U.S. dollars' worth of assets will be vulnerable to climate change by 2050. The report
concluded that
crises. These interventions have traditionally focused on relief and rebuilding, or on
longer-term development, rather than planning for unforeseen shocks and stresses. The
Rockefeller foundation estimates that as a result,
the consequences very costly. New York City quickly found this out in 2009 when a storm
surge flooded Manhattan Island for the first time in its history after Hurricane Sandy. Vital
services, including backup generators, were crippled as water flooded the mandatory
basement plant rooms of the famous skyscrapers and the underground train system
that connects them. Mayor Bloomberg announced that the storm had caused $19 billion
in losses in New York City. Additionally, the storm required prevention and mitigation
strategies estimated at more than $9 billion dollars, work which is still continuing.
towards adaptation and resilience, both internally and with clients.
Jake Attwood-Harris
Sustainable Design
and Analysis
Dar Al-Handasah
London
Manhattan from Hurricane
Sandy
Reduction and Aquifer
Recharging Principles
resource inputs and emissions per unit of output. Although
several social, economic and technological actions would
reduce emissions, with respect to climate change, mitigation
means implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions or increase the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed
and stored by natural and man-made carbon sinks.
to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with
minimum damage to social well-being, the economy and the
environment.
climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to
moderate potential damages, take advantage of opportunities
and cope with the consequences.
to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial
opportunities or moderates negative effects.