Outlook: Challenges for societal resilience under climate extremes

Abstract

Improving our understanding of the societal and ecological risks of extreme weather and climate events in the Earth system and appropriate structures and guidance to prepare for such events from a local community to intergovernmental level is crucial for future human well-being. In this chapter, (1) we review the embedding of risk related to climate extremes into the agenda of intergovernmental bodies and international agreements; (2) we subsequently discuss few case studies that illustrate how impacts emerge through interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, and society that may be direct or indirect, concurrent or lagged, leading to risk cascades among subsystems of the Earth system; and (3) we finally introduce a newly established “Knowledge-Action Network on Emergent Risks and Extreme Events.” Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of societal risk related to extreme events and appropriate planning and action for preparedness will emerge from consideration and integration of multiple hazards, system interaction, and dynamics, which will likely remain a scientific and societal challenge for years to come.