Webinar: Build Back Better: Resilience of Vulnerable Populations and COVID-19
In this webinar, a diverse group of speakers represent vulnerable communities on the frontlines, international aid agencies, and resilience experts.
About the Webinar
For poor countries and vulnerable populations, COVID-19 is a perfect storm. People living in poverty, in informal settlements, and slums, and uprooted by war and persecution already face multiple risks every day, including climate change. Now they face the health, economic, and livelihood impacts of this crisis. Meanwhile, climate change impacts add a threat multiplier: cyclones and hurricanes threaten island states in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean; droughts, insect outbreaks, and floods could destroy crops on a massive scale from Africa to Asia, hurting food security.
It is not too late for the world to come together and reduce the scale of the humanitarian crisis before us. Already, many communities and local organizations are creating innovative solutions. International actors are stepping up as well — but more must be done. Global solidarity is more important now than ever. How can response and recovery to COVID-19 build longer-term resilience to enable communities and countries to better prepare for future health and climate risks? What actions are needed to help countries and communities build back better to create jobs, improve economic security, and fill development deficits?
Listen to this webinar to hear from a diverse group of speakers representing vulnerable communities on the frontlines and international aid agencies, along with Global Commission on Adaptation Co-Director and WRI Climate Resilience Practice Director Christina Chan.
Speakers
- Maarten van Aalst, Director, Climate Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Rosemary Atieno, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Community Mobilization for Positive Empowerment (COMPE)
- Sheela Patel, Founder and Director, Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC); Chair, Slum/Shack Dwellers International, Global Commission on Adaptation Commissioner
- Ulrika Åkesson, Lead Policy Specialist, Environment and Climate Change, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
- Christina Chan, Climate Resilience Practice Director, WRI; Global Commission on Adaptation Co-Director (Moderator)
Additional Resources
Podcast
Blog
Word Cloud
The word cloud from the audience survey is available here.
Projects
Global Commission on Adaptation
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectThe Global Commission on Adaptation, which was co-managed by WRI, elevated the political visibility of climate adaptation and catalyzed major actions and commitments.
Part of Climate Resilience
Coronavirus Recovery
Visit ProjectWRI offers research, expert insights, webinars and more to help policymakers, business leaders and others build back better, in ways that grow economies, create jobs, curb climate change and improve public health.
Part of Climate