Category: Policy

How Insurance Companies Can Go Bankrupt from Climate Change

How Insurance Companies Can Go Bankrupt from Climate Change

12/23/19

“How can insurance companies go bankrupt just from climate change?”

Climate change is wreaking havoc on finances everywhere. And insurance companies are often responsible for securing the losses that their customers face. In 2018, the Paradise Fire in Northern California destroyed properties whose combined claims were valued at 64 million USD to the Merced Property & Casualty Company. The problem is, the company only had 23 million USD in assets! This caused the 112-year-old company to file for bankruptcy, illustrating How Insurance Companies Can Go Bankrupt from Climate Change. As time goes on, these companies will have to be more careful about their insurance policies and how their organizations operate.

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.

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 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

Why Local Residents Need to Be Engaged for Emergency Management

Why Local Residents Need to Be Engaged for Emergency Management

12/13/19

“Why do local residents need to be a part of emergency management operations?”

When a disaster strikes, local residents are often not only the ones on the frontlines but also with the most knowledge of the conditions of the environment. As such, emergency management institutions need to train these people in how to react in case of a crisis and actively listen to them about how to manage the local environment when such conditions strike. This will ensure that people are safe and that any emergency management procedures can reach their full potential. This is Why Local Residents Need to Be Engaged for Emergency Management.

How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities

How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities

12/12/19

“How does prefabricated housing create resilience for communities?”

Prefabricated housing represents a paradigm shift in the construction industry. No longer do projects have to rely on intricate designs and supply chains, now they are free to use a general template that can be replicated with ease. Not only is this more sustainable due to using fewer resources, but it also allows for greater resiliency in many ways. More houses can be built at a quicker rate for less investment, allowing for refugees to move in en-masse. These homes can also be built to the latest resilience standards, and parts can be easily replaced in case of a disaster due to their mass-produced nature. Finally, their simplified construction supply chain makes them less poised for disruption. This is How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities.

Image credit inhabitat.com