The News and blogs weekly newsletter introduces the latest news and blogs published by PreventionWeb on disaster risk reduction.
In the 07/18/2023 edition:
AI-basedmeteorological model serves accurate global weather forecasts
By Xinhua News
Agency on Jul 17, 2023 03:28 pm
AI-based meteorological model serves accurate
global weather forecasts
The ongoingmarine heat waves in U.S. waters, explained
By National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Jul 17, 2023 03:07 pm
NOAA scientists have tracked a steady climb in
ocean temperatures since April 2023, which is causing unprecedented heat stress
conditions in the Caribbean Basin, including waters surrounding Florida and in
the Gulf of Mexico.
Europeanheatwave: what’s causing it and is climate change to blame?
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 17, 2023 03:05 pm
Europe is currently in the midst of a heatwave.
Italy, in particular, is expected to face blistering heat, with temperatures
projected to reach 40℃ to 45℃. There’s
even a chance that the current European temperature record of 48.8℃ could be surpassed.
How the 1978flood led to Delhi strengthening its embankments
By
Live-Mint/Hindustan Times, HT Media Limited on Jul 17, 2023 02:51 pm
The flood in 1978 in Delhi led to the
construction of higher embankments and additional bunds, which have protected
the city from subsequent floods
What causesmudslides and floods after wildfires? Hint: It’s not what scientists thought
By University
of Southern California on Jul 17, 2023 02:45 pm
Researchers believed a waxy coating in burnt
soil caused water to run over the ground’s surface. They now find that burnt
ground can absorb water, findings that can help them more accurately predict
flooding and mudslides after a fire.
Indigenouscommunities face harsher effects from wildfire smoke
By Globe and
Mail, the on Jul 17, 2023 02:42 pm
Indigenous people, not only in Canada but also
globally, live in closest proximity to nature and, of course, with nature comes
forest.
Extreme weatherthreatens the best-kept art of the ancient Silk Road
By Washington
Post, the on Jul 17, 2023 01:55 pm
Changing weather patterns in northwest China are
putting ancient Silk Road cave murals and statues at risk, new research has
found, underscoring how a warming atmosphere threatens some of the country’s
most precious historical artifacts.
By PhysOrg,
Omicron Technology Ltd on Jul 17, 2023 01:18 pm
Prof. Chen Mingxing's team has revealed the
increasing inequality of the compound risk of aging and extreme heat wave
exposure of global cities under future scenarios.
How do weimprove urban early warning and early action for food security?
By Aaron
Clark-Ginsberg, Loveline Phillips on Jul 17, 2023 10:11 am
Improving availability and access to early
warning information is one of the seven global targets of the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and is also a key focus of many
agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization and USAID.
Have your say tobuild a European Network on Climate Change Adaptation
By TransformAr
on Jul 14, 2023 03:48 pm
TransformAr has recently launched a new
questionnaire to build a European Network on Climate Change Adaptation by
identifying relevant stakeholders.
Living near thefire – 500 million people worldwide have active volcanoes as neighbors
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 14, 2023 03:18 pm
The thought of living near an active volcano
probably sounds like an unimaginable risk to you – and rightly so. An active
volcano is never safe and can turn a forested hillside into a lifeless
wasteland in a matter of seconds.
Climate changeis increasing stress on thousands of aging dams across the US
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 14, 2023 11:56 am
Heavy rainfall in the Northeast on June 9-11,
2023, generated widespread flooding, particularly in New York’s Hudson Valley
and in Vermont. One major concern was the Wrightsville Dam, built in 1935 on
the Winooski River.
Finding climatesolutions for Ethiopian farmers
By United
Nations Development Programme - Headquarters on Jul 14, 2023 11:40 am
Nestled in the Horn of Africa, in the eastern
part of Ethiopia is the region of Harari, known as the midlands for its
semi-arid rolling hills with terraced farms.
What this year’sEl Niño means for wheat and global food supply
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 14, 2023 11:33 am
WMO has declared the onset of the first El Niño
event in seven years. It estimates 90% probability the climatic phenomenon,
involving an unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean, will develop through 2023,
and be of moderate strength.
