how do you write a disaster speech

Speech on A Natural Disaster

Natural disasters can turn our world upside down in a flash. They’re powerful events that happen when the Earth releases energy.

You might know about earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods. These are all types of natural disasters that can cause a lot of damage.

1-minute Speech on A Natural Disaster

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Natural disasters are powerful events that Mother Nature unleashes. They are like a storm that comes without a warning. Think about a hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake. These events can change our lives in an instant.

First, let’s talk about earthquakes. Imagine the ground under your feet shaking. Buildings sway, roads crack, and bridges fall. It’s scary, isn’t it? Earthquakes can cause a lot of damage. They can even lead to tsunamis, which are giant waves that can flood cities near the sea.

Now, let’s move to tornadoes. Picture a giant funnel of wind. It can pick up cars, houses, and even people. It moves fast and leaves destruction in its path. And then there are floods. Too much rain can cause rivers to overflow. This can wash away homes, crops, and roads.

In the end, we must remember, we share this world with nature. Sometimes, nature can be calm and beautiful. At other times, it can be wild and dangerous. But if we respect nature and prepare for its power, we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

2-minute Speech on A Natural Disaster

Good day, everyone! Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that affects us all – natural disasters. These are big, scary events that Mother Nature sometimes throws our way. They can be things like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or wildfires. They are powerful, and they can change our lives in an instant.

Let’s first talk about what a natural disaster is. Imagine you’re sitting in your house, and suddenly the ground starts shaking. Things are falling off shelves, and you’re scared. That’s an earthquake, a type of natural disaster. Or, picture heavy rain for days and days until the river near your house overflows and water comes into your home. That’s a flood, another type of natural disaster. There are many kinds, and they can happen anywhere in the world.

Why do they happen? It’s all because of how our earth works. The earth is like a big machine with many parts. Sometimes, these parts move or change, and that can cause a natural disaster. For example, the earth’s crust is made of big pieces called plates. When these plates move, they can cause earthquakes. Or, when it gets very hot and dry, wildfires can start.

Even though natural disasters can be scary, it’s important to remember that people are very good at helping each other during these times. When a natural disaster happens, people from all over come to help. They bring food, water, and medicine. They help rebuild homes and schools. They show us that even in the worst times, we can find hope and kindness.

In conclusion, natural disasters are big events that can happen because of how our earth works. They can be scary, but we can prepare for them. And when they happen, we can help each other. So, let’s learn about natural disasters, make plans to stay safe, and always be ready to help each other. Remember, we are stronger together, and together, we can face any challenge that comes our way.

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Philippines: Speech for Disaster Risk and Crisis Management Forum

Mara K. Warwick, World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand Disaster Risk and Crisis Management Forum Fuller Hall, Asian Institute of Management, Makati City, Philippines

As Prepared for Delivery

Dr. Jikyeong Kang, President & Dean, Asian Institute of Management

Senator Loren Legarda of the Philippine Senate

Amy Leung, Director-General, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank

Vinod Thomas, Special Adviser to AIM, and former Senior Vice President of the World Bank

Members of the Knowledge for Development Community

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning.

It’s an honor for me to open this international conference on climate change and disaster risk management. It is impressive to see such large participation in this conference from leaders and representatives from the private sector, civil society, development partners, the government, and other sectoral groups.  Your presence here today clearly shows the ever-increasing attention of the global community on these very important issues.

Climate change is an acute threat to global development and our collective efforts to end poverty and boost shared prosperity. Communities around the world are being devastated by droughts, floods, more intense and unpredictable storms, and sea-level rise.  And as we know, when disasters strike, it is always the poor who are most vulnerable and suffer the most.  Without urgent action, the impact of climate change could push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030.

The Philippines ranks high on most global indices for vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. Over the long term, losses due to earthquakes, tropical cyclones and floods are estimated to be PHP206 billion or 1.8% of GDP in direct losses and PHP42.2 billion or 3.6% of total government expenditure in emergency losses per year.

Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, is still fresh in our minds. It took more than 6,000 lives, displaced many more, devastated livelihood and properties, and pushed more than 2 million people below the poverty line.

The long - term vision of Filipinos for the future of the Philippines, embodied in Ambisyon 2040, is for “a high-trust society where families thrive in vibrant, culturally diverse, and resilient communities.” Typhoon Yolanda continues to remind all Filipinos of the important task ahead to build the resilience of Philippine society and protect the country and its people from future disasters. 

The government is working hard in a proactive and responsive manner to achieve this vision. Its enactment of a comprehensive set of policies, programs and institutions for dealing with climate change and improving resiliency to natural disasters is commendable, and contributes to global efforts.

As early as 2009, the passage of the Climate Change Act creating the Climate Change Commission to lead the development of policies and coordinate government programs on climate change, is noteworthy.

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (DRRM) Act of 2010 is also critical, as it has played an important role in shifting the country’s focus from disaster response to more proactive disaster risk reduction and preparedness, also enhancing the convergence between adaptation and disaster risk reduction actions.

Moreover, the DRRM Act laid the legal foundation in the Philippines for a strong reform agenda to strengthen the institutional capacity for climate adaptation and disaster risk management of national and local governments, and to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in planning and investment prioritization at all levels of government.

The Philippines has also been a global leader in developing innovative financial solutions to mitigate the financial impacts of extreme climate and weather related events, as well as major earthquakes.  For example, just 5 months ago, the Philippines with support from the World Bank, launched a new catastrophe risk insurance program to help the country better respond to losses from climate and disaster risks.  This innovative insurance program, the first of its kind in East Asia, provides coverage for national government assets, and those of participating provinces, against losses from major typhoons and earthquakes.

But beyond planning and financing, there is also a strong recognition in the Philippines that much needs to be done on the ground to help Filipino citizens, especially the poor, adapt to the effects of climate change. On this front, the government is rolling up its sleeves and taking action. One important activity worth highlighting is the implementation of the flood management master plan for Metro Manila and surrounding cities.  The first stage in the implementation of this master plan - the Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 – will begin early  in 2018 with support from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

In recent years the Philippines has also played a significant role within the global community, through the COP21 in Paris and subsequent Senate ratification this year of the Philippines’ commitment, and as an active participant and leader in the V20 – the Vulnerable 20 Group of Ministers of Finance.

A common thread through all of these accomplishments in the Philippines so far is convergence.  Climate change is a complex problem. Actions, whether they be policy or project implementation, require the convergence of efforts from many stakeholders.  Only through joint efforts, will the Filipino vision of a resilient society be realized.

I am proud to say that the World Bank Group, together with other development partners, has been supporting the Philippines in its efforts to increase resiliency to disasters and climate change. Reducing vulnerability, especially of the poor, to global challenges such as climate change is an important priority for the World Bank Group across the world including here in the Philippines.

I’d like to thank the Asian Institute of Management, a member of the Knowledge for Development Community of the World Bank Office in Manila, for co-organizing this event. I hope today’s conference will deepen our discussion and our understanding, strengthen our resolve, and promote greater collaboration toward a more resilient and prosperous Philippines.

Once again, thank you very much.

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• Speech on Disaster Management

Disaster is a severe climate and ecosystem destruction that not only destroys the beauty and natural vegetation of a region but also takes many people's lives. It can be either man-made or natural. Natural disasters include earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones, landslides, etc., while climate change, deforestation, smuggling and hunting, a war involving nuclear weapons, pollution are human-made disasters.

Long Speech on Disaster Management

Greeting everyone. Today, I am here to deliver a Speech on Disaster Management. Today, disaster is a widespread phenomenon that affects human society. Disasters can either be natural or man-made (like terrorism). People of different ages have witnessed the same issue. Since the nature of natural calamities differs, it is a great challenge for society. The number of disasters is rising very quickly and steadily, according to the latest World Disaster Reports.

People are becoming more vulnerable to disasters of all sorts, such as forest fires, earthquakes, droughts, floods, collisions, cyclones, landslides, plane crashes, etc. The effect of catastrophes has also changed with the progress of technology. It crosses all the curiosity and preparedness of the group that investigates the people when a catastrophe happens. In the case of developing and developed countries, this is true. The lives of many people have so far been swept away by worldwide earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, cyclones, etc.

It is critical for disaster management to deal with the dangers that occur before, during and after the disaster. The control of disasters is like taking medication to cure a disease. Epidemic diseases or industrial accidents, such as the Bhopal gas tragedy or the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, both of which are extremely dangerous to human life, can be termed as disasters. 

The Government of India also provides a separate fund called 'India's Contingent Fund' for disaster management in India. Not only does the disaster cause people to be materially injured, but it also provides people with emotional distress.

We have to monitor our needs in life to control these tragedies due to natural calamities. Due to our endless wants or the so-called needs we cut trees, we use gas, diesel etc. that cause environmental destruction. Deforestation is one of the major causes of drought, soil erosion, earthquakes, etc. and we have to plant more trees to avoid such disasters. The intensive use of fuels such as gasoline, petrol, etc. has increased the amount of CO 2 in the air and, as a result, the temperature rises, the glaciers melt. 

Cooperating with the Civil Disaster Management Team and managing your emotions is crucial.  More often, individuals feel ignored by the Government and don't respond to the Disaster Management Team. The team, however, is helping to provide the victims with relief measures. Food, medications, relief camps, clothes and other important items are organized. If they get support from the people, then since they operate without stopping in such circumstances, they can raise their morale.

It is essential to know that the only difference is that they are qualified to support us. They are similarly impacted by the tragedy, so we must show patience and respect for their efforts.

Short Speech on Disaster Management

Today, I am here to deliver a Speech on Disaster Management. We must consider the causes of the occurrence of natural disasters before beginning with preventive steps. There are countless explanations for the development of natural disasters on a regular basis, many of which are directly or indirectly connected to our lifestyle. The key cause of natural disasters is our approach to achieving optimum comfort. We want to make our lives more flexible or looser, so we use unnecessary energy, food, water, which produces an ecological imbalance on earth that causes natural disasters. 

I hope the term "deforestation" is understood by all, which means cutting trees. Few trees on earth mean less oxygen and more carbon dioxide. Owing to the heavy presence of carbon dioxide, the melting of ice, rising temperatures, respiratory issues, etc., the ozone layer is depleted. The climate situation on Earth is experiencing a major change. The period of summer is rising and winter is decreasing. All of these shifts take you straight to extreme natural disasters, such as drought, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, tornadoes, soil erosion, etc.

