Theater Shaping with Allies & Partners Scene Setter: Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief Pacific Operational Science & Technology Conference 19 March 2012 Jessica Ear, J.D.
Key Points Disaster Trends Expectations Needs S&T Considerations Challenges Opportunities Cooperation Summary Observations
What are the trends?
Urbanization and Poverty IFRC World Disaster Report 2010 World Low and middle income nations Asia 8,000
Numbers of people affected by climate –related natural disasters 54%
People affected by climate-related disasters 1980 to 2007 (millions) with forecast to 2015
Source: CRED Number of people reported affected by natural disasters
Number of people reported killed by natural disasters
Estimated damages (US billion) caused by reported natural disasters
What can we expect? Complexities Inclusion Expansion "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein
What are disaster needs? Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery For ALL HAZARDS Disaster
How can S&T assist? Risk = Hazard + Vulnerability Capacity Hazard Vulnerability Capacity Risk
S &T Considerations Comprehensiveness Community Capacity Communication Context
S&T Opportunities Space based technology – Satellites, telecom, internet Robotics, electronics Environmental science Agricultural adaptations Systems and education Social, cultural adaptations
S&T Cooperation Education, Training Technical Skill Exchanges Resource, Expertise Sharing Regional Centers Partnerships Ownership
Summary Observations Expect more complex disasters S&T communities can help Solutions must meet disaster needs S&T solutions are only as smart as the people managing them S&T opportunities require cooperation " Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction." Albert Einstein
Thank You