Dfor three decades, scientists have been warning of an increase in disasters, amplified by ever more violent climatic events. The recent floods that devastated Valencia, Spain, with their share of lives lost and neighborhoods submerged under water, tragically confirm these predictions.
Each year sees its procession of human tragedies and material destruction, primarily affecting the most vulnerable. These events underline the urgency of appropriate responses to ever-increasing crises.
In such a context, where uncertainty sets in, a concept of “crisis” seems to replace that of “risk”. The crisis no longer appears as a simple manifestation of risk, which could be modeled and anticipated, but as a sometimes confusing phenomenon.
A priority: adapt
Without its sociopolitical and mathematical bases, the insurance system reaches its limits: protecting the most exposed populations becomes increasingly complex. For example, in some regions of the world, property insurance is becoming unaffordable in the face of the frequency of catastrophes.
In this context, adaptation becomes a priority to limit damage, while resilience is essential to strengthen communities in the face of repeated crises. It is no longer just a question of technique, but of social justice and equity in access to protection.
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However, this tense situation, accentuated by the strong emotion of the victims, sometimes leads to decisions that are difficult to maintain in the long term. Rather than immediate solutions, it becomes essential to adopt a holistic approach, which goes beyond superficial answers.
For example, the increase in additional premiums for natural disasters, announced in 2024, aims to stabilize a deficit that has existed for many years, but does not address the root causes. To prepare for challenges, it becomes essential to analyze these causes, in order to regain a real capacity for foresight and strengthen the system.
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When it comes to disasters, climate is just one factor among others. Populations and territories are not equal in the face of climate threat: vulnerability varies according to numerous geographic, demographic and political parameters. Inconsistencies in prevention, land use planning and resilience aggravate this disparity.
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