We have to take certain proactive steps to monitor it before the situation worsens. The steps that we should take are entirely connected to our lifestyle. We have to come out of our zone of comfort. To compensate for the losses due to the harvest of deforestation and plant trees wherever possible, we should begin planting plants in our homes. Rising oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would help. As much as possible, we should decrease the use of water and electricity. It would be very beneficial to minimize food waste, as there will be less food consumption during the dry season.

I hope everyone present here will help in spreading awareness regarding the same.

10 Lines for Speech on Disaster Management in India

The management of resources and duties to reduce the effects of disasters is disaster management.

A natural disaster is a natural process or incident that, apart from the loss of property, can lead to the loss of life, injury or other health effects.

Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, flooding, blizzards, tsunamis and cyclones are some examples of natural disasters.

To come up with a deliberate plan and response to mitigate the widespread damage caused by the floods and other disasters, more sustained efforts are required.

They cause both humans and livestock to lose their lives.

India is a highly disaster-prone nation due to its geographical position and geological formations.

There have been many catastrophes in India, including floods, earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, landslides, etc.

Many forums, funds and organizations in India are focusing on mitigating the impacts of disasters.

Some of them include the National Disaster Management Authority, the National Remote Sensing Center, the Indian Medical Research Council, and the Central Water Board.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been formed in India to coordinate responses across the country to natural or man-made disasters.

Types of Disasters :

There are various forms of disasters with which we must fight. they are listed below..

Natural Disasters:

Natural disasters are naturally occurring physical phenomena that are caused by either rapid or slow onset events and have immediate effects on human health as well as secondary effects that result in additional death and suffering. These disasters can be

Geophysical: Examples of geophysical disasters are Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis, and Volcanic Activity.

Hydrological: Examples of Hydrological Disasters are Avalanches and Floods.

Climatological: Examples of Climatological Disasters are  Extreme Temperatures, Drought, and Wildfires.

Meteorological: Examples of Meteorological Disasters are Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges.

Biological: Examples of Biological Disasters are Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues.

Man-Made Disasters

Man-Made Disasters are disasters that occur in or near human habitation, as a result of environmental or technological disasters. This can include things like :

Environmental Degradation

Complex Emergencies

Multiple hazards, or a complex combination of both natural and man-made factors, such as a breakdown of authority, looting, and attacks on critical installations, including conflict situations and war, can produce disasters. Among them are :

Food Insecurity

Armed Conflicts

Displaced Populations

Pandemic emergencies:

A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious illness that spreads across a large geographic region and has a high prevalence, affecting a large proportion of the world's population over several months. 

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Dengue Fever

Yellow fever

FAQs on Speech on Disaster Management

1. What is disaster management ?

Disasters are severe disruptions to a community's functioning that surpass the community's ability to cope using its own resources. Natural, man-made, and technical risks, as well as various elements that influence a community's exposure and vulnerability, can all contribute to disasters.

2. What are the hazards?

Natural hazards are physical occurrences that occur in nature. They might be anything from:

Geophysical: A geophysical hazard is one that arises from the solid earth (such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity)

Hydrological: resulting from the existence, transport, and distribution of water on the surface of the earth (such as floods and avalanches)

Climatological: having to do with the weather (such as droughts and wildfires)

Biological: Exposure to live organisms and their poisonous compounds or diseases they may transmit (such as disease outbreaks and insect/animal plagues) causes biological effects.

Human-induced and technical hazards are incidents that occur in or near human settlements and are caused by humans. Complex emergencies, conflicts, industrial accidents, transportation accidents, environmental degradation, and pollution are all examples.

3. Define disaster management?

Disasters come in a number of different forms. Human-caused disasters include industrial explosions and structural breakdowns, which are caused by human mistake. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and droughts, are caused by physical processes. Epidemics and armed conflicts are examples of complicated disasters.

Disasters, in any form, disrupt communities and can have major consequences for people, property, businesses, and the environment. They frequently put a community's ability to cope to the limit.

The practice of efficiently preparing for and responding to calamities is known as disaster management. It involves strategically allocating resources to reduce the damage caused by calamities. It also involves a systematic strategy to handle catastrophe prevention, readiness, response, and recovery duties.

4. What is disaster relief?

Disaster relief addresses disaster-affected populations' immediate and short-term needs. Evacuations, search and rescue missions, and emergency medical aid are all examples.

The following are some examples of disaster relief:

Providing a safe place to sleep, food, and emotional support from skilled workers by establishing temporary shelters.

Providing food and water

Emergency supplies and essentials, including toiletries for hygiene and tarps, shovels, and garbage bags for cleanup tasks, are being distributed.

Providing emergency health services, such as injury first aid and prescription medication substitutions.

5. Where can I find similar speeches on topics like disaster management?

Vedantu has speeches and other materials regarding many topics. All the content is prepared by professionals who have researched a lot to put together this content. Apart from speeches, Vedantu has study material for all classes from class 1-12 and even many competitive exams. Materials include notes, important topics and questions, revision notes etc. All these materials are freely available on Vedantu. To access all these  contents students need to just sign up on Vedantu's website. Vedantu also has its app so you can register there as well.

Speech on Disaster Management in Simple and Easy Words

Table of Contents

Disaster Management has received great importance in recent times. Disaster management is required to handle the natural calamity and disasters efficiently. Disaster management in some cases may not avert or avoid the situation, but it can certainly minimize the impacts. The indirect or direct effects of disasters, whether natural, man-made, industrialized or technological, are always destruction, damage, and death. Disasters may cause major hazard and loss of life of both animals and human beings including properties too.

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Most of the organizations, institutions, schools and colleges adopt disaster management skills within their premises. You may be required to deliver speech on disaster management at any occasion. Our sample disaster management speech may help you prepare yourself for any event. The short speech on disaster management shared here are useful at school and college levels. The language is pretty simple and informative. Our sample long speech on disaster management can be used at organizational level and at any occasion.

Long and Short Disaster Management Speech in English

Speech on disaster management – sample 1.

Respected Principal, Teachers and Dear Students!

Today is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction and we have gathered here to discuss the disaster management. I am extremely obliged to be given this opportunity to host the program and share some important points about disaster management.

Disaster can be of any type either man-made or natural. Due to the global warming and various changes in the environment, the natural disaster such as tsunami, earthquake, hurricane, flood, etc have become more frequent across the world. Though disaster management is a branch of study which helps people in managing the disaster it is important that each one of us is equally equipped with some common senses to be applied in the event of a disaster. Disaster management gives confidence to people and makes the communities stronger when a disaster strikes. A disaster could be natural or man-made. Disaster management is an authority which has ideally been developed to help society and communities. It helps people in knowing the complete process of man-made or natural disasters, the process of dealing with such disasters and their consequences.

It is mostly been observed that children and women are more vulnerable to disasters and hence, I am sharing some of the importance of disaster management through my speech today:

The teams of Disaster management can help to avoid a disaster before it takes place. The team may inspect the probable reasons of disaster and may adopt appropriate steps to stop or avoid a disaster. For example, the natural disaster such as forest fires, or man-made disaster such as terrorist attacks can be avoided through efficient planning and preventive action.

It is important that the people do not panic and act wisely in the event of any disaster. Proper preventive measures must be taken by each individual and children must also act wisely to give emotional support to their respective parents. Disaster management employees have the training to carry out rescue operations efficiently. Trained professionals may rescue people successfully during building collapses, floods or major fires, etc.

It is important that the civilians co-operate with the disaster management team and control their emotions. More often, people feel neglected by the authority and react to the disaster management team. However, the team helps in providing relief measures to the sufferers. They arrange for the food, medicines, relief camps, clothing, and other necessary items. If they get co-operation from the people, it will boost their morale because they work non-stop in such situations.

Disaster management team also works in association with the local authority and carries out rehabilitation process in the affected areas. Construction of homes, schools and other infrastructure are some of the examples of rehabilitation processes.

It is important to remember that they are equally affected by the disaster, the only difference being they are trained to provide assistance to us, thus, it is our responsibility to show patience and appreciate their work. The Disaster management team may also help to minimize the tension and trauma before and after any type of disaster. If a disaster is suspected, the team can properly guide the people to handle the disaster such as floods, earthquakes, etc. Even post-disaster, the team can provide material assistance and financial support, which automatically helps people in overcoming the traumatic effect of the disaster.

I hope, this was an informative speech for you all and in the end I would just say that always use your common sense and do not panic because hastiness causes major harm than anything else.

Speech on Disaster Management -Sample 2

Hello Everyone!

First of all, I would like to thank you all for making to this event. Our NGO provides assistance and rehabilitation services during the time of any natural calamity or disaster. We have organized this program as we feel the need of preparing every individual to fight against disaster which is commonly known as disaster management.

Disaster is a widespread phenomenon today affecting the human society majorly. Disaster can be either man-made (such as terrorism) or natural. The same has been experienced by people since ages. Though the form of natural disaster varies, it has been a very big challenge for society irrespective of caste, creed, culture, country, etc. According to the latest World Disaster Reports, the numbers of disaster are increasing the very frequency and intensely.

People are becoming more susceptible to all types of disasters such as forests fire, earthquake, droughts, flood, accidents, cyclones, landslides, plane crash, etc. With the advancement in the technology, the impact of disasters has also changed. When a disaster occurs, it surpasses all the eagerness and preparedness of the society posing the bigger test to people. This is true in case of developing as well as developed countries. The floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, cyclones, etc occurred worldwide have claimed several lives so far.

Disaster management is important for tackling the hazards that occur before, during and after the disaster. Disaster management is like consuming medicine for curing a disease. Disaster can also be epidemic diseases or industrial failures such as Bhopal gas tragedy or the disaster of Fukushima nuclear power plant, etc. All these are highly dangerous to human life.

Thus, our team helps people in managing the disaster in both situations: precautionary measures before the calamity and the aftermath management. We also receive the donation from the local authority and several industrialists for this noble cause.

The government of India also maintains a separate fund known as ‘contingency fund of India’ to manage disasters in India. Disaster not only causes materialistic harms to people, it also causes emotional trauma to people. Our team also helps people in overcoming the emotional weakness and face the calamity with more confidence.

During a disaster, we also appeal to common people to extend all types of help such as physical, emotional and financial. We train common people to provide assistance to their friends, family members, and neighbors.