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 14, 2023 11:25 am
Weather forecasts have gotten quite good over
the years, but their temperatures aren’t always spot on – and the result when
they underplay extremes can be lethal. A 1-degree difference in a forecast’s
accuracy can be the difference between life and death
Acommunity-driven flood resilience information platform for Nicaragua
By International
Institute for Applied Systems Analysis on Jul 14, 2023 11:20 am
IIASA researchers and colleagues from Plan
International are using modern digital tools to enhance community-driven flood
resilience in rural flood-prone communities in Nicaragua.
On the trail oflandslides and rockfalls: TU Graz measurement method uses existing fibre opticlines
By Graz
University of Technology on Jul 14, 2023 10:31 am
By changes in the wavelength of light pulses in
fibre optic cables, researchers at TU Graz can measure where rockfalls,
landslides, fires and earthquakes are taking place.
MCR2030 welcomesthree new Resilience Hubs in Latin America
By United
Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas
and the Caribbean on Jul 13, 2023 09:04 pm
These three new Resilience Hubs will support our
global network in sharing knowledge and best practices
among MCR2030 cities.
Heat-relateddeaths ‘56% higher among women’ during record-breaking 2022 European summer
By Carbon Brief
on Jul 13, 2023 01:47 pm
More than 61,000 people died as a result of
searing heat across Europe in the summer of 2022, according to a new
study.
By Anticipation
Hub on Jul 13, 2023 11:22 am
Nepal, a country nestled amid the majestic
Himalayas, is no stranger to disasters. However, it has embraced a
groundbreaking approach – anticipatory action – to transform disaster
management.
Bringing agender perspective to disaster risk finance can save lives and support recovery
By World Bank,
the on Jul 13, 2023 09:27 am
Even after years of significant economic and
social progress, women continue to face barriers in many areas. And when a
natural disaster strikes, women tend to face life-threatening challenges, which
could hamper both their economic and physical survival.
WMO highlightsefforts to tackle sand and dust storms
By World
Meteorological Organization on Jul 13, 2023 09:20 am
The World Meteorological Organization is
supporting the first ever International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms
to draw attention to the significant impacts on the environment,
socio-economic well-being and health.
Climate threat:Rising sea levels and stronger storms highlight the need for coastal resilience
By Asian
Development Bank on Jul 13, 2023 09:14 am
Climate change is threatening coastal
communities worldwide. Using local knowledge, as well as innovative practices
such as parametric insurance, is needed to enhance coastal resilience and
mitigate the impact of climate change.
By United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on Jul 13, 2023 09:06 am
The frequency of sand and dust storms (SDS) is
on the rise in various regions across the globe. This rise is attributed to
factors such as human-driven climate change, desertification, land degradation,
and persistent droughts.
Greening VietNam’s central highlands: A story of hope from Bon Bu Dak village
By United
Nations Development Programme - Viet Nam on Jul 13, 2023 08:48 am
At the foot of the Nam Gleh R'luh volcano, in
the UNESCO Global Geopark, lies the beautiful village of Bon Bu Dak. Nestled
among vast rubber plantations, coffee forests and pepper trees, the village is
enveloped by lush greenery.
Vermont floodsshow limits of America’s efforts to adapt to climate change
By New York
Times, the on Jul 12, 2023 02:47 pm
The lack of a comprehensive national rainfall
database and current flood maps hampers the ability to prepare for storms
intensified by climate change.
Adding snow toestimates of spring flooding
By Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory on Jul 12, 2023 02:30 pm
A PNNL scheme to improve small-scale hydrologic
infrastructure helps pinpoint local flood risks.
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 12, 2023 02:30 pm
A powerful storm system that hit the U.S.
Northeast on July 9 and 10, 2023, dumped close to 10 inches of rain on New
York’s Lower Hudson Valley in less than a day and sent mountain rivers spilling
over their banks and into towns across Vermont.
Californialaunches new heat initiative ahead of next heatwave
By CBS News,
CBS Corporation on Jul 12, 2023 02:00 pm
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a $20 million
campaign to protect Californians from extreme heat as the state prepares for
another heatwave this weekend.
