Root causes are the underlying factors that create conditions for disasters to occur. If we think of a disaster as the tip of an iceberg, the visible part of a much larger structure that remains hidden under the water’s surface, root causes form the deeper structures that created conditions for the disaster to occur, and they are surprisingly similar for many seemingly unrelated events.
Root causes
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Gases released into the atmosphere by human activities contribute to increasing global warming and climate change
A lack of perception, awareness or preparation in governance relating to risk management and response
Pursuit of economic or developmental interests with a lack of consideration for impacts on the environment
Lack of coherent national/global governance, unregulated exploitation of low and middle-income countries, limited governmental capacity
Cases where maximizing profit is prioritized over other social concerns, increasing risk
Pressures related to increasing consumptive demands for goods, such as food, energy and industrial materials
Unequal distribution of economic opportunities and limited livelihood options
Expansion over an area for economic or strategic exploitation and control
