Disaster Risk Factors: Climate Change

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Questions and Answers

What is the official definition of climate change according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

The alteration of the world’s climate caused by natural factors

The change that can be attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (correct)

The removal of mangroves to increase the damage caused by storm surges

The increase in the frequency and intensity of hazards events

How does environmental degradation influence the frequency and intensity of hazards?

It only affects the vulnerability to hazards

It reduces the frequency and intensity of hazards

It increases the frequency and intensity of hazards (correct)

It has no impact on the frequency and intensity of hazards

What is a consequence of over consumption of natural resources?

Reduced exposure to hazards

Increased resilience to disasters

Increased frequency of climate change

Environmental degradation, reducing the effectiveness of essential ecosystem services (correct)

What is a result of globalized economic development?

Increased polarization between the rich and poor on a global scale Signup and view all the answers

How does climate change affect disaster risk?

It can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by altering the frequency and intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of environmental degradation?

Deforestation of slopes Signup and view all the answers

What can result from the removal of mangroves?

Increased damage caused by storm surges Signup and view all the answers

What is an opportunity provided by globalized economic development?

To build resilience if effectively managed Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the ways to reduce risk?

Upgrading informal settlements Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of disaster risk for the poor?

Total loss of livelihoods Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of areas with high disaster risk?

High concentration of people and economic activities Signup and view all the answers

What is a cause of disaster risk?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of weak governance?

Creation of risk Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of urbanization in hazard-exposed countries?

Rapid and poorly planned Signup and view all the answers

What is a correlation between poverty and disaster risk?

Poverty is both a cause and consequence of disaster risk Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the poor in relation to disaster risk?

They are often forced to use their limited assets to buffer disaster losses Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Climate Change and Disasters

Climate change increases disaster risk by altering frequency and intensity of hazard events, affecting vulnerability, and changing exposure patterns.
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other practices that increase carbon footprint and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contribute to climate change.

Environmental Degradation and Disasters

Environmental degradation influences frequency and intensity of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability to these hazards.
Deforestation of slopes can lead to increased landslide hazard, while removal of mangroves can increase damage from storm surges.
Overconsumption of natural resources results in environmental degradation, reducing effectiveness of essential ecosystem services, such as flood and landslide mitigation.

Globalized Economic Development and Disaster Risk

Globalized economic development increases exposure of assets in hazard-prone areas.
Risk-sensitive development strategies, such as investing in protective infrastructure, environmental management, and upgrading informal settlements, can reduce risk.
Dominance and increase of wealth in certain regions and cities are expected to increase hazard exposure.

Poverty and Inequality in Disaster Risk

Impoverished people are more likely to live in hazard-exposed areas and are less able to invest in risk-reducing measures.
Lack of access to insurance and social protection forces people in poverty to use limited assets to buffer disaster losses, driving them into further poverty.
Poverty is both a cause and consequence of disaster risk, with drought being the hazard most closely associated with poverty.

Urban Development and Disaster Risk

Poorly planned and managed urban development can lead to creation of risk, especially in hazard-exposed countries.
The growing rate of urbanization and increasing population density in cities can lead to overlap with areas of high-risk exposure.
Urbanization provides new opportunities for resilient investment.

Weak Governance and Disaster Risk

Weak governance zones are characterized by public sector actors being unable or unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities.

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Description

Explore the role of climate change in increasing disaster risk, including its impact on hazard frequency, vulnerability, and exposure patterns. Learn how human activities contribute to climate change and its effects on the environment.