Climate change has been a hot topic in many people’s discussions today.  With increasing global temperatures and rising sea levels, we are nearing–or maybe have missed–the window in which we can reverse irreparable damage to our only home.  The effects of climate change go past unbearably hot summers and the constant flooding of coastal cities.  Other forces of nature such as natural disasters have creating far more devastating effects on people’s everyday lives.

This past summer I went to visit Yosemite National Park, only to be evacuated due to the looming threat of forest fires in the area.  What used to be a vast landscape of blue skies, tall trees, and impressive mountains was now lost in a thick layer of smoke.  The year before that, California also experienced disastrous fires that would go down in history as the biggest forest fire season the state had experienced.  Recently, the Australian wildfires have been the center of attention, with unprecedented sizes and intensities.   With at least 28 casualties and over 3000 homes destroyed, this has been a truly terrible experience for the many affected by the forest fires.

Other natural disasters have hit hard in recent years as well.  From 2005-2018 alone, there have been around 10 major hurricanes (including record-breaking Hurricane Wilma) bringing large-scale damage.  Severe storm conditions created by hurricanes cause flooding, tornadoes, and heavy rain that destroy city infrastructure.  Homes are destroyed, lives are lost, and the time and resources available to rebuild after catastrophe are often not available.  Another natural disaster increasing in frequency is drought.  In the past decade, there have been seven major droughts.   Not only do these limit drinking water supply, it affects the agricultural industry as well.  Although the three natural disasters are, well, “natural”, they are all caused by warming temperatures, and it’s no secret rapid climate change is largely anthropogenic.  Therefore, the size, intensity, and frequency of natural disaster occurrence have increased due to human activity.

Evidently, the damage caused by these disasters need to be addressed by various levels of government.  Many countries have chosen to spend more in disaster aid and natural disaster recovery funds.  However, professionals have expressed the need for investment in infrastructure that would mitigate effects of such disasters.  It has been estimated that for every 1 million dollars invested in creating preventative solutions, governments will save 4 million dollars for damages caused.  Thedemand for sustainable and resilient infrastructure, especially in coastal areas prone to flooding, has (logically) increased and need more involvement from local governments.  On a broader scale, the UN has been trying to push for environmental stewardship.  Among its 17 goals are Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; and Climate Action.  These goals will help communities plan both preventative and interventional measures for such disasters.