he News and blogs weekly newsletter introduces the latest news and blogs published by PreventionWeb on disaster risk reduction. In the 04/04/2023 edition:

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High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework: Stakeholder registration now open
For stakeholders including civil society organisations, private sector, academia and the scientific community, grassroots organisations, persons with disabilities, youth and women’s organisations, please register by 24 April 2023. Register here

In the 04/04/2023 edition:

Four steps to increase investment in disaster displacement solutions By Asian Development Bank on Apr 03, 2023 04:36 pm
To help those forced to move by disasters caused by natural hazards, innovative financing and greater cooperation between development and humanitarian sectors are needed.

The UK’s first climate refugees: why more defences may not save this village from rising sea levels By Conversation Media Group, the on Apr 03, 2023 03:50 pm
The impact of rising sea levels on our coastlines can be profound. A natural shoreline can respond to sea level rise and coastal erosion, provided the rise isn’t too rapid.

SMDC implements disaster preparedness technologies for safety By Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation on Apr 03, 2023 03:38 pm
Sustainable development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) are key concerns of today's urban development driven by a heightened urgency to address the adverse impacts of climate change.

The Loss and Damage Fund: How can Indonesia use it to boost climate adaptation efforts By Conversation Media Group, the on Apr 03, 2023 03:21 pm
Climate finance was at the centre of COP27 in Egypt last year. For many, the highlight was the agreement to establish a fund to assist developing countries in responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

What Turkey’s earthquake tells us about the science of seismic forecasting By Nature Publishing Group on Apr 03, 2023 11:45 am
Geologists knew decades ago that a quake would strike southeastern Turkey, but precise prediction is still the stuff of science fiction.

New UNC study quantifies $562M in financial risk from Hurricane Florence using novel modeling approach that evaluates risk of mortgage default and property abandonment By UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health on Apr 03, 2023 11:33 am
Generally, post-disaster damage assessments focus on insured and uninsured losses, but these numbers do not account for the secondary impacts to households, lenders, local governments and other stakeholders who may also share in the financial consequence.

Indonesia, US collaborate on disaster early warning systems By Antara News on Apr 03, 2023 10:57 am
This week, BMKG and USAID signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to strengthen, develop, and promote scientific and technical cooperation activities on disaster early warning systems.

Türkiye earthquakes: initial assessment indicates losses of more than 20 percent in food production By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters on Apr 03, 2023 10:45 am
In Türkiye, the earthquake severely impacted 11 key agricultural provinces a­ffecting 15.73 million people and more than 20 percent of the country's food production.

CCRIF and Central America’s Regional Disaster Risk Management Agency, CEPREDENAC, sign memorandum of understanding By Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, the on Mar 31, 2023 04:46 pm
CCRIF SPC and the Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and the Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster Risk Financing and CCRIF Parametric Insurance.

‘Early Warning for All’ initiative gains momentum in Balkan region By Pacific Disaster Center on Mar 31, 2023 04:23 pm
As international pressure intensifies for countries around the world to provide complete multi-hazard early warning coverage for all populations—particularly the vulnerable—several countries in South Eastern Europe have heeded the call.

Sea level rise on the Dutch coast has increased By Deltares on Mar 31, 2023 03:45 pm
In collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Deltares today presented the four-yearly report about the observed sea level on the Dutch Coast.

Tongan residents are still clearing debris from the Volcanic eruption and tsunami, 12-months after the disaster By Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Mar 31, 2023 03:34 pm
Twelve months after the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, residents are still clearing and cleaning up debris and damage.

Midterm Review SFDRR: Call for stakeholder registration By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Mar 31, 2023 02:56 pm
For stakeholders including civil society organisations, private sector, academia and the scientific community, grassroots organisations, persons with disabilities, youth and women’s organisations, please register by 24 April 2023.

Social dimensions of climate change in Solomon Islands By World Bank, the on Mar 31, 2023 02:20 pm
Considering the social dimensions of climate change is essential to building resilience and developing effective policy and programs within Solomon Islands and throughout the Pacific region.

