A THREAT, IT WAS
A THREAT FOR
THE DISTANT
FUTURE.
• GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE IS
INCREASINGLY
BEING REGARDED
AS A FACT, …
• WHICH IMPLIES
SERIOUS RISKS
THAT PRESENT
AND FUTURE GEN-
ERATIONS ALIKE
WILL HAVE TO
FACE.

26. MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
• MITIGATION
ADDRESSES THE
“FRONT END” OF THE
GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE PROBLEM.
• IT INCLUDES ACTIONS
THAT WILL PREVENT
(OR REDUCE) THE
RELEASE OF EXCESS
CO2 EMMISIONS.
• ADAPTATION
ADDRESSES THE
“BACK END” OF THE
PROBLEM.
• IT INCLUDES ACTIONS
THAT WILL SAFE-
GUARD A PERSON, A
COMMUNITY, A
BUSINESS, OR A
NATION AS THEY LIVE
WITH THE LIKELY
IMPACTS.

27. MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• ADAPTATION IS REQUIRED BECAUSE
WE CAN NOT TURN OFF THE
MOMENTUM OF ADVERSE IMPACTS
OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE IN A
SHORT TIME.
• CARBON DIOXIDE REMAINS IN THE
ATMOSPHERE FOR DECADES, AND
• OCEANS STORE HEAT FOR
CENTURIES.

28. MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• MANY COUNTRIES ARE NOW MAKING
LARGE INVESTMENTS IN MITIGATION AND
ANTICIPATORY ADAPTATION ACTIONS.
• LEADERS RECOGNIIZE THAT THE EFFECTS
OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE WILL
LIKELY INCREASE THE RISKS FOR PEOPLE,
BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES LIVING IN
OR LOCATED IN COASTAL AREAS OR IN
RIVER FLOODPLAINS.

29. THE NETHERLANDS:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• AFTER 800 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
BATTLING THE NORTH SEA, THE
NETHERLANDS HAS NOW CREATED
SOME OF THE STRONGEST FLOOD
DEFENSES IN THE WORLD.
• PRESENT RIVER DEFENSES PROVIDE
1-IN -250 YEARS PROTECTION
LEVELS.

30. THE NETHERLANDS:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• THE OOESTERSCHELDEKERING, A
PART OF THE DELTA WORKS DAMS,
DEFENDS AGAINST THE NORTH SEA.
• THEY ARE NOW BEING MADE
STRONGER TO PROVIDE 1-IN-100,000
YEARS PROTECTION INSTEAD OF
1-IN-10,000 YEARS PROTECTION.

31. THE NETHERLANDS:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• THE DUTCH ARE ALSO REVISING
TRADITIONAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT
THINKING.
• IN ADDITION TO CONTAINING THE
FLOOD WATERS, THEY WILL ALLOW
CERTAIN DESIGNAGTED LOCATIONS
TO BE FLOODED.
• THIS STRATEGY IS CALLED, “LIVING
WITH WATER.”

32. THE OOESTERSCHELDEKERING:
THE NETHERLANDS

33. THE NETHERLANDS:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• THE NETHERLANDS WILL COMMIT
ABOUT $1.3 BILLION ANNUALLY TO
INCREASE FLOOD PROTECTION
LEVELS.
• THIS INVESTMENT IS EQUAL TO
ABOUT 0.2 PERCENT OF THE
NETHERLAND’S GDP.

34. BRITAIN:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• THE BRITISH ARE IMPROVING AND
EXTENDING THE “THAMES BARRIER,” A
SET OF FLOODGATES ACROSS THE
THAMES RIVER.
• WHEN THE BARRIER IS CLOSED (ABOUT 10
TIMES A YEAR) IT PROVIDES 1-IN-2,000
YEARS PROTECTION OF LONDON FROM
FLOODING CAUSED BY OCEAN SURGES
DURING STORMS.

35. LONDON, ENGLAND

36. THAMES RIVER BARRIER
DURING STORM

37. BRITAIN:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• THE PREDICTED RISE IN SEA LEVEL
BY 2030 IS EXPECTED TO REQUIRE
AN INCREASE IN PROTECTION ALONG
THE THAMES TO 1-IN-1,000 YEARS.
• THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BE
REPLACED AND UPGRADED BY 2100.

