Co-Operation the Key to Meeting the Growing Extreme Weather Challenge to Public and Private Enterprise

As global warming continues apace, so does the evidence that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events – flood, drought, hurricanes – is also on the rise.

The consequences for business and society are profound - especially those areas most exposed to weather risks such as food production, water and energy supply and, of course, public health as diseases like malaria and dengue spread more widely.

According to Munich Re, of the total reported losses of USD3.8 trillion from disasters from 1980 to 2012, 74% were due to extreme weather. The World Bank says: “Annual total damages from disasters have been increasing for decades and models show that population growth and rapid urbanisation could put 1.3 billion people and USD158 trillion in assets at risk from river and coastal floods by 2050.”

The worst hit areas are expected to be in Asia, which is heavily exposed to weather extremes, in part due to a growing population, increasing urbanisation, and a shift to an energy intensive diet based increasingly on meat consumption.

Clearly, if we're to continue to prosper, then action is crucial. Firstly, to mitigate and manage the risks and impact of extreme weather and to develop better early warning systems, especially in such areas as agriculture, energy generation and supply, public health and transport. Secondly, to develop infrastructure – of the 'hard' type (roads, power grids, etc.) and the 'soft' sort (public services, business supply chains) – that is both more resilient to extreme weather and climate change, and more adaptable to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of weather extremes predicted in the coming years.

InterMET Asia-Extreme Weather Expo was established to bring together weather affected enterprises with providers of management and mitigation solutions, the so-called 'Global Weather Enterprise'. This Enterprise embraces the technology companies whose products acquire and process weather data; the public and private sector agencies which value add this data to create forecasting and climate services; international agencies like the World Bank which fund activities in developing countries, which are often the most exposed to weather extremes; and the planners and engineers who use weather data to design and implement resilient and adaptable solutions.

Since its launch in 2014, InterMET Asia has recognised that success in addressing the risks of extreme weather and climate change crucially depends on meaningful public-private sector engagement.

In Singapore from 21 - 23 March you will be able to participate in a 2-day expert led conference, technical workshops and presentations, a special symposium on weather risk led by the insurance community, and a special session bringing together the World Bank and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction & Recovery (GFDRR) with the public and private sectors. You can also attend an exhibition of many of the world's leading technology companies. To find out more, visit www.intermet.asia/ and to register for the conference, visit: www.ewex.asia/register

NOTE: Readers are offered a special 15% discount on the main conference fee - just enter AET as the Promotional Code on the registration page, www.ewex.asia/register