SDSN Index and City Preparedness

[Sean McAndrews]

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-sustainable-cities-most-likely-to...

 

http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058390,00.html

  

     Business Insider posted a list of the top ten cities that are most prepared for a disaster. They used data from the United Nations’ SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network) Sustainable Development Goals. These goals vary from level of poverty to crime to climate action. The factors are much more detailed and encompassing, however, I do not feel that the SDSN index accurately captures whether or not a city is prepared for a disaster.

     The top ten cities were San Jose, CA; Provo-Orem, UT; Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; Albany, NY; Boise, ID; Ventura, CA; Boston, MA; and Portland, OR. Many of the bottom-ranking cities were in either rust-belt cities or the deep south. These included Baton Rouge, Detroit, Cleveland. As I read over the SDSN Index, I couldn’t help but feel that this was a standard of living index rather than a disaster preparedness.

     There were 49 factors that went into the SDSN index. They range from gender equality, to climate-action, to gun violence. I have a difficult time seeing how all of these ensure that a city is most prepared for a disaster. Especially since the out of the 17 pillar goals, gender equality, reduced inequality, climate action, and responsible consumption are key goals. I am even more concerned that, though crime and homicide are measured, law enforcement is not one of the 49 factors measured by the index. I think this article can mislead people in believing their city is actually prepared for a disaster as well as giving credit where credit is not due. I think factors to include in an index can be learned from Japan’s approach to preparedness.

     Emily Rauhala from TIME authored an article about Japan being one of the most disaster-prone, yet disaster-ready nations in the world. Japan, being in the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, is constantly threatened by earthquake and tsunami. The article discusses how Japan has prepared itself for disasters on multiple levels. They have prepared their population, developed technology, created drills, and planned their cities in light of the threat of earthquake and tsunami. On a social level, they have prepared their population through “Disaster Prevention Day” which is an annual holiday—keeping millions informed and aware of the threats posed. They also have spent millions on developing technology that can detect seismic activity in both land and sea. Japan also frequently conducts drills in the workplace and school, so their population knows how to act in the event of a disaster. Finally, city planning has extensively focused on the threat of a disaster. Many coastal cities have built sea walls and plan accordingly for tsunamis. Japan also has extensive building codes so they are safe in the event of an earthquake throughout the country. Cities can learn from Japan by preparing for the threats that pose the greatest danger as well as prepare on multiple levels (i.e. city planning, drills, social awareness).