As human society continues to develop, we have increased the risk of large-scale disasters. From health care to infrastructure to national security, systems designed to keep us safe have also heightened the potential for catastrophe. The constant pressure of climate change, geopolitical conflict, and our tendency to ignore what is hard to grasp exacerbates potential dangers. How can we prepare for and prevent the twenty-first-century disasters on the horizon?

In this podcast, RANE Founder David Lawrence sits down with Jeff Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and author of Rethinking Readiness: a Brief Guide to Twenty-First-Century Megadisasters.

Rethinking Readiness offers an expert introduction to human-made threats and vulnerabilities, with a focus on opportunities to reimagine how we approach disaster preparedness. Jeff Schlegelmilch identifies and explores the most critical threats facing the world today, detailing the dangers of pandemics, climate change, infrastructure collapse, cyberattacks, and nuclear conflict. Drawing on the latest research from leading experts, he provides an accessible overview of the causes and potential effects of these looming megadisasters and highlights the potential for building resilient, adaptable, and sustainable systems so that we can be better prepared to respond to and recover from future crises.

Join the millions of members who are tapping into the collective wisdom of the world's largest community of risk professionals at RANE. Every RANE member benefits from the contributions and insights of other members – this "network effect" is a powerful force multiplier to augment your internal resources and extend your personal contacts.

Bethany McIlrath

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