Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure - UN CC:Learn

Chapter 7: A Framework for Risk Assessment and Risk-Informed Decision-Making for Infrastructure DevelopmentFigure 7.2: Distribution of consequences (losses of lives) due to natural disasters from 1991 to2005 by national economic categoryCES & CIS;1%OECD; 6%Countries not classified; 0%Least developed countries27%66%Developing countriesSource: EM-DAT - The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database.Figure 7.3: Annual reported economic consequences from natural disasters from 1975 to 2005250In current billion US$20015010050019751976Eartquake Naples ProvinceItaly($47 billion)197719781979198019811982Selected disasters with largest economic impactSource: EM-DAT - The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database.Flood VolgogradRussia($18 billion)1983198419851986198719881989199019911992Eartquake KobéJapan($121 billion)FloodChina($35 billion)1993199419951996199719981999WindstormFrance($12 billion)Windstorms Katrina and RitaUSA($131 billion)Earthquake NigataJapan($28 billion)200020012002200320042005While life expectancy has increased significantly in the last half century, this trend is less identifiable ona local scale; instead, correlation between local life expectancy and economic capacity is more apparent(see Figure 7.3). Inequities in economic capacity, correlatively, vulnerability translate to increased consequencesor losses for lower-income, less-developed countries.Threats and influence of climate changeClimate change exacerbates the gravity of overusing and mismanaging natural resources, and thusimposes further pressures on societies and sustainability efforts. According to the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change, predicted climate change phenomena include increased frequency of heavyprecipitation events, drought, tropical cyclone activity and high sea level. Increases in rainfall, landslidesand floods are particular threats in El Salvador.82Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Conference Proceedings