In the event of a disaster, proper preparations are necessary for managing the situation. Appropriate mechanisms help to minimize the effect if not wipe the effect out completely. Foreseeing the probability of some types of disasters can help in reducing the vulnerability of the people and the society to such an event. Our teams help in rehabilitation and disaster management and help in minimizing the loss of lives and properties. This is because we have trained our professionals who not only provide physical and materialistic assistance but also help in the emotional rehabilitation of people. Our team takes pre-emptive actions to ward off a disaster. We have trained our team on disaster management and thus the trained professionals can help to preserve and protect the environment.

Though disaster may leave you bewildered by controlling your emotions and acting wisely you may reduce the effect. Through this platform, we appeal to everyone to be cautious and alert and help each other in the event of any natural calamity or disaster.

Natural Disaster Natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and more are terrible events. The effects of these disasters are awful and happen quickly. Many people will face a lot of difficulties, and it takes a long time to recover after a natural disaster.

Speech on Disaster Management – Sample 3

Good Morning Hon’ble Principal Ma’am, Hon’ble Teachers and My Dear Friends!

Today we all are gathered here for an important assembly that has been called out on a very serious note. As we know that the place where we live is very prone to natural disasters and thus it is the duty of the educational institutions to make the youth aware of such problem which could help in circulating information across the place. The area we are living in had faced many natural disasters like flood, earthquake etc and due to lack of knowledge and awareness in the people there was a huge loss of lives and commodities. Nobody wants to go through the painful situation again and again and thus we have to be prepared and should take certain preventive measures.

Before starting with the preventive measures, we should understand the reasons behind the occurring of natural disasters. There are infinite reasons for increasing of the natural disasters time to time and all of them are directly or indirectly related to our lifestyle. Our behavior of getting more and more comfort is the main reason of natural disasters. We want our life to be more flexible or relaxed and thus we use excessive electricity, fuels, water etc which leads to ecological imbalance on earth resulting in natural disasters. I hope everybody is aware of the term “deforestation” which means cutting down trees. Less trees means less oxygen and more carbon-dioxide on earth. Excessive presence of carbon-dioxide is resulting in depletion of ozone layer, melting of glaciers, increasing temperature, increasing respiratory problems etc. There is a huge change in climatic condition on earth. The duration of summer is increasing and winter is decreasing. All these change are directly leading towards excessive natural disasters like droughts, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, tornados, soil erosion etc.

To control the situation before it get way worse, we have to take some preventive measures. The measures that we should take are totally related with our lifestyle. We have to come out of our comfort zone. We have to start keeping plants in our homes and plant trees on the places wherever possible to compensate the loss caused by the practice of deforestation. It will help in increasing oxygen and reducing carbon-dioxide in atmosphere. We should reduce the use of water and electricity as much as possible. Less wastage of food would be very helpful as there will be less scarcity of food during droughts etc. By reducing the use of fuels like petrol, diesel etc through car pooling will help in reducing carbon dioxide in atmosphere. There are many other ways to control ecological imbalance and we just have to think about it.

On this note, I would like to enclose my words and extend special thanks to our hon’ble principal ma’am for organizing this event as a measure to prevent disasters or losses and to all the students for cooperating in this assembly and making it successful. I hope that everyone standing here will remember the information given and will help in spreading awareness among other citizens so that the rising of the biggest problem can be tackled and finished.

Thank you and I wish you all a great day ahead!

Speech on Disaster Management -Sample 4

A Very Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen!

As we know that this is a very special day for us as our whole society is going to eco-adventure camp. This camp has been specially organized for giving opportunity to the people to gain experience of living in nature without technology. As an instructor in this camp, it is my responsibility to teach you about the activities that we all are going to do in this camp. The reason behind this camping is to make people aware of environmental problems and natural disasters.

As we all are cognizant to environmental problems that are the cause of our selfishness. As this camp has a motive to train people in tackling natural disasters and thus it is very useful for all of us. Natural disasters are increasing rapidly and people need to get aware of safety measures. Before understanding about the safety measures, we have to understand the cause of natural disasters. There are so many reasons behind the happening of such disasters like- excessive use of fuels like petrol, wasting and polluting water, heavy usage of electricity etc. We should understand that these disasters are the cause of human’s unstoppable increasing needs and these needs are taking us to the end of the earth if not stopped.

There are many places that are highly affected by natural disasters. One of the biggest tragedies was of Uttrakhand. The flood came in Uttrakhand had ruined the whole place and resulted in scarcity of food, shelter and a huge loss of lives. The flood was the reaction of environmental degradation. There are many such cases where huge tragedies have happened before and if not controlled then it could happen in future also. Earthquake seem to be the most common among various disaster followed by floods, droughts etc. Among all the disasters, drought is the most dreadful and deadliest. Drought causes scarcity of water and scarcity of food. Two of the most important essentials of survival on the earth are water and food. Without these two, survival is impossible.

To control these tragedies caused by natural disasters, we have to control our needs in life. We cut trees because of our need, we use petrol, diesel etc because of our needs and there are infinite desires or so called needs of us that leads to environmental degradation. Deforestation is one of the main reasons for droughts, soil erosions, earthquakes etc and to prevent such disasters, we have to plant more and more trees as possible. Excessive use of fuels such as diesel, petrol, etc have caused increase in amount of CO2 in air and hence is causing melting of glaciers due to increasing temperature.

This is the high time where we have to move ahead for taking actions against disasters by understanding our responsibility towards mother earth.

On this note, I would like to enclose my speech and extend special thanks to all the crew members and organizers for such a great support and to all of you for joining us in this camp and helping it to be successful.

Speech on Disaster Management FAQs

What is disaster management short speech.

Disaster management is about preparing for and responding to emergencies like floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes to save lives and property.

In class 9, disaster management covers planning, relief, and recovery measures to handle different kinds of disasters effectively.

What is disaster management class 9 in detail?

To start a natural disaster speech, begin with an attention-grabbing introduction, state the topic, and highlight its importance.

How do you start a natural disaster speech?

A very short note on a natural disaster is a brief description of a sudden, catastrophic event like floods, wildfires, or tornadoes.

What is natural disaster 10 points?

Ten key points about natural disasters include their unpredictability, destruction, impact on communities, need for preparedness, and the role of emergency services.

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FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Delivers Speech at National Hurricane Conference

WASHINGTON -- Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell delivered a speech on hurricane and disaster preparedness at the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans. Other speakers were Ken Graham, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami;  James Waskom, Director, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Baton Rouge, La.;  and Kevin Guthrie, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Tallahassee, Fla.

Below is the administrator’s speech as prepared for delivery.

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here – in person – with all of you today.

I am so proud of this community because you embody the resilience this nation demonstrated during the last 18 months. We all know how difficult the last year and a half has been for everyone as we carried out our “normal” responsibilities AND simultaneously navigated the pandemic.

All of us have personal stories of how this pandemic affected our families, our friends, and our communities.

However, I have also seen this pandemic bring out the best in our communities; people adapting to new technologies to stay in contact with one another, and helping their family, friends, and neighbors through a situation none of us could have envisioned a year ago.

That spirit of community, of partnership, and caring for each other are going to be critical as we enter what is slated to be an extremely active hurricane season. It’s critical that the entire emergency management family – federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial - take the lessons we have learned and the innovative ways of delivering our mission during COVID and apply them moving forward.

This professional community of emergency managers is more than just people who help our neighbors during disasters. For many of us here today, our involvement in emergency services goes beyond the title. It represents a calling.

This dedication to our shared calling is an attribute our communities will continue to count on when they need support.

During my Senate confirmation hearing, I shared a goal to elevate and professionalize the field of emergency management by better defining what it means to be an emergency manager and building career paths for the nation's emergency management workforce.

As a firefighter in Colorado, the Commissioner of emergency management in New York City, a member of the Air National Guard, and through my previous work at FEMA, I recognize the diverse skill set necessary to be successful in our profession.

We are perpetual students of our craft, continually learning to be ready for and adapting to new missions.  We demonstrate the value of teamwork, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.  We are civic leaders who remember our past while planning for the future.

Emergency managers and first responders are the foundations of the communities we serve because we value the people in them. During disasters, the people who are impacted are not just survivors; they are our colleagues, our friends, our neighbors, and our families.

While we think through how to better serve our communities, we must also acknowledge where we have opportunities to improve.

We are at a pivotal point where we, as the emergency management community, have the opportunity to address two key priorities: climate change and equity.

In 2020, our nation not only endured one of the most active hurricane seasons in its history – but called on us to perform our duties amid a global pandemic.

We are now getting accustomed to a ‘new normal’ while the world continues to change before our eyes. Many of these challenges are exacerbated because of climate change. Weather patterns are telling us that the 2021 hurricane and wildfire seasons could be busy again. Now is the time to have honest and real conversations about what we can do together to achieve a more resilient and prepared nation.

As FEMA Administrator, I am committed to furthering FEMA’s role in addressing the effects of changing climate.   

To accelerate this process, our resilience and mitigation efforts must be focused at the community and household level. With that in mind, I am excited to highlight two of our newest initiatives for building community resilience through hazard mitigation.

First, I’m pleased to announce a new mitigation funding program to help homeowners. Under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), homeowners in areas covered by Presidential Disaster Declarations may now repair their homes in ways that will reduce the likelihood of future disaster damage.

These measures – which include enhanced roof repairs and elevating or relocating water heaters, furnaces and electrical panels -- will allow homeowners to recovery and make their homes more resilient to severe weather events, reducing disaster suffering and the likelihood future federal assistance will be needed.

Second, I am also excited that President Biden announced $1 billion in support of our Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for pre-disaster hazard mitigation projects. This is double the amount of funding provided last year and a portion of these funds are targeted to historically underserved communities.

• I’m thrilled the BRIC program will begin to shift the federal focus from reactive disaster mitigation spending towards a proactive investment in system-wide community mitigation so when the next hurricane, flood, or wildfire comes, communities can better withstand the impacts.

We must also build a culture that understands resilience is a critical part of our day-to-day lives. Together, we can make this a reality by focusing on continuous improvement while striving toward local and national mitigation and preparedness goals.

For example, flooding is the most common and costly type of disaster in the United States. In fact, flooding and coastal storms account for roughly 70 percent of all Presidential Disaster Declarations over the past decade. Where it rains, it floods.