By Global
Resilience Partnership on Jul 12, 2023 01:19 pm
In Manzanillo, Costa Rica, we meet Ana Cecilia
Solís Ugalde, a community leader who created a mangrove nursery to build
climate resilience in her community.
Climate changeis making travel that much harder
By Columbia
Climate School on Jul 12, 2023 01:04 pm
The design of most of our transportation
infrastructure was based on the climate of the mid-20th century. As climate
change continues to warm the planet and make weather more extreme, much of that
infrastructure will become less safe and reliable.
Taking afine-grained approach to investigating climate’s impact on crops
By Eos - AGU on
Jul 12, 2023 12:58 pm
Studying the effects of variable weather on all
three aspects of production—planting, harvesting, and yield—can help farmers
and policymakers build resilience to climate change.
By White House,
the on Jul 12, 2023 12:51 pm
Millions of Americans are being impacted by
extreme heat waves, which are growing in intensity, frequency, and duration due
to climate change. In June, heat waves broke records across the country.
By Conversation
Media Group, the on Jul 12, 2023 11:59 am
New research shows scientists have
underestimated the climate risk to agriculture and global food
production.
Cooling theheat: can India lead the world in green cooling innovation
By World Bank,
the on Jul 12, 2023 11:26 am
India must urgently address its urban heat
challenge not only as a climate challenge but also as a development
challenge.
Why don’t moreCalifornians protect their homes against wildfires?
By The Society
for Risk Analysis on Jul 12, 2023 10:48 am
New research suggests that insurance could
incentivize homeowners to take mitigative action and help prevent their
neighborhoods from going up in smoke.
Why climateaction is critical to reducing poverty and what it means for policy tradeoffs
By World Bank,
the on Jul 12, 2023 10:41 am
Climate change, and the increase in temperature,
rainfall extremes and storms that it brings will have a big impact on the
ability of poor people to earn incomes.
5 tips forinclusive disaster-risk management planning
By World Bank,
the on Jul 12, 2023 10:25 am
Below are five tips for governments and
development experts on how to strengthen inclusiveness in disaster risk
management planning.
Improving heatrisk education and warning messaging: 3 recommendations
By Kristin
VanderMolen, Nicholas Kimutis, Benjamin Hatchett on Jul 11, 2023 02:15 pm
As population exposure to extreme heat
increases, government agencies are developing heat health warning systems to
support the public in taking protective action. The reach and effectiveness of
these interventions is still a concern.
Sea level risethreatens the existence of the Marshall Islands
By Secretariat
of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme on Jul 11, 2023 01:18 pm
At its highest point, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands(RMI) stands at two metres above sea level. As people of a
low-lying atoll nation, the Marshallese face an existential threat from climate
change impacts, specifically sea level rise.
Chad’s economicrecovery: navigating challenges and building resilience to floods?
By World Bank,
the on Jul 11, 2023 11:47 am
Chad’s GDP growth was modest due to the impact
of floods and a volatile security environment, which hindered the expected
recovery.
How wildfirerisk and extreme heat is changing the insurance industry
By World
Economic Forum on Jul 11, 2023 11:25 am
Climate change poses a conundrum for the
insurance industry. Extreme weather events have been occurring with heightened
frequency, severity and unpredictability in recent years, upending the climate
models and risk management strategies.
By Stockholm
Environment Institute on Jul 11, 2023 11:10 am
As our planet warms, all nations grapple with
climate change adaptation. This Q&A with SEI Policy Fellow, Mikael Allan
Mikaelsson, explores the current state of adaptation in the Nordic region,
shedding light on key challenges and potential steps forward.
Record-breakingheat in the summer of 2022 caused more than 61,000 deaths in Europe
By ISGlobal on
Jul 11, 2023 10:48 am
An epidemiological analysis published in Nature
Medicine estimates that 63% more women than men died due to heat, with the
highest incidence in the Mediterranean region
Addressingjustice in wildfire risk management
By
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis on Jul 11, 2023 09:58 am
A new article calls for more integrated and
inclusive wildfire risk management approaches and proposes a novel framework
mapping different justice aspects.
