When my neighborhood is hit by a storm, I close the door, and check my windows. When cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, poor people had no alternative than trying to escape as their whole houses were wiped away. Still science stress that I have more responsibility for these weather events, than any person in Vanuatu. This is not fair!
Right now governments from all over the world meet in Sendai, in Japan, to discuss “Disaster Risk Reduction”. Disasters, not only those related to climate change, are inevitable. During the past 20 years, more than half of the world’s population has been affected by disasters in one way or another.
However, while disaster may be inevitable, their effect can be controlled. It is estimated that one dollar invested in preventive measures, so called “Disaster Risk Reduction”, will save seven dollars in relief, disaster response and reconstruction. The logic should be apparent; to focus on preparedness is a good investment.
However, experience show that poor and vulnerable people, and countries, have difficulties to attract important investments. Thus, when the storm, the flood, or the draught is hitting communities, people are heavily affected.
Many disasters have links to climate change, and thus mitigation action, to prevent future global warming is crucial. When we look at the current effects of climate change, we should also consider the current and historic levels of emissions, as they have contributed to the effects we experience today. In my home country, Denmark, we emit approximately 8 ton CO2 per person and year. In Vanuatu the same figure is only 0,5 ton.
Vanuatu has always been exposed to weather events. However, climate change increases the effect, and the need for disaster risk reduction, or, as referred to in the climate change debate, “adaptation”, becomes evident.
The conference in Sendai has an important theme, and I hope their conclusions will promote an increased focus on disaster risk reduction. I hope the need for international support also will be stressed, and the fact that rich countries, with big emissions, have a big responsibility, not only based on moral arguments, but also based on their emissions.