Root Causes of Built Environment Disasters in the Developed World

and Lessons for All Countries

Aris PapadopoulosRetired CEO, Titan America

Past Chair, UNISDR Private Sector Advisory GroupAuthor, Resilience – The Ultimate Sustainability

Founder, Resilience Action Fund

To understand Health study Disease

To understand Health study Disease

To understand Resiliencestudy Non-Resilience

Accept Responsibility

Hazards don’t cause Disasters

Non-Resilience causes Disasters

Accept Responsibility

Hazards don’t cause Disasters

Non-Resilience causes Disasters*

We create Non-Resilience

Therefore We cause Disasters

Why Built Environment?

1. We spend 95%+ of our time in or around it2. Front line of defense against hazards3. Humankind’s largest investment4. Investment in next 30-40 years will surpass all history

Why Built Environment?

1. We spend 95%+ of our time in or around it2. Front line of defense against hazards3. Humankind’s largest investment4. Investment in next 30-40 years will surpass all history

Why US?

5. 20% of world’s built environment6. #1 (worse) in disaster economic losses7. Loss trend line deteriorating

US Leads World in Disaster Losses(2000-2009)

1. US 353 billion US dollars2. China 2063. India 264. Pakistan 175. Ethiopia 96. Bangladesh 67. Vietnam 68. Philippines 39. Thailand 210. South Africa 1 Source: Global Humanitarian Assistance

US: One of the Most Hazard-ProneCountries in the World

One Chance!

One Chance!

Building twice is tremendous burden to

Economy and Environment

Build Back Better

Build Back Better

vs.

Build Better from Start

Build Back Better

vs.

Build Better from Start

Disaster Reaction

Resilient Pro-action

1. 80% is Residential/Small Commercial (RSC) but gets 20% of attention

2. 20% is Infrastructure/Large Commercial (ILC) but gets 80% of attention

3. Resilience bar is set high in ILC but low in RSC

4. We are missing the largest part of the B/E

80-20 Imbalance of Built Environment (B/E)

Many people will loose their lifetime home savings

Many Roads Lead to Non-Resilience

Only One Leads to Resilience

Drivers:

1. Regulatory2. Governance 3. Market

Built Environment ResilienceRegulatory Drivers

Built Environment Resilience Regulatory Drivers

Built Environment Resilience Governance Drivers

Built Environment Resilience Governance Drivers

Built Environment ResilienceMarket Drivers

Built Environment Resilience Market Drivers

1. Least land planning and building code development and enforcement

2. Misconception that resilience can be sacrificed for affordability

3. Public policies that encourage risk taking and prolong low awareness

4. Private interests that profit from status quo and oppose raising the bar

Why is Resilience low in Residential & Small Commercial?

1. Lowest first cost?

2. Lowest lifecycle cost?

3. Lowest lifecycle cost and risk of loss?

4. Lowest lifecycle cost/risk of loss to both individual and society?

What is Affordable?

Resilience Means Raising the Bar

www.buildingresilient.com