T&TEC HSE Week Presentation

04/14/2023 (c) H. Anderson. T&T Meteorological Service

Secure our Future: Reduce Existing and Emerging Risk

Capturing the relationship between our habits and the impacts on the environment,

weather, climate...

Two important aspects

1. Understanding the concept of ‘Risk’2. Examining humanity’s relationship

with the environment, specifically weather and climate

© H. Anderson. T&T Meteorological Service

(c) H. Anderson. T&T Meteorological Service

What are Hazards?Hazards are phenomena or events that pose

the possibility of loss of life, or damage to property and infrastructure.

Examples include:

Lightning strikes, flooding, strong gusty winds, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, civil unrest or political instability, terrorism, etc...


VulnerabilityBeing prone or susceptible to damage or

injury Active Volcano

City


RiskThe chance or possibility of loss or bad consequenceExposure to danger

For example:1. You’re house

is at risk of burning;

2. We are at risk of being flooded out.


DisasterA sudden or great misfortuneCalamity Complete failure


DisasterFor a Disaster to have occurred human life or

property must incurred some loss.Disasters require Vulnerable groupsThese Vulnerable groups are at some Risk

Vulnerable people/

propertyHigh Risk Disaster!


Disasters are a function of RiskAs Risk increases so does the potential for loss of lives or damage to property in any disaster.

Risk

Potential loss of

lives and property


Meteorological hazards common to Trinidad and TobagoHeavy/Intense RainfallExtended RainfallStrong/Gusty WindsLightning StrikesHurricanesTropical StormsStorm SurgesDangerous SeasLand ErosionRiverine Flooding

Flash FloodsLandslides/Land SlipsMudslidesFunnel Clouds/

WaterspoutsLow VisibilitySaharan DustSmoke/Bush and

Forest FiresAny more you can

think of?


How Meteorological Hazards Affect UsCan cause the loss of human livesLoss of propertyDamages infrastructure and communicationsHarms the economyCan cause social unrest/civil

disobedience/lawlessnessBreakdown of social bonds and structuresHealth problems, eg. Asthma, Pathogenic

Diseases such as Dengue Fever, Cholera, etc...

Huge rebuilding and recovery costs


Our Relationship with the Environment: Weather and ClimateVery complex and iterativeHumans depend on the environment for our

sustenance/survival – food, water, protection, livelihoods

However our use of the environment has direct impacts on the way the environment expresses itself: scenery, temperature, rainfall timing and receipts, sea level, and many more...


Climate ChangeClimate change is the change in our weather

patterns that are occurring because of an increase in the earth's average temperature

Otherwise known as Global Warming

It is said to be happening as a result of increasing Carbon Dioxide levels in the Atmosphere...

Carbon Dioxide that Humans have put there... ?


Is Climate Change Real? Is it our fault?


Potential Impacts of Climate ChangeIncreasing ambient temperaturesRising Sea-levels and TemperaturesChanging climate and weather patterns:

More intense rainfall events?Drier Dry Seasons?More Hurricane Activity?

Threats to Water Resources and Agriculture/Food Production


Still a Need to Minimise RiskUtilisatio

n of Natural

Resources

Pollution & Environmental Degradation

Climate Change

Changing

Weather Patterns

Diminished Resource Base

•As mentioned before humans and the environment have a dynamic relationship... •We depend on the environment for survival, and the environment responds to our actions


Minimising Risk Reducing Vulnerability

How to Minimise Vulnerability?Case Study: Trinidad 2010

Conditions:2010 Dry Season one of driest on

record (March 2010 driest on record)Northern Range was on fire for

extended periods due to indiscriminate lighting of fires – hunters, slash & burn agriculture, cigarettes

Clearing of hillsides and unplanned developments

Many questionable “approved” developments

Inadequate infrastructure



Results: During the Dry SeasonSmoke-filled atmosphereLoss of forests on Northern Range Loss of habitats and animal lifeHigh daytime and night-time temperatures due to

an enhanced greenhouse effect Onset of Asthma, Sinuses, and other breathing

difficulties



Results: During the Wet SeasonLoss of soil infiltration capacity through the loss of

vegetative coverHigh surface runoff and moderate/severe episodes

of flash floodingHigh levels of sedimentation in rivers, streams and

drains, resulting is widespread floodingDamage to property and infrastructureLoss of life (one)

Personal habits & their impact• Deteriorated visual quality, clogged drains• Flooding, loss of life and property, loss of

wildlife, lawlessness

Indiscriminate dumping of plastic bottles, Styrofoam

plates/cups, tyres, appliances

• Increased surface flow of water, floods, landslips• Loss of life and damage to property at site and

downstream, reduced resource base, damaged infrastructure

Lighting indiscriminate fires, clearing hillside

land, farming on steep slopes

• Reduces vegetative cover and increases surface flow, increasing possibility of flooding, landslips, loss of life and property, damaged infrastructure

• Poisons aquatic life, reduced drinking water quality

Building in the Hills without permission, uncontrolled use of

pesticides/herbicides, etc

• Uses more fuel/energy, produces greater amounts of Carbon Dioxide and other pollutants

• Enhances global warming, rising sea levels, habitat loss, “freak” weather risk increases, lives at risk

Leaving unnecessary lights on, running the a/c when not in the room, driving

unnecessarily, etc

What do we do?Manage our lands more effectively – proper

planning and enforcement of policies/regulations/legislation

Become more environmentally conscious – indiscriminate dumping of waste, proper disposal of solid and liquid waste

Protect our vital watersheds from fires and illegal use since they protect us from flooding

Reforest damaged hillsidesReassess and improve our infrastructure to

cope with observed changes© H. Anderson. T&T Meteorological Service


What do we do?Claim ownership of the environment. It is not

“they” or “the government” that owns it. YOU own it.

Assess your own vulnerability: Observe recent flood water levels; identify if you live in a flood plain; look out for tilted utility poles; check for clogged or inadequate drains

Become socially active: demand from your parliamentary representative that they remedy possible vulnerabilities

Don’t procrastinate


Remember...You depend on the environment for your

needs (water, clean air, food, etc.)The environment naturally has built in

mechanisms to deal with weather/climatic vagaries

It is our manipulation of the environment that puts us at risk, in addition to building our settlements in disaster-prone areas

A Disaster can be mitigated by reducing Risk and Vulnerability


Thank you!

Technology

T&TEC HSE Week Presentation