Despite rapid economic growth, some of our most developed nations are struggling to cope with the realities of climate change and the impacts of increasing numbers of natural disasters.
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| Chaos after Typhoon Jebi (Image credit: EPA) |
Japan is a recent example that has dominated the headlines after experiencing a series of natural disasters. Although it has become one of the top ten wealthiest nations, it remains a victim of the horrifying impacts of torrential rainstorms, a devastating typhoon, and yet another disastrous earthquake on account of the fact it sits precariously on the Pacific Ring of Fire (a plate boundary around the Pacific Plate).
On 4th September 2018, Typhoon Jebi hit the outer islands of Japan with wind speeds of around 175mph. Air and land travel was severely disrupted with thousands of people stranded and tankers beached on harbor walls. This chaos and loss of life was further compounded by an 6.7 magnitude earthquake that followed just days later, causing landslides that buried houses and caused power cuts due to the weakened ground collapsing after the torrential rains and tropical storm winds.
These natural disasters are seemingly unavoidable, but the question remains as to whether a developed country like Japan should be better prepared to mitigate and respond to the impacts it faces. After all, there are around 14 significant tropical storms in the Pacific Ocean every year, and Japan experiences around 1,500 tremors and earthquakes annually. Is the developed world struggling to implement what is has learnt from previous lessons? Or perhaps the scale of natural disasters (especially when they follow one after another) is now too much to cope with?
As the US enters its hurricane season, over 1 million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes on the east coast and head inland. Is this yet another example of a developed nation unable to cope with the force of Mother Nature?
Some might argue that we simply have to do what we can. Others may consider the extent to which we are now simply dealing with the consequences of years of human abuse of resources such a fossil fuels, which has contributed to the global warming that is now fuelling our super storms.
Can we rely on our wealth and experience to save us? Or will we simply have to hold tight and weather the storm?
>> Explain: Describe and explain different strategies that countries can use to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters
>> Explore: in groups, gather information for the following interest groups (The World Bank, governments, scientists, emergency services, local residents) and debate the role of each group in preparing for and reacting to natural disasters