[Square] Disasters Caused by Climate Change Require Proactive Preparedness.

Choi Tae-young, Head of Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters

Choi Tae-young, Head of Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters

Recently, alarming news related to natural disasters such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall has been continuously reported both domestically and internationally. In South Korea, residents in regions like Jeonnam and Gangwon suffered from flood damage this summer, while China, Japan, and various parts of Europe also experienced massive damage due to heavy rains. Additionally, prolonged heatwaves in Canada, the United States, and Australia have led to large-scale wildfires.

What is concerning is that many experts predict these situations will worsen in the future. On the 9th, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN-affiliated international organization, announced that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, the global average temperature will rise by 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels within 20 years. This 1.5℃ increase could be a tipping point for the rise in disasters caused by climate change. Some even say that terms like climate crisis and climate disaster are replacing the term climate change.

In modern society, especially in large cities, disaster damage can expand extensively due to interconnected social systems. For example, in the case of a natural disaster like a heatwave, casualties often occur due to heat-related illnesses. However, if prolonged, it can lead to an energy crisis caused by increased electricity usage, regional blackouts due to overloaded aging electrical facilities, and in the worst case, paralysis of medical facilities or information and communication services.

Another example is heavy rainfall, which can cause significant damage in a short time. Imagine an unexpected, massive downpour at 6 p.m., the typical time people leave work, which even weather forecasts failed to predict. The pouring rain would exceed the capacity of the city’s drainage systems, flooding roads and various areas. Consequently, the surge in accident reports would overload the emergency response systems of related agencies. If the collection, analysis, judgment, and dissemination of situational information are not timely, subway stations and urban tunnels on the way home could be flooded, trapping many people. While this might seem like an extreme scenario, a similar event actually occurred in July in Henan Province, China. Zhengzhou City in Henan received 617mm of rain over three days, nearly matching the annual average rainfall for the area, resulting in hundreds of deaths and missing persons.

So, how should our society prepare for disasters caused by future climate change?

First, we need to review the existing disaster damage scenarios. We must approach this scientifically and not overlook that recent heatwaves, heavy rains, and droughts worldwide have been described as record-breaking in terms of severity and duration. Furthermore, since the measures derived from scenario reviews directly affect the lives of citizens, policies must be promptly updated for each issue.

Additionally, the disaster response collaboration system that must operate swiftly during disasters needs to be strengthened. For disasters like large fires or building collapses, a system centered on local fire departments collaborating with disaster support agencies has been established. However, it is uncertain whether the current system can overcome unprecedented climate disasters such as extreme heavy rainfall and heatwaves. Now, based on new disaster scenarios, a stronger central hub and collaboration system must be established. Even if such a system is organized, considerable effort and time are required to ensure effective operation of the control tower, collection and dissemination of situational information, evacuation of vulnerable facilities, rescue operations, and emergency recovery amid actual chaotic situations.

There is a famous quote from former U.S. President Kennedy: “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” No one knows when a once-in-a-millennium downpour like the one in China will strike us. But one thing is clear: the time to build a stronger roof is now.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.