Keeping Up with the Megatrends – The Implications of Climate Change and Urbanization for Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response

This analytical report examines the effects of two “megatrends” – climate change and urbanization – on environmental emergencies. In particular, it considers how climate change and urbanization affect the scope and scale of emergencies, as well as what these trends mean for emergency preparedness and response. Challenges posed include overwhelming national and local-level emergency preparedness and depleting the capacity to prepare, respond, and rebuild. The report then highlights a few opportunities for addressing these challenges.