Effective resilience to respond and recover from climate change impacts

As climate change continues to affect populations globally, a pressing concern is that neither governments nor the general public may be adequately prepared to respond to and recover from the risks posed by a changing climate in a timely manner. Global media frequently reinforces this concern by reporting on adverse situations in various parts of the world and their social and economic impacts. In the case of floods, research estimates that 23% of the global population, or 1.81 billion people, are directly vulnerable to 1-in-100-year flood events. These floods have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year and may happen once or even multiple times in a specific year. Not everyone is equally vulnerable to floods. Vulnerability is a combination of various factors, including changing rainfall patterns, governance decisions, population exposure, and socioeconomic status. For instance, around 90% of individuals and families at risk reside in low- and middle-income countries; the lower their income, the greater their risk exposure. The risk is heightened for the two billion people living in floodplains globally, primarily in Asia, North Africa, and South America.

Cecilia Tortajada and Asit K. Biswas 

THINK, Issue 13 | The Head Foundation Digest, January 2025

Media

Taxonomy

• Climate Change
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Climate Change Resilience
• Climate Change