Month: December 2019

How the Evolution of Early Warning Systems Are Already Saving Lives

How the Evolution of Early Warning Systems Are Already Saving Lives

12/22/19

“How are early warning systems to disasters already saving the lives of many?”

Environmental disasters are becoming more and more frequent with the advent of climate change. As a result governments around the world are looking into ways to build resilience in the new climate paradigm. One very simple yet effective method to implement is early warning systems. Early warning systems use sensors to monitor external conditions and parlay them into a mathematical algorithm to see if a disaster is coming. Examples could be the sensor that monitors the dryness of the air, the local temperature, and the wind speed to assess if a wildfire will begin and a system that measures the frequency and intensity of waves to check if there is an incoming tsunami. As the signal is triggered, nearby citizens can evacuate in time. When put in place, loss of life from disasters tend to go downwards. This can be seen from Zambia to Mumbai.

Why Mediterranean Climates Are More Prone to Wildfires

Why Mediterranean Climates Are More Prone to Wildfires

12/21/19

“Why are Mediterranean climates more prone to wildfires?”

Mediterranean regions are world-renowned for their natural beauty, temperate climates, and mellow settings. These zones usually start the year with a short, mild, and moist winter season followed by a long, warm dry, summer season. This means that a lot of foliage grows when it rains and then dies when the rain stops. This abundance of fuel in hot and dry conditions makes the perfect ingredient for wildfires to occur, which is Why Mediterranean Climates Are More Prone to Wildfires. This will only become more intense with the advent of climate change, as the Winter season is becoming shorter and wetter and the Summer longer and drier.

Wildfire Safety Zones

Wildfire Safety Zones

12/20/19

“Where can firefighters take shelter while fighting a wildfire?”

Firefighters have very difficult jobs. They have to respond to catastrophic emergencies at a moment’s notice, even if it means waking up in the middle of a night and rushing hours to the site. This can be especially difficult when fighting large-scale wildfires, which can go on for days and even weeks and take up enough land to fill a country. As a result, they will need time to rest during operations. To do this, they must seek out Wildfire Safety Zones which can provide refuge from the blaze and allow the firefighters to survive without being injured from exposure to the radiant and convective heat from the fire, and would not have to deploy and enter a fire shelter.

How Power Shutoffs Cause Economic Damage

How Power Shutoffs Cause Economic Damage

12/19/19

“How do power shutoffs cause economic damage?”

Power shutoffs are common in the developing world and are becoming frequently more common in the industrialized one due to climate change. When these do occur, all modern society of operations ground to a halt. Food goes rotten from lack of refrigeration, shops and workplaces have to close due to a lack of power access, and even interdependent infrastructures such as transportation and water can go down. All of these combined lead to great economic damage through lost commodities and working hours. This is How Power Shutoffs Cause Economic Damage.

Why Planting Native Trees Can Build Resilience to Wildfires

Why Planting Native Trees Can Build Resilience to Wildfires

12/18/19

“How can we build resilience to wildfires by simply planting trees that are native to the local ecosystem?”

Wildfires and how to build resilience against them are some of the hottest topics in areas with Mediterranean climates. Much of the time techniques using built infrastructure are proposed, such as building microgrids or housing with new flame-resilient materials. However, one of the most effective methods can be one does not require a single wire or piece of concrete. Due to globalism and colonialization, many Mediterranean climates contain invasive species of trees that are more likely to burn. By replacing these with tree species that are adapted to the local climate and are more resistant to burning, we can decrease the intensity of burnable fuel in an area and achieve better Wildfire resilience. This is Why Planting Native Trees Can Build Resilience to Wildfires.

Why Local Responders Need to Be Prepared to Deal with The Effects of Climate Change

Why Local Responders Need to Be Prepared to Deal with The Effects of Climate Change

12/17/19

“Why do local responders need to be prepared to deal with the localized effects of climate change?”

Local responders are a vital part of emergency management engagement. However, as the climate keeps on changing, local responders will need to be aware and trained in adapting to the ways that climate change affects their local environment, whether it be wildfires, floods, or heat waves. This is Why Local Responders Need to Be Prepared to Deal with The Effects of Climate Change.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Hazard Mitigation Assistance

12/16/19

“How can communities receive assistance for hazard mitigation?”

Hazard mitigation is one of the top ways for local communities to adapt and build resilience to climate change. However, many of the ones who are facing the most drastic consequences also have the least amount of resources to cope. For this reason, government agencies have Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs that provide aid in numerous forms such as but not exclusively buy-outs, elevations and safe rooms. With Hazard mitigation assistance communities can feel safe in being insulated from the worst of the new climate paradigm.

Image credit interactive.wttw.com

What the UN COP Summits Are

What the UN COP Summits Are

12/15/19

“What exactly is the UN COP summit?”

The 25th annual UN COP Summit in Madrid has recently finished. But what exactly does it represent? Well, since 1995, members of the United Nations have come together for a yearly conference on how to work together to solve climate change. These summits have yielded groundbreaking pieces of legislation such as The Paris Agreement but often are criticized for not accomplishing anything significant. This is What the UN COP Summits Are.

Image credit police.un.org

Food Supply Disruption

Food Supply Disruption

12/14/19

“Why is a disruption to food supplies so harmful?”

Food is one of the most vital things for humans to live. Without a sufficient amount of it, there is no way for us to thrive. During disasters, whether by natural or human causes, a Food Supply Disruption can occur. Food supply disruptions can occur from a variety of events, such as crop failure or logistics upheaval. With the changing climate, food supply disruptions will become more prevalent, and resilience practitioners must think about how to prevent these from occurring.

Image credit health2016.globalchange.gov