Remedial Steps for Force Majeure - Dealing with Natural Calamities

Innovation, creativity and technological know-how can contribute to the development, growth and prosperity of a nation and its citizens, but what happens when disaster strikes? Akash Gupta talks about the broader picture on preparation for natural calamities, disasters, and unforeseen events that can wipe out our accomplishments, creations, and developments.

- Akash Gupta

The planet Earth has experienced several destructive forces with varying intensities since its birth – meteoroid/asteroid hits, volcanic activity, earthquakes, ice ages, space radiation, and floods, to name a few – and still living beings have survived. Humans have figured out that with appropriate technology, we can predict (up to certain extent) and control these destructive forces, thereby sustaining and contributing to the survival of the living beings on this planet. Every year, natural disasters cause loss of life and property. According to the International Disaster Database, the frequency of these disasters has increased many folds in the last 50 years. Interfering with nature results in disrupted infrastructure and societal instability, for instance, climate-change has become a prominent and serious issue. Increase in global temperature (global warming) has resulted in increasing droughts, irregular rainfall patterns, melting of glacial ice, intensification of precipitation, and rise in the sea levels.

Technology plays an important role in predicting and planning, and thereby preventing and controlling natural disasters. Scientists are using a combination of techniques, principles and signs from the nature, to inform us about upcoming risks. Data for improved weather prediction, development of infrastructure (example, earthquakeresistant buildings), innovating newer and more effective vaccines – all of these contribute towards reducing calamities in the present times in a way that was not possible in the past. In 2015, at the United Nations (UN) World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 by 187 member states was facilitated by the UN. Through the framework, science and technology is projected to play a stronger role in practical risk reduction and would contribute support to the response and recovery needed after a disaster.