From disaster response to disaster prevention | Rachel Kyte | TEDxSendai (English)

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters, highlighting the economic and human toll. They discuss the impact of climate change on disaster frequency and intensity, the need for greener and more inclusive growth, and the significance of disaster risk management in development. Examples from Japan and Saint Lucia illustrate successful resilience strategies, while the Port of Cartagena demonstrates private sector interest. The summary concludes with the assertion that resilience is a collective responsibility involving policy, investment, and community engagement.

Takeaways

• 👵 The speaker's definition of resilience is inspired by her grandmother's life, embodying toughness and generosity through various hardships.
• 🌾 The importance of preserving and utilizing resources efficiently, as demonstrated by the speaker's family during their harvest season, is highlighted.
• 🏨 The devastating impact of natural disasters, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, is underscored to emphasize the need for resilience in infrastructure.
• 📈 Economic losses from natural disasters have tripled in the past 30 years, indicating an urgent need to address this growing issue.
• 💰 The staggering financial impact of natural disasters is compared to the GDP of Mexico and the amount of development assistance, highlighting the scale of the problem.
• 🌍 Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, particularly affecting poor countries.
• 🏙 Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, will increase the number of people exposed to natural disasters.
• 🛠 The speaker advocates for a change in growth path towards greener and more inclusive development, integrating disaster risk management into policy and practice.
• 🏢 The private sector, as exemplified by the Port of Cartagena, is recognizing the benefits of investing in resilience to protect against climate-related risks.
• 🏘️ Community engagement and strong social bonds are vital for resilience, as they facilitate mutual support and recovery post-disaster.
• 🌐 The international community must shift from a reactive approach to disasters to a proactive culture of prevention and preparedness.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speech given by the speaker?

The main topic of the speech is resilience, particularly in the context of natural disasters and the need for disaster risk management and preparedness.

Who is the speaker's earliest childhood memory associated with, and what activities were they involved in?

The speaker's earliest childhood memories are associated with their grandmother, great grandmother, and grandfather, who were involved in harvesting and preserving produce from their gardens and land to extend the nutritional and economic value through winter months.

What significant historical events did the speaker's grandmother experience in her lifetime?

The speaker's grandmother experienced the beginning of one World War, lived through a second World War, and survived polio.

What is the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, an example of?

The Hotel Montana is an example of a building that was not built to resist the shock of a natural disaster, as it collapsed during the 2010 earthquake, killing over 200 people.

How have economic losses from natural disasters changed in the past 30 years?

In the past 30 years, economic losses from natural disasters have more than tripled, and the number of natural disasters has doubled.

What is the economic impact of natural disasters in low-income and middle-income countries over the past 30 years?

Over the past 30 years, low-income and middle-income countries have lost 1.2 trillion dollars due to natural disasters, which is equivalent to the annual GDP of Mexico or a third of all official development assistance given in the same period.

What is the projected increase in urban population by 2050, particularly in developing countries?

By 2050, the urban population is projected to increase by 2.6 billion people globally, with 90% of that growth occurring in South Asia and Africa.

How does the speaker suggest investing in resilience against natural disasters?

The speaker suggests investing in resilience by changing the growth path to a greener and more inclusive growth, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and integrating disaster risk management into development and public policy.

What is the significance of the Westin in Sendai as an example in the speech?

The Westin in Sendai is significant as it survived the catastrophic earthquake in 2011 with almost no damage, serving as a disaster response center, highlighting the effectiveness of enforced building codes and disaster risk management in Japan.

What percentage of international disaster-related assistance from 1980 to 2009 was invested in prevention and preparedness?

Only 3.6% of the international disaster-related assistance from 1980 to 2009 was invested in prevention and preparedness, with the majority going towards emergency response and reconstruction.

What is the example of a successful community resilience project mentioned in the speech?

The successful community resilience project mentioned is in Saint Lucia, where the World Bank invested in hillside drains to prevent landslides. This resulted in no losses in the five communities where the drains were built during Hurricane Tomas in 2010.

How did the Port of Cartagena in Colombia demonstrate private sector interest in resilience?

The Port of Cartagena demonstrated private sector interest in resilience by conducting a study with the International Finance Corporation to assess risks from climate and weather changes, leading to a 30 million dollar investment in new capital construction to improve resilience and operations.

What role do communities play in resilience, according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, communities play a crucial role in resilience as they have stronger social bonds that help them better withstand disasters. These bonds are one of the strongest determinants of community resilience, and neighbors are often the first to help in reconstruction after a disaster.