Knowing the true flood risk of a property is critical for homeowners to secure adequate insurance coverage, FEMA has made several improvements to transform the National Flood Insurance Program by reducing complexity and increasing transparency. These changes include a new pricing methodology for a more equitable program called Risk Rating 2.0 - Equity in Action.  

The current rating methodology, while actuarially sound, has not changed since the 1970s. Since then, technology has evolved and so has FEMA’s understanding of flood risk.

Risk Rating 2.0 allows FEMA to provide individuals and communities with information to make more informed decisions on purchasing flood insurance and taking mitigation actions that may help lower rates. This may include elevating a structure on piles, installing flood openings, or moving machinery and equipment such as HVAC units above the first floor.

Risk Rating 2.0 will allow FEMA to distribute premiums more equitably across all policyholders based on the replacement cost vale and individual property’s flood risk.

It is impossible to do the work that FEMA does without our partners – federal agencies; the state, local, tribal and territorial partners; and others in the nonprofit and private sectors.

From the smallest rural volunteer fire department to emergency management agencies in our nation’s urban centers, this system of support strengthens our preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.  

You know your communities best because these are places you call home.

Our ability to partner across the emergency management system helps us do our jobs better and makes our response more effective. 

However, we must also admit where we have more work to do. We cannot be shy about asking the equity question.  It is a fact that disasters exacerbate pre-existing inequities that already existed before these events occur.

The question we have to ask ourselves is what we can do to provide all survivors, not just those who have the means, access to assistance.

Sometimes this inequity happens because certain communities don’t receive as much post-disaster aid. Sometimes it’s because these groups are in areas that are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Sometimes these groups have limited access to recovery programs or resources to help them get the assistance they seek.

In order to start addressing these systemic barriers, we are asking for your help. Through the end of July, we have a Request for Information on the FEMA dot gov webpage aimed at collecting your ideas for how to tackle this issue.

We also have to acknowledge our own limitations in this effort. FEMA’s assistance is not designed to solve societal inequities; however, we have an obligation as both stewards of taxpayer dollars, and to our mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters, of making sure that we focus on our historically disadvantaged and underserved communities.

A truly resilient nation can only exist when all communities reap the benefits of the help our emergency management system can provide.

For me, equity is not only about what we do for others, it’s also about the workforce I lead each and every day.

As we execute on our mission, we must also ensure equity across all FEMA operations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not optional for us, they must be a core component of how we conduct ourselves.

One of the greatest FEMA strengths is our diverse workforce. We understand that to help individuals, we need to create an environment that is welcoming and takes our values beyond abstract concepts.

Just as diversity in our communities strengthens the fabric of our country, diversity in our workforce strengthens our agency. And as we want to hear from the nation through the RFI, we also want to make sure every FEMA employee has a voice and an opportunity to be heard.

We do this through a robust set of Federal Employee Resource Groups which allow staff from across the agency to take part in meaningful discussions and hear about the varied experiences and cultures we have at FEMA. For example:

• With our LGBTQI+ Employee Resource Group, I was pleased to be able to take part in this first ever ceremony to display the rainbow flag in FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center to mark the start of Pride Month.
• Our African American Employee Resource Group hosted listening sessions and discussions on the tragic death of George Floyd and the subsequent civil rights demonstrations. On Monday, the agency held a virtual Juneteenth event to help celebrate this important anniversary and African American heritage.
• These resource groups are not only for celebration purposes. In fact, following the tragic shooting and murder of Asian women in Georgia, our Asian American Employee Resource Group hosted listening sessions and discussions, which gave our staff a safe space to discuss their feelings and get support.

Equity is not just a lens for us internally at FEMA; we hope that you will embrace this challenge in your communities as well.

Another key priority is readiness. We know that preparedness is the cornerstone for a resilient community.

And within our communities, it’s also important to remember that preparedness starts at the individual level.

As everyone in this room is aware, there are simple guidelines all of us should follow to ensure our safety and the safety of our family, friends, and neighbors.  But even though these actions are simple, they are worth repeating:

First, get vaccinated : The more people who are vaccinated, the more it will help us face the challenge of another hurricane season with pandemic conditions.

Second, make a plan: We need your help to make preparedness an important part of the conversation. Use your influence to elevate messages that help people learn how to prepare for disasters that might happen where you live, work, or visit.

Every one of us has a responsibility to prepare for disasters that are likely in our communities. No one knows this better than the Gulf Coast region.

Preparing for disasters can take some time to complete. The most important part of this step is that people start the planning process now, well before disasters strike.

Third, stay informed: We live in the most connected time in the history of our nation. We also know that timely and accurate information is critical to promoting the safety of our communities and we must use every tool at our disposal to get information to our communities to help protect them from harm. 

• During COVID-19, FEMA made great strides in promoting accessibility - we provided phone interpretation services in more than 180 languages for non-English speakers who visited vaccination centers.
• While this is just a start, it will help promote our final safety guideline of:

Heeding evacuation warnings from local officials: If you have your community following the first three steps, this one follows naturally. … When told to evacuate – evacuate.

As emergency managers, it’s up to us to set the example in our communities. Help amplify the message and encourage those who may be hesitant to follow state/local evacuation orders.

Encourage individual preparedness at the local level and share your evacuation plans and other preparedness steps with family, friends, and neighbors and help them craft their own.

While everyone may not be able to keep a tank filled with gas or create “go bags” with emergency supplies it is possible to do some things little by little over time to increase preparedness every day.

The challenges some individuals have with preparedness may stem from how our messages are reaching their communities – if the messages are reaching them at all.

We deployed 18 mobile vaccination units to help reach traditionally underserved and more remote communities. We want to get the message – and help – to those that need it the most.

We also know that there will be times when a “one size fits all” approach doesn’t apply. One of the lessons we learned is that sometimes we need to make an extra effort to meet people where they are.

By working collaboratively with our state and local partners, we are proud to say that almost 58 percent of the vaccines in federal pilot CVCs were delivered to historically underserved populations.

And because we are still operating in a pandemic environment, we all need to be prepared to continue to protect public health during disaster response and recovery operations.

FEMA recently rereleased the Pandemic Operational Guidance based on your feedback in order to provide emergency managers with actionable guidance, resources, and lessons learned to prepare for response and recovery operations amidst COVID-19.

We will continue to adapt our operations and program delivery to expedite services, support, and assistance to your communities while protecting the health and safety of disaster survivors and our workforce.

In closing , COVID-19 challenged the ways emergency managers across the country needed to think, react, and execute. The unprecedented scale of the pandemic produced challenges that we collectively innovated, collaborated, and managed ourselves through.

These lessons must not be forgotten, and we owe it to ourselves and the nation to internalize them in both theory and practice as we strive to build a more holistic emergency management system. Our collective mission is too important not to.

As we continue to persevere, we take solace in coming away from this experience smarter, stronger and more resilient than ever. Our work as emergency managers is the epitome of courage and a shining example of what it means to serve our nation every single day.

Just as you have demonstrated bravery in your work. I challenge everyone here today to be brave in our efforts to address climate change, to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, and to continue delivering our missions with dignity and respect.

2 Minute Speech On Natural Disaster In English

Good morning to everyone in this room. I would like to thank the principal, the teachers, and my dear friends for allowing me to speak to you today about the natural disaster. An environmental occurrence that has the potential to do significant harm is referred to as a natural disaster.

Natural disasters are defined as any calamity caused by natural sources. Floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are all examples of natural disasters. These catastrophes occur all around the world, yet they have varied effects on various individuals.

A natural calamity that has been occurring more regularly recently is flooding. It results from an abrupt rise in the volume of water in the seas. The potential for natural calamities on earth shouldn’t make us terrified. Hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes are nothing to be alarmed about.

Natural calamities like this will always occur, therefore we shouldn’t be concerned. However, their effect on our life and possessions should worry us. To lessen the devastation of these natural disasters, we need to consider strategies to mitigate them. Thank you.

Related Posts:

English for Talking about Natural Disasters

A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard which leads to financial, environmental or human losses.

What’s the worst natural disaster in your opinion?

‘Floods’ are opposite to ‘droughts’. A drought happens when there has been no rain for a long time. The land becomes too dry and it is impossible to grow any plants.

A ‘drought’ may result in a famine where there is not enough food for people and they start to starve (die from not eating).

A ‘tornado’ (or ‘twister’), is a very large column of wind that spins around quickly.

A ‘hurricane’ (Atlantic Ocean), ‘typhoon’ (Pacific Ocean) or ‘tropical storm’ (Indian Ocean) is an intense thunderstorm which usually occurs in late summer. They result in strong winds and heavy rain.

‘Volcanic eruptions’ send red hot lava flowing. Lava is a type of liquid rock called magma.

‘Earthquakes’ occur when pressure is suddenly released which causes the ground to move and shake violently. If the earth quakes beneath water then the shock wave which reaches beaches and dry land causes huge waves travelling at high speed called ‘tsunamis’.

A ‘landslide’ happens when rocks and earth are water-laden from lots of rain and slide down. This is different to an ‘avalanche’ which is the large movement of snow down a mountain. The snow becomes too loose and slides down, mixing with air and water.

Have you prepared for a natural disaster?

Many countries use early warning systems and school children will ‘drill’ disaster response by climbing under desks, standing in doorways or lying in bathtubs. Most people living in disaster-prone areas will keep non-perishable foods and bottled water.

Are there often natural disasters in your country?

The main problem with natural disasters is the aftermath: the risk of disease from dirty water, the difficulty in getting to sick or injured people and the economic impact of reconstruction and lost capacity; not to mention the death toll!

Today, technology allows us to provide donations and aid to disaster struck regions. Survivors are found by relief workers, rescuers and volunteers.

Ready to test your English? Find out your level for free at EF English Live with our online English test , and begin your English journey today.

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Search the United Nations

05 june 2024, secretary-general's special address on climate action "a moment of truth" [as delivered].

Dear friends of the planet,

Today is World Environment Day.

It is also the day that the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service officially reports May 2024 as the hottest May in recorded history.   

This marks twelve straight months of the hottest months ever. 

For the past year, every turn of the calendar has turned up the heat.

Our planet is trying to tell us something.  But we don't seem to be listening.

Dear Friends,

The American Museum of Natural History is the ideal place to make the point.

