Five ways of strengthening resilience and warning systems

ISJ hears from Lorenzo Marchetti, Public Affairs Manager, Everbridge

In the face of the vulnerabilities to extreme climate events that we witness daily, strengthening resilience and early warning capabilities has become paramount.

We worked in partnership with Dr Maryam Rokhideh at University College London to produce a report analysing resilience policies and warning systems across three major markets – Japan, the EU and the US.

Our aim was to provide insights and action points for enhancing disaster preparedness and response.

The report outlines five key takeaway points to consider, highlighting the value that can be achieved when bringing together public-private partnerships with government and academic research.

1. Integration and harmonisation

One of the critical lessons highlighted is the need for greater integration and the harmonisation of resilience strategies and early warning systems across different levels of governance.

While national frameworks are essential, effective incident management requires seamless coordination between local, regional and national authorities.

The importance of unified, national approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR), is exemplified by Japan’s synergistic climate action and DRR policies.

The government has faced problems keeping pace with its environmental commitments, but the country’s largest cities are committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In the realm of DRR, Japan maintains a high profile both because of the high rate of natural hazards that occur in the country and in its efforts to bring DRR into the international conversation.

However, the country faces challenges posed by voluntary compliance models, suggesting the need for binding regulations to ensure consistent implementation.

In the EU, resilience policy generally falls into four groups: Infrastructure protection, system resilience, public warnings and civil protection.

The Civil Protection Mechanism demonstrates the value of cross-border coordination and information sharing and is a model for disaster risk reduction and disaster response mechanisms.

The EU is also at the forefront of environment and climate policies.

What is holding the EU back, however, is the difficulty of achieving full compliance and solidarity among Member States in implementing ambitious resilience goals.

The US, on the other hand, still has a lot of work to do to elevate its environment and climate policies in the face of damaging environmental change.

It also grapples with a patchwork of resilience policies due to the division between federal and state legislation and its ties to national security and the nation’s military apparatus.

Bridging this gap and fostering alignment between federal and state DRR approaches emerge as critical imperatives.

2. Knowledge sharing and collaboration

Effective resilience and early warning strategies necessitate the robust dissemination of insight and cooperation among governments, institutions and private entities.

In our research, we noted that Japan’s commitment to regularly updating its incident management approaches positions the country as a hub for cutting-edge DRR practices.

Similarly, the EU already has in place an effective means to facilitate data exchange and collaboration among Member States and participating nations.

This collective approach not only enhances regional resilience but also contributes to the global knowledge base.

In the US, while all states are required to create emergency plans, the fragmented nature of the country’s approach to resilience is holding back its ability to benefit from knowledge sharing.

Public-private partnerships and specialist organisations have a role to play in filling any preparedness and resilience gaps, leveraging their expertise and resources to complement government efforts.

3. Ensuring inclusive warning systems

In the report, we emphasise the criticality of warning systems that can reach all segments of the population, including those with disabilities, linguistic minorities and other vulnerable groups.

The United States’ Executive Order 13407, which mandates that emergency alerts be accessible to individuals with disabilities and those without English proficiency, exemplifies this principle.

Japan’s multilingual J-ALERT system, broadcasting emergency messages in Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean and Portuguese, demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and reaching diverse linguistic communities.

Inclusive warning systems not only save lives but also foster societal resilience by ensuring that no one is left behind during emergencies.

4. Leveraging technology and multi-channel dissemination

The report highlights the pivotal role of technology in enhancing early warning capabilities and disseminating critical information rapidly.

Japan’s J-ALERT system, which combines satellite broadcast, loudspeakers, television, radio and mobile alerts, showcases the power of multi-channel dissemination.

In the EU, the EU-Alert standard – which utilises cell broadcast technology – and the US’s Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) further exemplify the integration of modern communication technologies into early warning systems.

However, the report also underscores the challenges of balancing speed and accuracy in disseminating alerts, as evidenced by Japan’s efforts to refine its J-ALERT system in response to public feedback.

Continuous innovation and strategic deployment of emerging technologies will be crucial in enhancing the reach, timeliness and effectiveness of early warning systems.

5. Resilience action before it’s too late

Perhaps the most sobering takeaway from the report is the urgency for proactive resilience action before hazards strike.

The report emphasises the Japanese framework’s focus on prevention and swift recovery, ensuring mechanisms are in place to mitigate the cascading effects of incidents.

The EU’s emphasis on preventative measures within its DRR strategies and the US’s efforts to strengthen FEMA’s ability to respond at all levels demonstrates a recognition of this imperative.

Taking steps to safeguard lives and livelihoods

The biggest issue for all nations (and not just those in the report), is the increasingly difficult challenge faced by governments in meeting ambitious climate and DRR goals, to mitigate the damaging, often life-threatening impact of climate change.

This underscores the need for unwavering commitment and action.

Investing in resilience measures and early warning systems before hazards occur not only saves lives and minimises economic losses but also contributes to the long term sustainability and security of communities and nations.

As the global landscape continues to evolve, with the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative aiming to establish comprehensive early warning systems for every individual by 2027, strengthening resilience and warning capabilities must remain a top priority.

By embracing the takeaways from this report – integration, collaboration, inclusivity, technological innovation and proactive action – the international community can enhance its collective capacity to withstand and recover from hazards, safeguard lives, livelihoods and the future of our planet.

‘From Policy to Practice – Case studies in resilience and public warning’ can be found here.