Spring 2019 Conflict Series—What is the Role of the Private Sector in Building Resilience Against Climate-Related Disasters?

Chloe Demrovsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Disaster Recovery Institute International, will discuss how the large-scale consequences of a disaster make cooperation between the public and private sectors imperative to success in building resilient communities.

Climate-related disasters are affecting us with unprecedented frequency and severity. Research from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) shows that climate-related disasters alone have more than doubled since the 1980s. Today, they account for more than 80% of all reported disasters worldwide. Over roughly the same period, the globalization that has allowed for advances in economic development to bring millions out of poverty has also created a nearly worldwide dependency network. A crisis that occurs on one side of the world may directly impact organizations on the other side. This increases the risk profile for all stakeholders and requires greater preparedness across sectors. With critical goals like disaster risk reduction and resilience, establishing a diverse coalition of committed stakeholders with a practical plan of action is essential.