This great Museum tells the amazing story of our natural world. Of the vast forces that have shaped life on earth over billions of years. 

Humanity is just one small blip on the radar.

But like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, we’re having an outsized impact.

In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs.

We are the meteor.

We are not only in danger.

We are the danger.

But we are also the solution.

So, dear friends,

We are at a moment of truth.

The truth is … almost ten years since the Paris Agreement was adopted, the target of limiting long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is hanging by a thread.

The truth is … the world is spewing emissions so fast that by 2030, a far higher temperature rise would be all but guaranteed.

Brand new data from leading climate scientists released today show the remaining carbon budget to limit long-term warming to 1.5 degrees is now around 200 billion tonnes.  

That is the maximum amount of carbon dioxide that the earth’s atmosphere can take if we are to have a fighting chance of staying within the limit.

The truth is… we are burning through the budget at reckless speed – spewing out around 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

We can all do the math.

At this rate, the entire carbon budget will be busted before 2030.

The truth is … global emissions need to fall nine per cent every year until 2030 to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive. 

But they are heading in the wrong direction. 

Last year they rose by one per cent.   The truth is… we already face incursions into 1.5-degree territory.

The World Meteorological Organisation reports today that there is an eighty per cent chance the global annual average temperature will exceed the 1.5 degree limit in at least one of the next five years.

In 2015, the chance of such a breach was near zero.

And there’s a fifty-fifty chance that the average temperature for the entire next five-year period will be 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial times.

We are playing Russian roulette with our planet.

We need an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell. 

And the truth is… we have control of the wheel.

The 1.5 degree limit is still just about possible.

Let’s remember – it’s a limit for the long-term – measured over decades, not months or years.

So, stepping over the threshold 1.5 for a short time does not mean the long-term goal is shot.

It means we need to fight harder.

The truth is… the battle for 1.5 degrees will be won or lost in the 2020s – under the watch of leaders today. 

All depends on the decisions those leaders take – or fail to take – especially in the next eighteen months.

It’s climate crunch time. 

The need for action is unprecedented but so is the opportunity – not just to deliver on climate, but on economic prosperity and sustainable development.

Climate action cannot be captive to geo-political divisions.

So, as the world meets in Bonn for climate talks, and gears up for the G7 and G20 Summits, the United Nations General Assembly, and COP29, we need maximum ambition, maximum acceleration, maximum cooperation - in a word maximum action.

So dear friends,

Why all this fuss about 1.5 degrees?

Because our planet is a mass of complex, connected systems.  And every fraction of a degree of global heating counts. 

The difference between 1.5 and two degrees could be the difference between extinction and survival for some small island states and coastal communities.

The difference between minimizing climate chaos or crossing dangerous tipping points.

1.5 degrees is not a target.  It is not a goal.  It is a physical limit.

Scientists have alerted us that temperatures rising higher would likely mean:

The collapse of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet with catastrophic sea level rise;

The destruction of tropical coral reef systems and the livelihoods of 300 million people;

The collapse of the Labrador Sea Current that would further disrupt weather patterns in Europe;

And widespread permafrost melt that would release devastating levels of methane, one of the most potent heat-trapping gasses.

Even today, we’re pushing planetary boundaries to the brink – shattering global temperature records and reaping the whirlwind.    

And it is a travesty of climate justice that those least responsible for the crisis are hardest hit: the poorest people; the most vulnerable countries; Indigenous Peoples; women and girls.

The richest one per cent emit as much as two-thirds of humanity. 

And extreme events turbocharged by climate chaos are piling up:

Destroying lives, pummelling economies, and hammering health;

Wrecking sustainable development; forcing people from their homes; and rocking the foundations of peace and security – as people are displaced and vital resources depleted. 

Already this year, a brutal heatwave has baked Asia with record temperatures – shrivelling crops, closing schools, and killing people.   

Cities from New Delhi, to Bamako, to Mexico City are scorching.  

Here in the US, savage storms have destroyed communities and lives.

We’ve seen drought disasters declared across southern Africa;

Extreme rains flood the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Brazil;

And a mass global coral bleaching caused by unprecedented ocean temperatures, soaring past the worst predictions of scientists.

The cost of all this chaos is hitting people where it hurts:

From supply-chains severed, to rising prices, mounting food insecurity, and uninsurable homes and businesses. 

That bill will keep growing.  Even if emissions hit zero tomorrow, a recent study found that climate chaos will still cost at least $38 trillion a year by 2050.

Climate change is the mother of all stealth taxes paid by everyday people and vulnerable countries and communities. 

Meanwhile, the Godfathers of climate chaos – the fossil fuel industry – rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies.

Dear friends,

We have what we need to save ourselves. 

Our forests, our wetlands, and our oceans absorb carbon from the atmosphere.  They are vital to keeping 1.5 alive, or pulling us back if we do overshoot that limit.  We must protect them. 

And we have the technologies we need to slash emissions. 

Renewables are booming as costs plummet and governments realise the benefits of cleaner air, good jobs, energy security, and increased access to power.

Onshore wind and solar are the cheapest source of new electricity in most of the world – and have been for years.

Renewables already make up thirty percent of the world’s electricity supply.

And clean energy investments reached a record high last year – almost doubling in the last ten [years].

Wind and solar are now growing faster than any electricity source in history.

Economic logic makes the end of the fossil fuel age inevitable.

The only questions are:  Will that end come in time?  And will the transition be just? 

We must ensure the answer to both questions is: yes.

And we must secure the safest possible future for people and planet.

That means taking urgent action, particularly over the next eighteen months:

To slash emissions;

To protect people and nature from climate extremes;

To boost climate finance;

And to clamp down on the fossil fuel industry.

Let me take each element in turn. 

First, huge cuts in emissions.  Led by the huge emitters.   The G20 countries produce eighty percent of global emissions – they have the responsibility, and the capacity, to be out in front.

Advanced G20 economies should go furthest, fastest;

And show climate solidarity by providing technological and financial support to emerging G20 economies and other developing countries. 

Next year, governments must submit so-called nationally determined contributions – in other words, national climate action plans.  And these will determine emissions for the coming years.

At COP28, countries agreed to align those plans with the 1.5 degree limit. 

These national plans must include absolute emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2035.

They must cover all sectors, all greenhouse gases, and the whole economy.

And they must show how countries will contribute to the global transitions essential to 1.5 degrees – putting us on a path to global net zero by 2050; to phase out fossil fuels; and to hit global milestones along the way, year after year, and decade after decade.   That includes, by 2030, contributing to cutting global production and consumption of all fossil fuels by at least thirty percent; and making good on commitments made at COP28 – on ending deforestation, doubling energy efficiency and tripling renewables.

Every country must deliver and play their rightful part.

That means that G20 leaders working in solidarity to accelerate a just global energy transition aligned with the 1.5 degree limit.  They must assume their responsibilities.

We need cooperation, not finger-pointing.

It means the G20 aligning their national climate action plans, their energy strategies, and their plans for fossil fuel production and consumption, within a 1.5 degree future.

It means the G20 pledging to reallocate subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables, storage, and grid modernisation, and support for vulnerable communities.

It means the G7 and other OECD countries committing: to end coal by 2030; and to create fossil-fuel free power systems, and reduce oil and gas supply and demand by sixty percent – by 2035.   It means all countries ending new coal projects – now.  Particularly in Asia, home to ninety-five percent of planned new coal power capacity.

It means non-OECD countries creating climate action plans to put them on a path to ending coal power by 2040. 

And it means developing countries creating national climate action plans that double as investment plans, spurring sustainable development, and meeting soaring energy demand with renewables.

The United Nations is mobilizing our entire system to help developing countries to achieve this through our Climate Promise initiative.

Every city, region, industry, financial institution, and company must also be part of the solution.

They must present robust transition plans by COP30 next year in Brazil – at the latest:

Plans aligned with 1.5 degrees, and the recommendations of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net Zero.

Plans that cover emissions across the entire value chain;

That include interim targets and transparent verification processes;

And that steer clear of the dubious carbon offsets that erode public trust while doing little or nothing to help the climate.

We can’t fool nature.  False solutions will backfire.  We need high integrity carbon markets that are credible and with rules consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.   

I also encourage scientists and engineers to focus urgently on carbon dioxide removal and storage – to deal safely and sustainably with final emissions from the heavy industries hardest to clean.  

And I urge governments to support them.

But let me be clear: These technologies are not a silver bullet; they cannot be a substitute for drastic emissions cuts or an excuse to delay fossil fuel phase-out.

But we need to act on every front.

The second area for action is ramping up protection from the climate chaos of today and tomorrow.

It is a disgrace that the most vulnerable are being left stranded, struggling desperately to deal with a climate crisis they did nothing to create.

We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather in unliveable lands.

We must safeguard people and economies. 

Every person on Earth must be protected by an early warning system by 2027. I urge all partners to boost support for the United Nations Early Warnings for All action plan.

In April, the G7 launched the Adaptation Accelerator Hub.

By COP29, this initiative must be translated into concrete action – to support developing countries in creating adaptation investment plans, and putting them into practice.

And I urge all countries to set out their adaptation and investment needs clearly in their new national climate plans.

But change on the ground depends on money on the table.

For every dollar needed to adapt to extreme weather, only about five cents is available.

As a first step, all developed countries must honour their commitment to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year by 2025.

And they must set out a clear plan to close the adaptation finance gap by COP29 in November. 

But we also need more fundamental reform.

That leads me onto my third point: finance.

If money makes the world go round, today’s unequal financial flows are sending us spinning towards disaster.

The global financial system must be part of the climate solution.

Eye-watering debt repayments are drying up funds for climate action.

Extortion-level capital costs are putting renewables virtually out of reach for most developing and emerging economies.

Astoundingly – and despite the renewables boom of recent years – clean energy investments in developing and emerging economies outside of China have been stuck at the same levels since 2015.

Last year, just fifteen per cent of new clean energy investment went to emerging markets and developing economies outside China – countries representing nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.

And Africa was home to less than one percent of last year’s renewables installations, despite its wealth of natural resources and vast renewables potential. 

The International Energy Agency reports that clean energy investments in developing and emerging economies beyond China need to reach up to $1.7 trillion a year by the early 2030s.

In short, we need a massive expansion of affordable public and private finance to fuel ambitious new climate plans and deliver clean, affordable energy for all.