In Turkey, women are feeling the worst aftershocks of the earthquake disaster – this disparity may lead to dwindling trust in government By Conversation Media Group, the on Mar 31, 2023 12:46 pm
Earthquake survivors in Turkey also include 356,000 pregnant women who, at the end of February 2023, urgently needed medical care, according to the United Nations. Some women have had to give birth to their children in collapsed buildings.

Flood Re launches campaign to promote flood prevention measures By Insurance Business America on Mar 31, 2023 11:54 am
To mark the one-year anniversary of its Build Back Better scheme, Flood Re is launching a consumer-focused campaign aimed at promoting the take-up of prevention measures to reduce damage and loss caused by flooding.

Japanese experts work to make Türkiye's Bursa earthquake resilient By Daily Sabah on Mar 31, 2023 11:40 am
The "Earthquake Risk Reduction and Prevention Planning Project" was launched with the joint intervention of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Companies should have business continuity planning procedures in place – ODPEM By Jamaica Observer, the on Mar 31, 2023 11:32 am
It is important for companies to have their ‘Business Continuity Planning Procedures’ in place, in the event the country experiences a major earthquake, advises the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

Beijing earthquake warning system leads nation By China Daily on Mar 31, 2023 11:28 am
Beijing will incorporate earthquake warning systems in major infrastructure and crowded places to minimize potential damage and casualties, according to the city's emergency management bureau.

Why most countries don’t have enough earthquake-resilient buildings By Popular Science on Mar 31, 2023 11:23 am
Outdated construction killed more people in Turkey and Syria than the earthquakes themselves.

Back-to-back hurricanes could become common by 2100 By Earth Observatory of Singapore - Nanyang Technological University on Mar 31, 2023 11:18 am
New research shows back-to-back hurricanes could strike the United States every few years by 2100.

Water-related risks in focus at UN Water Conference By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Mar 31, 2023 11:09 am
At the UN Water Conference, UNDRR calls for transformative water action to address water related risks.

How space storms miscue train signals By Earth Observatory of Singapore - Nanyang Technological University on Mar 31, 2023 10:53 am
Geomagnetic storms could significantly disrupt electrified train operations in the United Kingdom once every few decades, according to a new study.

East-African countries bet on a regional approach to improve resilience and sustainability of pastoral livestock By World Bank, the on Mar 31, 2023 10:41 am
Dryland dominates the landmass of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – countries in the Horn of Africa that make up the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region.

Opportunity: Call for concepts - From knowledge to climate-resilient action in African countries By Climate and Development Knowledge Network on Mar 30, 2023 05:26 pm
The ‘knowledge-to-action’ call will provide grants to projects led by African organisations that mobilise Indigenous and local knowledge to support locally-led and inclusive climate-resilient action in Africa.

Google: How we’re helping people and cities adapt to extreme heat By Google on Mar 30, 2023 05:04 pm
Heat alerts are coming to Search — plus more ways we’re helping cities and organizations adapt to rising temperatures.

General Assembly votes to seek World Court’s opinion, in quest for ‘bolder’ climate action By United Nations News Centre on Mar 30, 2023 04:37 pm
The UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution on Wednesday.

Rising temperatures are pushing India towards the deadly "wet bulb" threshold By Quartz on Mar 30, 2023 04:23 pm
With heat waves forecast for March-May in India, climate scientists are worried about an increased possibility of deaths if human body temperatures exceed the “wet bulb” threshold of 35°C.

Developing new parametric insurance models for Caribbean and Central American countries By Temblor on Mar 30, 2023 04:07 pm
Parametric insurance policies pay based on pre-agreed thresholds like the magnitude and/or location of an earthquake. Some countries benefit from rapid payouts using this type of insurance.

In 5 charts: continued high losses from natural hazards in 2022 By Swiss Reinsurance Company on Mar 30, 2023 03:50 pm
In 2022, around 45% of USD 275 billion in global economic losses from natural disasters were covered by insurance. We see a long-term growth trend of 5-7% in annual insured losses, mainly driven by rising loss severity of individual catastrophe events.

