Disaster risk reduction and conflict prevention

Natural disasters and extreme environmental events – hurricanes, floods, droughts, crop failures – are expected to increase in number and severity on a global scale, even within this decade. Demographic trends are leading to enlarged urban and coastal populations at heightened risk of major casualties, economic disruption and political tensions, even from normal patterns of climate, seismic and epidemic volatility. Major disasters could degrade key sources and supply chains of the global economy, affecting essential supplies of food, water, energy, medicine, and traditional incomes. These economic, social, and political "ripple effects" could trigger deadly conflicts within or even among states.

Keynote speakers:

Helen Clark
Administrator, United Nations Development Programme

Jim Marshall
President, United States Institute of Peace

Followed by a panel discussion with:

John Steinbruner

Director, Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland
Co-author, NAS/NRC Report on Climate and Social Stress

Sherri Goodman

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, CNA
Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security

Frederick S. Tipson
Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow (2011-2012), United States Institute of Peace
Special Adviser to the Center of Innovation for Science, Technology & Peacebuilding

Proctor Reid

Director of Programs, National Academy of Engineering
Moderator