This September’s Summit of the Future is an opportunity to push reform of the international financial architecture and action on debt. I urge countries to take it.

And I urge the G7 and G20 Summits to commit to using their influence within Multilateral Development Banks to make them better, bigger, and bolder. And able to leverage far more private finance at reasonable cost.

Countries must make significant contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund. And ensure that it is open for business by COP29.

And they must come together to secure a strong finance outcome from COP this year – one that builds trust and confidence, catalyses the trillions needed, and generates momentum for reform of the international financial architecture.

But none of this will be enough without new, innovative sources of funds.

It is [high] time to put an effective price on carbon and tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies.

By COP29, we need early movers to go from exploring to implementing solidarity levies on sectors such as shipping, aviation, and fossil fuel extraction – to help fund climate action.

These should be scalable, fair, and easy to collect and administer. 

None of this is charity.

It is enlightened self-interest.

Climate finance is not a favour. It is fundamental element to a liveable future for all.

Dear friends,   Fourth and finally, we must directly confront those in the fossil fuel industry who have shown relentless zeal for obstructing progress – over decades. 

Billions of dollars have been thrown at distorting the truth, deceiving the public, and sowing doubt.

I thank the academics and the activists, the journalists and the whistleblowers, who have exposed those tactics – often at great personal and professional risk.

I call on leaders in the fossil fuel industry to understand that if you are not in the fast lane to clean energy transformation, you are driving your business into a dead end – and taking us all with you.

Last year, the oil and gas industry invested a measly 2.5 percent of its total capital spending on clean energy.

Doubling down on fossil fuels in the twenty-first century, is like doubling down on horse-shoes and carriage-wheels in the nineteenth.

So, to fossil fuel executives, I say: your massive profits give you the chance to lead the energy transition. Don’t miss it.

Financial institutions are also critical because money talks.

It must be a voice for change.

I urge financial institutions to stop bankrolling fossil fuel destruction and start investing in a global renewables revolution;

To present public, credible and detailed plans to transition [funding] from fossil fuels to clean energy with clear targets for 2025 and 2030;

And to disclose your climate risks – both physical and transitional – to your shareholders and regulators. Ultimately such disclosure should be mandatory.

Many in the fossil fuel industry have shamelessly greenwashed, even as they have sought to delay climate action – with lobbying, legal threats, and massive ad campaigns. 

They have been aided and abetted by advertising and PR companies – Mad Men – remember the TV series - fuelling the madness.

I call on these companies to stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction. 

Stop taking on new fossil fuel clients, from today, and set out plans to drop your existing ones.

Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet – they’re toxic for your brand.

Your sector is full of creative minds who are already mobilising around this cause. 

They are gravitating towards companies that are fighting for our planet – not trashing it.

I also call on countries to act.

Many governments restrict or prohibit advertising for products that harm human health – like tobacco. 

Some are now doing the same with fossil fuels.

I urge every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies.  

And I urge news media and tech companies to stop taking fossil fuel advertising.

We must all deal also with the demand side.  All of us can make a difference, by embracing clean technologies, phasing down fossil fuels in our own lives, and using our power as citizens to push for systemic change. 

In the fight for a liveable future, people everywhere are far ahead of politicians.

Make your voices heard and your choices count. 

We do have a choice. 

Creating tipping points for climate progress – or careening to tipping points for climate disaster. 

No country can solve the climate crisis in isolation.

This is an all-in moment.

The United Nations is all-in – working to build trust, find solutions, and inspire the cooperation our world so desperately needs.

And to young people, to civil society, to cities, regions, businesses and others who have been leading the charge towards a safer, cleaner world, I say: Thank you.

You are on the right side of history.

You speak for the majority.

Keep it up.  

Don’t lose courage. Don’t lose hope.

It is we the Peoples versus the polluters and the profiteers. Together, we can win.  

But it’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on.

Tomorrow it will be too late.

Now is the time to mobilise, now is the time to act, now is the time to deliver.

This is our moment of truth.

And I thank you.

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6 Top Tips for Writing a Crisis Statement

Wesley Mathew

May 18, 2024

7 min. read

Unfortunately, a pr crisis is something that can happen to any business. Sometimes it’s insignificant and doesn’t attract media attention, but that’s not to say that more serious crises do not develop frequently.

A crisis can take the form of a prominent employee scandal, a natural disaster, or even just a vicious rumour that catches the attention of the media. You can’t always avoid getting into hot water; the best thing you can do is prepare for possible consequences and eliminate sources of issues. For example, a CEO can create a dedicated team who constantly work on preventing dramatic events by planning out the different outcomes and their response situations.

Whatever the crisis, an official issued statement is something they all have in common. Stakeholders will be waiting for an explanation and some kind of update on the situation, and that’s where a holding statement distributed to stakeholders comes into action.

Remember these crisis statement tips in case the unthinkable happens to you:

1. Use Key Messages, Verified Information, and Don’t Get Defensive

2. define and isolate the actual problem, 3. produce at least three key messages, 4. present negatives in a broad context, 5. express empathy and take action, 6. be honest.

The primary purpose of communications during a crisis is to inform about the 5Ws: “who, what, when, where, and why.” Use the 5Ws to guide the structure of your comms.

Sure, in many cases information is limited — that’s why you need to promise the audience that more information will be released as soon as you have it. Don’t make defensive remarks, as they can seriously ruin the credibility of your business, as can speaking prematurely before you know the full picture.

No one expects a disaster, so when it strikes it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and distracted. As a result, you might miss important information related to the actual issue or problem at hand. For example, if a company is facing an employee scandal, you need to investigate and identify whether it was caused by an inappropriate organisational policy, sexual harassment, human error, or something else.

At this point, you might also consider consulting with a legal professional who can identify potential implications of certain phrasing or words.

Here’s an example:

I want to inform you about an incident that occurred yesterday that affected all employees of the marketing department. Inappropriate conduct from one of the marketing analysts undermined the safety of the staff, which is the first concern of the organisation. We take all occurences of this nature very seriously.

Key messages will become the basis of the statement. Say you have limited details on an incident, you can build your  communication around the facts:

This afternoon, federal regulators have sent me an official statement notifying that the vice president of our company is suspected of insider trading.

This key message clearly shows that you weren’t notified in person, so you cannot possibly know all facts related to the event. All questions thus should be redirected to the federal regulatory body that initiated the investigation.

One key message, however, is not enough even when you don’t know everything. So, to add the message above, the following could be used:

Our company agrees to cooperate with the official investigation to provide all necessary information that could reveal the truth.

The third key message could be:

To ensure that the vice president cannot access any sensitive information related to the company, it was decided to restrict his access privileges as soon as possible.

This technique is often used by businesses to minimise the impact of the bad news. It can be used to describe an incident that did not have a profound impact on the organisation. For example, if an employee of a writing company that provides  essay tips  insulted a customer in some way, you can write that the company was able to deliver thousands of other people with good experiences.

You can also try to isolate the event by stating that it is very rare for your customers to experience problems while dealing with the customer service.

Words to use include in your crisis statement are: “isolated event” and “very rare.” Negative words to avoid are “another issue” and “frequent mistakes.”

It’s not wise to create a gap between the company and the public or employees by using negativity. A better idea is to express empathy and eliminate that gap, via a spokesperson.

The empathetic writing includes words like “we appreciate,” “we understand,” and “we acknowledge.”

A word of caution : don’t try to use “many people face similar issues” and “accidents like this happen.” If you want to emphasise that the organisation is addressing the problem, do it! If an employee is suspected of setting fire in a warehouse that belongs to the organisation, for example, don’t just state this fact but also inform that you are already working closely with local authorities to find out what happened.

Tip : Don’t jump to conclusions and admit that the organisation will be conducting an investigation. Words like these attract journalists in need of fresh news. It’s better to admit that your organisation is doing everything to resolve the concern and minimise the damage to the buisness.

Phrases to use in a statement include “taking appropriate measures,” “taking immediate action,” and “working closely with the authorities.”

The last tip in this article is perhaps the most important one. Honesty is the best policy because it helps to avoid phrases that damage credibility and reputation. If your organisation is to blame for an incident, then admit it in the statement. Many people will immediately recognise lies if they see them there.

Also, never try to hide any information. If you do, this could be bad news for your organisation. If they find you you’ve been lying, get ready for some serious criticism. So, if you are at fault, admit it without blaming anyone else and say that your organisation is committed to being open and transparent.

So, How Do You Know When to Respond and When Not To?

So how do you know if and when you should respond? Answering these questions is a good start.

• Has there been damage to your organization’s reputation? As Warren Buffet famously pointed out, it takes 20 years to build a reputation but five minutes to ruin it. It can also take years to repair a damaged reputation once it’s been tarnished. So if there’s been damage to your reputation, most crisis communications pros would counsel you to respond quickly, decisively, and transparently.
• Would a reasonable person expect a responsible organization to respond? In most crisis communications situations, the answer to that question is obviously, yes. So the question then becomes not should we respond, but how should we respond?
• Is public opinion about you being shaped by inaccurate statements or slanderous claims? If the answer is yes, it could be time to address that negative sentiment by clearly stating the facts.

Ultimately, the only way to know if you should respond or not is to listen. There are plenty of social media monitoring tools available to help you do this. Don’t let five minutes ruin what it took 20 years to build, and don’t let it take years to repair the damage to your brand once it happens. Knowing whether to respond or not is not always simple. But the answer will become much clearer if your first step is to listen.

Want to learn how Meltwater can help your company with crisis communications? Fill out the form below to schedule a demo.

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Natural Disasters Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on natural disasters.

A Natural disaster is an unforeseen occurrence of an event that causes harm to society. There are many Natural disasters that damage the environment and the people living in it. Some of them are earthquakes , cyclones, floods, Tsunami , landslides, volcanic eruption, and avalanches. Spatial extent measures the degree or severity of the disaster.

Levels of Disaster

The severity or degree of damage can be further divided into three categories:

Small Scale Disasters: Small scale disasters are those that extend from 50 Kms. to 100 Kms. So this kind of disasters does not cause much damage.

Medium-scale disasters: Medium Scale disasters extend from 100 Kms to 500 Kms. These cause more damage than a small scale disaster. Moreover, they can cause greater damage if they occur in colonial states.

