OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH Planet Earth may be

OUR FRAGILE PLANET EARTH Planet Earth may be at greater risk than ever before with the emergence of global warming and global climate change as possible future threats Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

PLANET EARTH IS WARMING UP AS A RESULT, LOCAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATES ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE LEAVING MANY CITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTS AT HIGHER RISK, ESPECIALLY FROM WEATHERRELATED NATURAL HAZARDS

AS A RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING, - - • Sea level will rise. • Coastal areas will be flooded • The frequency and intensity of severe windstorms may increase, with an associated increase in flooding from storm surge and rainfall and mudslides. • The frequency of wildfires may increase • Winter storms may be more intense

AS A RESULT, EARTH’S ENVIRONMENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE AT HIGHER RISK • • Oceans Polar regions Deserts Grasslands Wetlands Mountains Forests • Cities

Possible Changes in Earth’s Polar Regions Warming of Planet Earth due to the apparent warming will likely cause: ØMelting of polar ice caps, glaciers, and pack ice

GREENLAND

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA

WENGEN, SWITZERLAND

KANAI FJORD, ALASKA

SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND

MT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

NORTHEAST USA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

MANHATTAN ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY: AT RISK

FLORIDA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

LOUISIANA: 1 METER RISE IN SEA LEVEL

THE NETHERLANDS

VENICE, ITALY

HALONG BAY, VIETNAM

FUNAFUTI, TUVALU

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environments When Planet Earth receives more water in a short period than can be contained in the floodplains and wetlands, the result is: ØFlooding

Floods in Mozambique

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environments Planet Earth’s coasts are subjected to severe windstorms with large waves, storm surge, and heavy rainfall--large quantities of water, which cause: Drastic irreversible changes along the coast lines.

HURICANE KATRINA: NEW ORLEANS UNDER WATER, 2005

HURRICANES DESTROY BARRIER ISLANDS

TROPICAL STORM NOEL 235 MILES SW OF NASSAU: OCT 31, 2007

70 % OF MEXICO’S TABASCO STATE UNDER WATER: NOV 2, 2007

TROPICAL STORM NOEL: HAITI, OCT 30, 2007

Possible Change in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, ØDesertification Increases

1/6 OF WORLD’S POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY DESERTIFICATION

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, ØDust Storms may Increase

DUST STORM: AL ASAD, IRAQ: APRIL 27, 2007

Natural Phenomena that Change our Environment Planet Earth is warming up, causing: ØDroughts

DROUGHT IN CHINA: 2007

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, ØRivers may dry up.

ELBE RIVER, GERMANY: SUMMER, 2007

COLORADO RIVER BASIN, WESTERN USA

LOS ANGELES RIVER: SUMMER 2007

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment As Planet Earth warms up, ØWildfires may Increase

WILDFIRES IN EUROPE: JULY 2007

WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: OCTOBER 21, 2007

Possible Changes in Earth’s Environment Planet Earth is easily damaged by some of man’s actions, for example: ØDeforestation

1 ½ ACRES OF RAIN FOREST DISAPPEAR EVERY SECOND

Implications for Planet Earth The potential risk to Planet Earth’s environments calls for: Ø Public policies that promote long -term community resilience

RISK ASSESSMENT • NATURAL HAZARDS • INVENTORY • VULNERABILITY • LOCATION DATA BASES AND INFORMATION ACCEPTABLE RISK UNACCEPTABLE RISK GOAL: DISASTER RESILIENCE COMMUNITY FOUR PILLARS OF RESILIENCE HAZARDS: GROUND SHAKING GROUND FAILURE SURFACE FAULTING TECTONIC DEFORMATION TSUNAMI RUN UP AFTERSHOCKS • PREPAREDNESS • PROTECTION • EMERGENCY RESPONSE • RECOVERY IENCE

COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC POLICIES MONITORING

Protecting Planet Earth’s changes in exposure and risk over time call for: Ø Technology to monitor the causative factors, warn people, and protect property, and infrastructure.

POLICIES FOR REDUCTION OF RISK • MONITORING (TRACKING CHANGES THAT MIGHT INCREASE THE RISK TO A CITY AND WARNING THE PEOPLE IN TIME FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF HARM’S WAY) AND PROTECT PROPERTY