Personalexperience with wildfire increases engagement in disaster preparedness, OSUstudy finds
By Oregon State
University on Jul 11, 2023 09:45 am
Residents who experienced direct harm from
Oregon’s 2020 wildfires are more likely to take steps to mitigate their fire
risk in the future, an Oregon State University study found.
Can we stopdisasters before they happen?
By Beyond
disaster on Jul 11, 2023 09:44 am
Interview with Roslyn Prinsley, of the ANU
Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, on innovative
technologies to tackle the impact of more intense disasters.
Synthesizing 200years of research on the urban impact on regional climate and extreme weather
By United
States Department of Energy on Jul 11, 2023 09:39 am
As cities expand and urban populations grow,
scientists need to better understand how cities interact with weather and
climate at various scales. This review provides an overview of current
scientific understanding of the effects of urbanization.
A study reframesthe definition of marine heatwaves to improve responses to climate change
By EurekAlert
on Jul 11, 2023 09:30 am
An IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) study highlights how
today’s climate variables are not constant over the long term and climate
indicators need to be realigned.
Moreextreme-heat occurrences related to humidity in China
By Institute of
Atmospheric Physics on Jul 10, 2023 04:08 pm
Against the background of global warming,
significant increasing trends in the frequency of such extreme events are
captured nationwide, but with much stronger trends detected in northern and
western China .
Understandingthe climate change impact on health
By Open Access
Government on Jul 10, 2023 11:00 am
Scientists at the Climate Service Center Germany
(GERICS) help society to prepare for climate change impacts on health in a
multi-faceted approach
The health carecosts of extreme heat
By Center for
American Progress on Jul 10, 2023 10:45 am
Daily climate and health care utilization data
from Virginia illuminate the health care costs of extreme heat, which amount to
approximately $1 billion every summer when extrapolated nationally.
It's not theheat, it's the inhumanity
By Oxfam -
Solidarité on Jul 10, 2023 10:29 am
Honestly? This is simple. It’s very, very hot
outside—much hotter than it used to be, and it should be—sizzling, scorching,
scalding. When it gets this hot, people who have to work outside should be
protected with simple measures: shade, water, rest.
New virtualboardgame brings households together to tackle climate change
By Waverly
Council on Jul 10, 2023 10:24 am
Teenagers in Sydney’s east have joined forces
with seniors and local environmental groups to create a new virtual board game
that promotes activities and actions to make sustainability second
nature.
How four citiesare building resilience to extreme heat
By Atlantic
Council on Jul 10, 2023 10:17 am
The world broke the record for the hottest day
ever this week—twice. On July 3, the average global temperature hit 17.01°C
(62.62°F), exceeding the August 2016 record of 16.92°C (62.46°F). Then, on July
4, it rose to 17.18°C (62.92°F).
Call forapplications: Research grants on inclusive EWEA
By Global
Disaster Preparedness Center on Jul 07, 2023 02:13 pm
The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
is proud to announce the launch of its Small Grants Research Program focused on
inclusivity and accessibility of early warning early action among last mile
communities.
Nigeriansexperiment with wildfire prevention methods
By Fair Planet
on Jul 07, 2023 02:08 pm
Francis Onabe still remembers the event of 22
March, 2020 vividly. That day, bush fire set by a farmer escalated and
spread to his farmland, destroying all his crops in Olum, his community in
Nigeria’s southeastern Cross River State.
New study showsrobust pandemic preparedness strongly linked to lower Covid-19 mortality rates
By Nuclear
Threat Initiative on Jul 07, 2023 02:00 pm
Preparedness matters: Accounting for age and
national capabilities to diagnose COVID-19 deaths reveals that pre-pandemic
investments in capacity saved lives—though U.S. remains an outlier.
Q&A: Whyextreme weather, not climate change, drives concerns about water safety
By University
of Southern California on Jul 07, 2023 01:30 pm
People’s worries about water safety are
connected more closely to concerns about severe weather than climate change.
Environmental communication could better capture attention and drive meaningful
action by focusing on extreme waether impacts.
Bus stops andplaygrounds are too damn hot
By Vox Media Inc. on Jul 07, 2023 12:45 pm