Large Scale Disasters: These disasters cover an area of more than 1000 Kms. These cause the most severe damage to the environment. Furthermore, these disasters can even take over a country if the degree is high. For instance, the wiping out of the dinosaurs was because of a large scale natural disaster.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Types of Disasters

Causes: These can cause of releasing of the energy. This release is from the core of the earth. Furthermore, the release of energy causes seismic waves. Rupturing of geological faults causes earthquakes. But other events like volcanic eruptions, landslides mine blasts can also cause it.

Landslides: Landslides is the moving of big boulders of rocks or debris down a slope. As a result, landslides occur on mountains and hilly areas. Moreover, landslides can cause destruction to man-made things in many ways.

Causes: Gravitational pull, volcanic eruptions , earthquakes can cause landslides. Moreover, soil erosion due to deforestation is also a cause of landslides.

Avalanches: Avalanches are like landslides. But instead of rocks thousand tons of snow falls down the slope. Moreover, this causes extreme damage to anything that comes in its way. People who live in snowy mountains always have fear of it.

Causes: Avalanches takes places when there is a large accumulation of snow on the mountains. Moreover, they can also occur from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, the chances of surviving an avalanche are very less. This is because people die of hypothermia in it.

Tsunami: Tsunami is the production of very high waves in oceans and seas. Moreover, the displacement of the ground causes these high waves. A tsunami can cause floods if it occurs near shores. A Tsunami can consist of multiple waves. Moreover, these waves have a high current. Therefore it can reach coastlines within minutes. The main threat of a tsunami is if a person sees a Tsunami he cannot outrun it.

Causes: Tsunami is unlike normal eaves that occur due to the wind. But Tsunami is waves that occur by ground displacement. Thus earthquakes are the main causes of Tsunamis.

FAQs on Essay on natural disaster

Q1.What are natural disasters?

A1. Natural Disasters are unforeseen events that cause damage to the environment and the people.

Q2.Name some Natural disasters.

A2. Some Natural Disasters are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, Landslides, floods, Tsunami, avalanches. Natural disasters can cause great damage to human society. But preventive measures can be taken to reduce the damage from these disasters.

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11.Speech Writing : NATURAL DISASTERS

  Natural disasters have become common these days. Write a speech in about 150 words to be delivered in the morning assembly on how normal life is disrupted during such calamities and what measures should be adopted by the government to meet such situations.

  Ans .                                                              NATURAL DISASTERS

Respected teachers and my dear students,

In view of the frequent occurrence of natural disasters these days, I am going to deliver a speech on the effects of natural disasters. Natural disasters like earthquake, Hood. Hurricane, tsunami and landslides leave a dismal situation after their occurrence. Such calamities disrupt the normal life for many days. Transport and communication remain cut off. Supply of essential commodities is affected resulting in the untold suffering of the people. Law and order situation is also deteriorated during this period. In most of the cases, timely rescue and rehabilitation work is not carried out. The government should take initiative to make (twisters. The government people aware of natural should review its disaster management strategies and policies and chalk out a clear roadmap for dealing with natural disasters. The government should build dams for flood control, build buttress structures In landslide-prone areas and implement earthquake friendly technologies.

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• How to End a Speech: What You Need for a Bang

A good talk or public speech is like a good play, movie, or song.

It opens by arresting the listener’s attention, develops point by point, and then ends strongly, ensuring that the audience’s attention is maintained throughout.

The truth is, if you don’t know how to end a speech, the overall message won’t be persuasive and your key points may get lost.

The words you say at the beginning, and especially at the end of your talk, are usually the most persuasive parts of the speech and will be remembered longer than almost any other part of your speech. It’s crucial to leave a lasting impression with a powerful conclusion.

Some of the great speeches in history and some of the most memorable Ted talks have ended with powerful, stirring words that live on in memory.

How do you end a speech and get the standing ovation that you deserve?

Keep reading to discover how…

Here are 9 tips and examples for concluding a speech.

To ensure that your conclusion is as powerful as it can be, you must plan it word for word, including a strong closing statement.

Ask yourself,  “What is the purpose of this talk?”

Your answer should involve the actions that you want your listeners to take after hearing you speak on this subject.

When you are clear about the end result you desire, it becomes much easier to design a conclusion that asks your listeners to take that action. It is also crucial to restate a key idea to reinforce your message and leave a lasting impression.

The best strategy for ending with a BANG is to plan your close before you plan the rest of your speech.

You then go back and design your opening so that it sets the stage for your conclusion.

The body of your talk is where you present your ideas and make your case for what you want the audience to think, remember, and do after hearing you speak.

2) Always End A Speech With A Call To Action

It is especially important to tell the audience what you want it to do as a result of hearing you speak.

A call to action is the best way to wrap up your talk with strength and power. Reinforce your key points by summarizing the main message, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression. Closing the speech effectively can evoke emotions and make a significant impact on the audience.

Here’s a Speech Call To Action Example

“We have great challenges and great opportunities, and with your help, we will meet them and make this next year the best year in our history!”

Consider ending with a thought-provoking question to challenge the audience to think differently and inspire them to take action.

Whatever you say, imagine an exclamation point at the end. As you approach the conclusion, pick up your energy and tempo.  This is even more important if  the presentation you are giving is virtual .

Speak with strength and emphasis.

Drive the final point home.

Regardless of whether the audience participants agree with you or are willing to do what you ask, it should be perfectly clear to them what you are requesting.

3) End a Speech With a Summary

There is a simple formula for any talk:

• Tell them what you are going to tell them.
• Then, tell them what you told them.

As you approach the end of your talk, say something like,

“Let me briefly restate these main points…”

You then list your key points, one by one, and repeat them to the audience, showing how each of them links to the other points.

Audiences appreciate a linear repetition of what they have just heard. This repetition helps make your message memorable and ensures that your key points leave a lasting impression.

This makes it clear that you are coming to the end of your talk.

4) Close with a Story

As you reach the end of your talk, you can say,

“Let me tell you a story that illustrates what I have been talking about…”

You then tell a brief story with a moral and then tell the audience what the moral is. Using effective body language, such as maintaining eye contact, smiling, and using open gestures, can make your story more impactful and leave a lasting impression.

Don’t leave it to them to figure out for themselves.

Often you can close with a story that illustrates your key points and then clearly links to the key message that you are making with your speech.

To learn more about storytelling in speaking, you can read my previous blog post  “8 Public Speaking Tips to Wow Your Audience.”

5) Make Them Laugh

You can close with humor.

You can tell a joke that loops back into your subject and repeats the lesson or main point you are making with a story that makes everyone laugh.

During my talks on planning and persistence, I discuss the biggest enemy that we have, which is the tendency to follow the path of least resistance. I then tell this story.

Ole and Sven are out hunting in Minnesota and they shoot a deer. They begin dragging the deer back to the truck by the tail, but they keep slipping and losing both their grip and their balance.

A farmer comes along and asks them, “What are you boys doing?”

They reply, “We’re dragging the deer back to the truck.”

The farmer tells them, “You are not supposed to drag a deer by the tail. You’re supposed to drag the deer by the handles. They’re called antlers. You’re supposed to drag a deer by the antlers.”

Ole and Sven say, “Thank you very much for the idea.”

They begin pulling the deer by the antlers. After about five minutes, they are making rapid progress. Ole says to Sven, “Sven, the farmer was right. It goes a lot easier by the antlers.”

Sven replies, “Yeah, but we’re getting farther and farther from the truck.”

After the laughter dies down, I say…

“The majority of people in life are pulling the easy way, but they are getting further and further from the ‘truck’ or their real goals and objectives.”

A memorable statement like this can make the humor more effective by condensing the core message into a crisp and authentic sound bite.

That’s just one example of closing using humor.

6) Make It Rhyme

You can close with a poem.

There are many fine poems that contain messages that summarize the key points you want to make. Here are some practical tips for selecting and delivering a poem: choose a poem that resonates with your message, practice your delivery to ensure it flows naturally, and use appropriate pauses to emphasize key lines.

You can select a poem that is moving, dramatic, or emotional.

For years I ended seminars with the poem,  “Don’t Quit,”  or  “Carry On!”  by Robert W. Service. It was always well received by the audience.

7) Close With Inspiration for A Lasting Impression

You can end a speech with something inspirational as well.

If you have given an uplifting talk, remember that hope is, and has always been, the main religion of mankind.

People love to be motivated and inspired to be or do something different and better in the future.

Here are a few of  my favorite inspirational quotes  that can be tied into most speeches.  You can also  read this collection of leadership quotes  for further inspiration.

Remember, everyone in your audience is dealing with problems, difficulties, challenges, disappointments, setbacks, and temporary failures.

For this reason, everyone appreciates a poem, quote, or story of encouragement that gives them strength and courage.

Here are 7 Tips to Tell an Inspiring Poem or Story to End Your Speech

• You have to slow down and add emotion and drama to your words.
• Raise your voice on a key line of the poem, and then drop it when you’re saying something that is intimate and emotional.
• Pick up the tempo occasionally as you go through the story or poem, but then slow down on the most memorable parts.
• Especially, double the number of pauses you normally use in a conversation.
• Use dramatic pauses at the end of a line to allow the audience to digest the words and catch up with you.
• Smile if the line is funny, and be serious if the line is more thought-provoking or emotional.
• When you come to the end of your talk, be sure to bring your voice up on the last line, rather than letting it drop. Remember the  “exclamation point”  at the end to reinforce your main message and leave a lasting impression.

Try practicing on this poem that I referenced above…

Read through  “Carry On!” by Robert Service

Identify the key lines, intimate parts, and memorable parts, and recite it.

8) Make it Clear That You’re Done

When you say your final words, it should be clear to everyone that you have ended. A strong closing statement is crucial in signaling the end of your speech, leaving a lasting impression, and ensuring that the audience remembers the key points. There should be no ambiguity or confusion in the mind of your audience. The audience members should know that this is the end.

Many speakers just allow their talks to wind down.

They say  something with filler words  like,  “Well, that just about covers it. Thank you.”

This isn’t a good idea…

It’s not powerful…

It’s not an authoritative ending and thus detracts from your credibility and influence.

When you have concluded, discipline yourself to stand perfectly still. Select a friendly face in the audience and look straight at that person.

If it is appropriate, smile warmly at that person to signal that your speech has come to an end.

