Disasters are hitting poorer countries harder than richer ones, with recovery costs taking a bigger chunk out of the economy in nations that can’t afford it, says Markus Enenkel, co-author of the recent report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. And it’s not all just about extreme weather from climate change. Disasters interact with each other, compounding damage, like wildfires plus heat waves or a war in Ukraine plus food and fuel shortages -40 million people will enter extreme poverty as a result of price increases from the Ukraine conflict.
The report notes that about 90% of the spending on disasters currently is emergency relief with only 6% on reconstruction and 4% on prevention. What solutions exist for low-income communities to prepare and adapt so they become more resilient to these shocks?
In this interactive session, we’ll explore current innovations and speak with entrepreneurs who are already helping local communities to prepare, adapt, and build more resilient solutions for food, agriculture, and water. Participants will also discuss ongoing challenges and explore ideas to address these through collaboration and innovation.
