EARTH EX III 2019: Lessons learned from a global resilience exercise

A ‘black sky hazard’ is defined by the Electric Infrastructure Security Council (EIS Council) as “a catastrophic event that severely disrupts the normal functioning of our critical infrastructures in multiple regions for long durations”. How well prepared are we for such an event?

The impacts of a major loss of electricity supply would rapidly expand into water, communications, food supply, finance, and beyond. A simulated catastrophic scenario can be a powerful way to raise awareness and strengthen individual, organisational and societal resilience to be better prepared for such an event.

A key element of the activities dedicated to sharing learning across sectors, EARTH EX is a cross-sector tool promoting whole systems thinking, building knowledge of how to prepare for disruptions to energy supply and consequently increasing the resilience of all sectors to a black sky event.

This report summarises lessons learned from  the growing realisation that, in our modern interconnected world, coordinated resilience to extreme hazards must ultimately grow to span all nations, all sectors, and compassionate, concerned people everywhere. Our infrastructure is interconnected and interdependent. A major incident in one location can cascade rapidly and have an impact on critical infrastructure systems elsewhere, affecting their ability to function, to connect communities, provide essential services, or to protect society.

An unprecedented exercise tool was needed that could go far beyond any past attempt to build awareness of the need, while providing guidance to best practices in all sectors, everywhere.