Resist the temptation to:

• Shuffle papers.
• Fidget with your clothes or microphone.
• Move forward, backward, or sideways.
• Do anything else except stand solidly, like a tree.

9) Let Them Applaud

When you have finished your talk, the audience members will want to applaud. Using effective body language, such as maintaining eye contact, smiling, and using open gestures, can signal to the audience that it is time to begin clapping.

What they need from you is a clear signal that now is the time to begin clapping.

How do you signal this?

Some people will recognize sooner than others that you have concluded your remarks.

In many cases, when you make your concluding comments and stop talking, the audience members will be completely silent.

They may be unsure whether you are finished.

They may be processing your final remarks and thinking them over. They may not know what to do until someone else does something.

In a few seconds, which will often feel like several minutes, people will applaud.

Then another…

Then the entire audience will begin clapping.

When someone begins to applaud, look directly at that person, smile, and mouth the words  thank you.

As more and more people applaud, sweep slowly from person to person, nodding, smiling and saying, “Thank You.”

Eventually, the whole room will be clapping.

There’s no better reward for overcoming your  fear of public speaking  than enjoying a round of applause.

BONUS TIP: How to Handle a Standing Ovation

If you’ve given a moving talk and really connected with your audience, someone will stand up and applaud. To encourage a standing ovation, make your message memorable by using repetition of your keyword or phrase and incorporating relevant visuals or metaphors to leave a lasting impression on the audience. When this happens, encourage others by looking directly at the clapper and saying,  “Thank you.”

This will often prompt other members of the audience to stand.

As people see others standing, they will stand as well, applauding the whole time.

It is not uncommon for a speaker to conclude his or her remarks, stand silently, and have the entire audience sit silently in response.

Stand Comfortably And Shake Hands

But as the speaker stands there comfortably, waiting for the audience to realize the talk is over, one by one people will begin to applaud and often stand up one by one. Using positive body language, such as maintaining eye contact, smiling, and using open gestures, can leave a lasting impression on the audience.

If the first row of audience members is close in front of you, step or lean forward and shake that person’s hand when one of them stands up to applaud.

When you shake hands with one person in the audience, many other people in the audience feel that you are shaking their hands and congratulating them as well.

They will then stand up and applaud.

Soon the whole room will be standing and applauding.

Whether you receive a standing ovation or not, if your introducer comes back on to thank you on behalf of the audience, smile and shake their hand warmly.

If it’s appropriate, give the introducer a hug of thanks, wave in a friendly way to the audience, and then move aside and give the introducer the stage.

Follow these tips to get that standing ovation every time.

« Previous Post Goal Setting for Success & Developing SMART Habits

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

Boost your speech skills

Enhance your public speaking with personalized coaching tailored to your needs

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to Write a Memorable Tribute Speech: Step-By-Step

Updated 04/19/2024

Published 11/16/2019

Sam Tetrault, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

A tribute takes on so many different meanings, it can be hard to remember what it’s supposed to be. But when you write a tribute speech, you can get to its true purpose, which is to honor a specific person. Usually, you can hear tribute speeches at funerals, memorials, and celebrations -- but all tend to follow a similar formula.

Also see our tribute speech topic ideas and tribute speech samples below for some ideas to get you started.

If you’re speaking at a funeral or at a memorial, you might need to write a tribute speech. Or even if you’re speaking at a celebration and simply focusing this piece on a loved one who has died, this guide is for you. 

You want your tribute speech to use the right words and to paint an accurate, admirable picture of the person. A heartfelt speech evokes emotion in the listeners and conveys a clear message.

Tip : While speaking at a virtual event, like a live-streamed memorial organized by a service such as GatheringUs , practice your speech using your video conferencing software ahead of time so you can anticipate and fix any audio issues.

Here is a quick overview of the steps for writing a tribute speech:

• Think About the Person
• Write an Outline
• Get the Audience’s Attention
• Make Your Points
• Finish Strong
• Practice Your Speech

Step 1: Think About the Person

What purpose does your tribute speech serve? Are you sharing a particular moment in a loved one’s life, writing about their successes, or about their positive attributes? Do you want the audience to come away with a particular message or understanding of your loved one?

Brainstorm a few characteristics or key points you’d like to include in the tribute speech. With these kinds of speeches, it’s ok to evoke emotion and share that feeling with your audience. What emotions do you want your audience to feel? If you’re giving your speech at a memorial, you might want your words to highlight a sense of fondness or happiness. Make sure you are considering your audience as well as the person you’re writing about.

After all, writing a tribute speech for your mother will be very different than writing one for a friend.

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Step 2: Write an Outline

Before you begin writing, create an outline. Writing an outline helps you organize your thoughts before putting pen to paper. Most tribute speeches follow the same format. Here’s a quick guideline to follow:

• Introduction: Who is the speech about? What is your relation to this person?
• Main point 1: Start off with a key characteristic of the person you’re talking about, such as their caring nature or listening skills.
• Evidence: What evidence do you have that supports your main point? For instance, if they were a caring person, talk about a time they helped others.
• Main point 2: What’s another point you’d like to make about the person?
• Evidence: Again, support your point.
• Conclusion: Repeat your crucial points and end with something meaningful.

You can include as many main points as you’d wish, but less is usually more. If you’re giving a speech at a funeral, there may be time limits to consider. Knowing what to say when someone dies is never easy. Using an outline organizes your thoughts in a clear way no matter the purpose of your speech. 

Step 3: Get the Audience’s Attention

The hardest part of a tribute speech is often the introduction. How do you capture the audience’s attention? If your speech is during a funeral, for instance, emotions are already high. If you’re giving a speech at another event or celebration, you similarly need to capture attention. How do you hook listeners with your tribute?

Start by relating to the listeners themselves. You need to appeal to the audience on a personal level to develop a connection with your words. If you’re speaking at a funeral, remind them how the deceased person brought everyone together. Open with your relationship with this person, and talk about your loved one’s role in your life. 

A good way to start is with a personal story. Humans naturally are drawn to stories. Including one at the beginning of your speech brings the audience closer to you. From there, it’s easier to share your main points with the listeners’ full attention. 

Step 4: Make Your Points

It might be tempting to drag out your introduction, especially if you’re using a personal take to capture the audience’s attention. Consider keeping the introduction brief so you can get to your point sooner rather than later. A concisely worded speech makes more of an impact through brevity and pauses than long drawn-out sentences.

With a tribute speech, you might include any of the following:

• The person’s characteristics
• The person’s accomplishments
• The person’s lasting impact
• Your experience with the person

All of these need real-life evidence. Memories, attributes, and physical creations provide plenty of support for what your loved one did in their life, and how they made you feel. How you share these main points is up to you.

Consider how you knew this person personally. Do you have a particularly funny or touching memory that was not shared widely? Did you see a special side of this person? These are all valuable questions to answer when writing a memorial tribute.

Step 5: Finish Strong

Finish your tribute speech on a high note. Popular quotes or poems can provide a way to tie up your speech. Or even ending with a quote or familiar saying from your loved one can leave your audience fondly remembering the person. Wrapping up your tribute speech can also be used to recall your main points and making a final statement about the person. 

You might ask the audience to remember their own favorite memory of this person or to think of them when they visit a certain place. Either way, leave them with something memorable.

Step 6: Practice Your Speech

Finally, before you present, it’s time to practice. If you’re anxious, use these tips to put you at ease:

• Think of your speech as a performance, not just a reading
• Make eye contact with your audience
• Stand up straight and tall
• Focus on your storytelling skills
• Let your passion show

As long as you’re putting emotion into the topic, this shines through for the audience. Practice really does make perfect. Don’t be afraid to share your speech with your friends and family before the big day.

Tribute Speech Topic Ideas

For inspiration planning your tribute speech, review these topic ideas below. Your tribute can be about anything that matters to you.

• Write about a physical tribute to made for your favorite person. 
• Write about a loved one who passed. 
• Describe an event involving yourself and a loved one. 
• Share a memory.
• Give a tribute to a place that matters to you.
• What movie or book inspired you?
• Did an incident ever change your life?
• Give a toast to someone who matters to you. 
• Share someone or something that changed your mind. 
• Explain the relationships that mean the most to you.

Tribute Speech Samples

To get a strong feel for what a tribute speech looks like, read through these samples below. Each speech serves a different purpose, but you’ll see how they impact the audience through storytelling and compassion. 

Tribute to a friend after their passing

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining me to celebrate the life of my dear friend, Julian. All of us here admired Julian’s devotion to his family. I first met Julian through his wife, Stephanie. There was never a time when he wasn’t raving about Stephanie and all of their adventures together. I remember specifically one late night at work. Julian was the first to tell the whole office to head home. He always said nothing was more important than family, and that was certainly true. That’s the legacy Julian leaves behind: his shining family. I know we’ll all remember him even though he’s no longer with us. We still see Julian in his son and daughter, Mark and Mandy. Let’s make sure he’s never forgotten."

Tribute to a coworker "Thanks for joining me at this year’s celebration. Today, I’d like to highlight the success of Luisa, one of our best underwriters. Luisa is dedicated to her clients and helping them secure the home of their dreams. When Luisa first began working here, she would spend hours pouring over each applicant’s documents. She wanted to get everything right the first time. “The family is counting on us,” she would say. Luisa is right. It’s this kind of passion and attention to detail that makes her such an asset to our company."

Tribute to a sibling for a wedding

"I’m so thankful to be speaking about June on her wedding day. June and I have known each other for basically our whole lives, give or take the two years of me being an only child. Since then, June has always been the one who had my back. From the playground to college, she was always there. June is the first person I want to tell about my day — even if she’s bad at answering her phone! I am so grateful for our special bond. I just wanted to say thank you to my little sister for being my rock.:

Write a Powerful Tribute Speech

With the steps and examples listed above, hopefully you have some inspiration to help you write a top-notch tribute speech. From learning how to hook listeners to find the right words to say, you have many paths you can take with a tribute.

And in the end, a tribute speech is a commemoration of someone special. Whether you’re giving your speech as a sympathy message at a funeral or at a celebration, make the most of this opportunity. 

Everyone deserves to be remembered. Creating a tribute speech is a powerful way to evoke emotion and build strong relationships. They are for personal and professional relationships, remembering those who have died, and even just reminding us of the things we love most. It’s time to put your own pen to paper in honor of someone special. 

For more help finding the right words, read our guide to what to say on a death anniversary .

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