Understanding how communities are vulnerable to climate change is key to improving equity and justice By Environmental Defense Fund on Mar 30, 2023 03:28 pm
Last month, Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University published a new study that found all states in the U.S. are at risk from the effects of climate change, particularly poor neighborhoods.

China to share progress in disaster warning services with global community By Global Times, the on Mar 30, 2023 03:05 pm
China will promote a disaster warning service among international communities and enhance the influence of the technology by setting up a technology platform that shares data and integrates industrial chains with multiple kinds of disaster warning systems

Effective risk communication saves lives and builds disaster resilience By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Mar 30, 2023 02:56 pm
Effective risk communication should consider the psychological, social, cultural and political forces influencing how people comprehend, perceive, and react to risk.

Earthquake prediction with GSI sensor technology By GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung on Mar 30, 2023 02:38 pm
A network of sensors measuring radon levels and other parameters in selected water sources in Europe might be able to detect earthquakes several days in advance.

Just-in-time cash transfers make vulnerable communities resilient to climate shocks By World Economic Forum on Mar 30, 2023 02:32 pm
Ecological disruption is in full swing. Climate-induced disasters, including chronic droughts, extreme heatwaves, torrential rains and fast-melting glaciers, are becoming unpredictable and violent.

To better measure climate resilience efforts, federal leaders chart collaborative course By The Pew Charitable Trusts on Mar 30, 2023 02:15 pm
Pew-hosted event highlights need to work across agencies—and with state and local governments.

AI could set a new bar for designing hurricane-resistant buildings By National Institute of Standards and Technology on Mar 30, 2023 02:10 pm
Being able to withstand hurricane-force winds is the key to a long life for many buildings on the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast of the U.S. Determining the right level of winds to design for is tricky business, but support from AI may offer a solution.

How big is the protection gap from catastrophes where you are? By Swiss Reinsurance Company on Mar 30, 2023 01:58 pm
When natural disasters strike, the difference between economic and insured losses can vary greatly. Our interactive tool highlights this protection gap in 12 countries and all global regions.

Remembering the lessons of COVID-19 to build resilience for future shocks in Europe and Central Asia By World Bank, the on Mar 30, 2023 01:51 pm
Systems that provide better quality services in normal times have to a large extent better capacity to respond to crises. Many reforms, with minor twists, can therefore support both long-term development outcomes.

Atmospheric rivers By Climate Central on Mar 30, 2023 01:45 pm
Engines of the global water cycle, atmospheric rivers carry vast amounts of moisture from the tropics to the poles—accounting for 90% of the total water vapor that moves across Earth’s mid-latitudes, where the U.S. is located.

Facing floods, non-white homeowners prepare, protect property By Cornell University on Mar 30, 2023 01:06 pm
A survey of homeowners in flood flood-prone areas of New York state shows that race and homeownership status – as well as previous experience in a flood and involvement in community groups – shaped a person’s preparedness.

Urban water conservation success in the Colorado River Basin By Eos - AGU on Mar 30, 2023 11:31 am
In the past few decades, cities in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada have vastly increased their water use efficiency. They’ve also learned lessons that can inform other cities’ efforts.

Nature-based solutions for climate resilience are catching on in World Bank projects: Less gray, more green and blue By World Bank, the on Mar 30, 2023 11:23 am
More than 100 World Bank projects used nature-based solutions from fiscal years 2012 to 2021, and the number has increased significantly since 2018.

In Mozambique, climate resilient infrastructures save lives and reduce the impact from disasters By United Nations Human Settlements Programme - Headquarters on Mar 29, 2023 05:24 pm
For the last 12 years, UN-Habitat has been working with the government of Mozambique on the Safer Schools Initiative to increase climate resilience of education facilities.

UNICEF report finds children in Thailand at ‘high risk’ from climate change and environmental degradation By United Nations Children's Fund (Global Headquarters, New York) on Mar 29, 2023 02:13 pm
Children in Thailand are at high risk from climate change, according to a new study released today by UNICEF and conducted by Thailand Development Research Institute.

