Reducing climate disaster risk

As Australians are experiencing, climate change is exacerbating disaster risk, including unprecedented (yet fully predicted) bushfires and floods in the past few years. Simply put, climate change is supercharging extreme weather, and that, in turn, creates major risks for additional disasters. Given the reality of accelerating climate change, what can be done here in Australia to contribute to disaster risk reduction?

Ahead of the UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, hear from a panel of experts as they discuss what’s already happening and where we’re headed in terms of disasters. This talk will explore responses across sectors and society including government planning and funding, the role of the insurance industry in risk reduction to avoid post-disaster costs, and community action in the face of ongoing disasters.

The panel will raise the difficult question of what Australians are prepared to tolerate and accept in terms of risk – and what kinds of action is necessary to avoid harms to the public good.

Speakers

• Professor Rosemary Lyster, University of Sydney Law School

• Claudia Migotto, NSW Assistant Auditor-General

• Dr Jean Renouf, Resilient Bryon

• Professor David Schlosberg (Chair), Sydney Environment Institute

• Dr Anna Sturman, Sydney Environment Institute