38. TOKYO: ANTICIPATES MORE WATER
THAN USUAL IN THE FUTURE

39. JAPAN:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• JAPAN IS ANTICIPATING MUCH MORE
WATER FROM RISING SEA LEVEL, OCEAN
STORM SURGES, TSUNAMI WAVE RUN UP,
AND EXCESSIVE PRECIPITATION FROM
TYPHOONS.
• ITS 12-YEAR-OLD “G-CANS PROJECT” HAS
CREATED A MASSIVE UNDERGROUND
CONCRETE “RIVER SYSTEM” IN
NORTHWEST TOKYO TO FACILITATE
REMOVAL OF EXCESS WATER FROM
TOKYO’S STREETS.

40. G-CANS: THE WORLD’S LARGEST
UNDERGROUND “RIVER” SYSTEM

41. JAPAN:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• JAPAN HAS INSTALLED
UNDERGROUND PUMPS THAT CAN
PUMP 100 TONS OF WATER PER
SECOND OUT OF RIVERS AND INTO
THE HARBOR TO PREVENT FLOODING
OF CTY STREETS.
• THIS SYSTEM IS ALREADY
CONSIDERED TO BE OPERATING AT
FULL CAPACITY NOW.

42. BANGLADESH:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• BANGLADESH, ONE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE PLACES ON EARTH TO
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, NOW
REQUIRES USE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
MODELS IN ALL FUTURE PLANNING AND
DECISIONS.
• IT HAS BEGUN SWITCHING LAND USE
FROM RICE FARMING TO PRAWN FARMING
IN LOCATIONS WHRE SALT WATER IN THE
BAY OF BENGAL IS NOW MOVING INLAND.

43. BANGLADESH:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• BUT, BEING ONE OF THE POOREST
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, BANGLADESH
CAN NOT AFFORD THE INVESTMENTS
REQUIRED FOR ADAPTATION MEASURES
NOW UNDERWAY IN MANY INDUSTRALIZED
COUNTRIES.
• IT NEEDS INTERNATIONAL AID, WHICH IS
NOT NOW AS AVAILABLE AS IN THE PAST.

44. GREATER NEW ORLEANS, LA:
ONLY 300,000 AFTER KATRINA

45. NEW ORLEANS: ANTICIPATES HURRICANES
EVEN WORSE THAN KATRINA

46. UNITED STATES:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• ADAPTATION IS NOW ON THE
AMERICAN AGENDA BECAUSE OF
HURRICANE KATRINA AND ITS
IMPACT ON NEW ORLEANS AND THE
GULF COAST.
• NEW ORLEANS HAS BECOME A
LABORATORY FOR SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, HAZARD INSURANCE,
AND PUBLIC POLICY.

47. NEW ORLEANS:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION

48. NEW ORLEANS’ LEVEE SYSTEM

49. UNITED STATES:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• NEW ORLEANS’ LEVEE SYSTEM ONLY
PROVIDES 1-IN-100 YEARS
PROTECTION NOW.
• 122 LEVEES IN THE SYSTEM ARE
NOW CONSIDERED TO BE
INADEQUATE FOR THE INCREASED
SEVERITY OF WIND FIELDS AND
STORM SURGES EXPECTED IN
FUTURE HURRICANES.

50. UNITED STATES:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• “DEFENSE IN DEPTH,” A THREE-
LAYERED SYSTEM, HAS BEEN
DEVISED TO PROTECT NEW
ORLEANS.
• EACH LAYER ACTS LIKE A SPEED
BUMP TO ABSORB AND REDUCE THE
ENERGY AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS
OF THE SEVERE WINDSTORM.

51. UNITED STATES:
MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
• “DEFENSE IN DEPTH:
• THE INNER LAYER CONSISTS OF
HARDENED LEVEES AND FLOOD
WALLS.
• THE MIDDLE LAYER IS A LARGE
EXPANSE OF WETLANDS.
• THE THIRD LAYER IS THE BARRIER
ISLANDS THAT MUST BE TRAVERSED
BEFORE LANDFALL.

52. HARDENED LEVEE SYSTEM:

53. BOOK
OF
BOOK
OF
KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE
- Perspectives
- Perspectives
On Science, Policy,
On Science, Policy,
And EM
HI-ED
And EM
HI-ED