Seismic resilience in metro Manila: Accessing healthcare after a catastrophic earthquake on the west valley fault line By World Bank, the on Mar 29, 2023 01:52 pm
Hospitals and the health system play a crucial role in the direct aftermath of an earthquake. Operational facilities are necessary for government continuity plans and for meeting surge demand caused by an earthquake.

Why tornadoes are still hard to forecast – Even though storm predictions are improving By Texas A&M University System on Mar 29, 2023 01:39 pm
Meteorologists have gotten a lot better at forecasting the conditions that make tornadoes more likely. But predicting exactly which thunderstorms will produce a tornado and when is harder, and that’s where a lot of severe weather research is focused today

KICT develops a ground & structure collapse detection sensor By EurekAlert on Mar 29, 2023 01:28 pm
A smart sensor and system capable of detecting imminent ground or structure collapses is now available

Disabled people are ‘lost and excluded’ when disasters hit, says UN advocate By Guardian, the (UK) on Mar 29, 2023 01:13 pm
Lack of data and fallout from Covid both hamper equal rights, and women suffer worst, says new chair of UN disability rights committee.

Seychelles' telecoms providers sign agreement for SMS disaster risk alerts system By Seychelles News Agency on Mar 29, 2023 12:58 pm
The Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA) signed an agreement with the country's two largest telecommunication companies that expect to bring faster disaster risk alerts to the public.

Can Bangladesh 'climate proof' garment jobs in a warming world? By Context on Mar 29, 2023 12:54 pm
As rising heat and other climate change impacts hit workers, manufacturers are under pressure from brands seeking sustainable fashion.

Stanford study finds wastewater disposal from oil production triggered major earthquake in Canada By Stanford University on Mar 29, 2023 12:49 pm
New research reveals wastewater injected underground by fossil fuel operators caused a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in November 2022 in the Peace River area of Alberta’s oil sands region.

Connecting the dots: the importance of recognising multi-hazard events in disaster reporting By European Geosciences Union on Mar 29, 2023 12:40 pm
Despite growing awareness among disaster risk researchers and managers of the importance of adopting a multi-hazard approach [10,11], complex multi-hazard events are often not recognised and reported upon.

Water security and fragility in South Sudan – rising from the depths By World Bank, the on Mar 29, 2023 11:17 am
A new World Bank report describes the impact of floods and other water-related threats on South Sudan’s communities. Focusing on water for people, production, and protection, it shows that water insecurity is an existential threat to South Sudan.

California farmers flood their fields in order to save them By Thomson Reuters on Mar 28, 2023 04:30 pm
California farmers are mimicking nature by letting water flow across the landscape as a cost-effective way to manage peak flood flows, while banking the surplus for drier days.

Alerting vulnerable communities to extreme weather By University of Leeds on Mar 28, 2023 04:03 pm
Researchers at the University of Leeds are developing a 'nowcasting' system to get accurate, short-range weather forecasts of extreme weather to socially disadvantaged communities in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.

How is India adapting to heatwaves?: an assessment of heat action plans with insights for transformative climate action By The Centre for Policy Research on Mar 28, 2023 04:01 pm
HAPs are India’s primary policy response to economically damaging and life threatening heatwaves.

Atmospheric rivers offer opportunity for Sonoma County reservoirs By National Association of Counties on Mar 28, 2023 03:46 pm
A nearly decade-long partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has helped Sonoma County, Calif. understand atmospheric rivers, which allows the county to match its reservoir levels against increasingly confident forecasts.

Vegetation browning from drought hits L.A.’s disadvantaged communities hardest By University of California, Los Angeles on Mar 28, 2023 03:31 pm
Despite all of the recent rain in California, the Los Angeles region still faces the effects of the megadrought.The combination of droughts and high temperatures are especially damaging to trees, which can play a key role in moderating extreme heat.

Vulnerable Philippines – working towards climate adaptation By Climate Adaptation Platform on Mar 28, 2023 03:24 pm
Last year, the World Risk Index 2022 put the Philippines at the number one spot for the most-disaster-prone country in the world.

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