Reducing climate change disaster risk

Updated: Thu, 7 Jun 2018

As climate heats up, planners urged to look beyond history to judge risks

Predictions based on past weather extremes are dramatically underestimating growing threats of extreme heat and rain linked to warming, researchers find

Storm-hit Zimbabweans endure another rainy season in risky homes
The government is planning to relocate residents of flimsy houses near rivers that flooded when Cyclone Idai hit - but engineers say a comprehensive overhaul of building codes and materials is needed By Farai Shawn Matiashe | Wed, 29 Jan 2020
Climate change could spark 'global systemic crisis' - scientists
Failure to act on climate-related threats could create a "potentially uncontrollable situation in the future if we don't act very soon" By Laurie Goering | Fri, 7 Feb 2020
As lightning strikes surge, Bangladesh plants a defence
Climate shifts are leading to more deadly lightning - but an effort to plant palm trees could cut the risks By A.Z.M. Anas | Mon, 11 Nov 2019
Conserve or develop? Protecting floodplains could cut flood costs
Buying flood-prone U.S. land and protecting it from development would be far cheaper than paying later for flood damage to homes, say researchers By Carey L. Biron | Mon, 9 Dec 2019
Saving Indonesians from climate disasters, one tweet at a time
Indonesia suffers hundreds of natural disasters every year By Michael Taylor | Thu, 12 Dec 2019
Rising US losses from strong storms flag need for protection
Worsening storms are causing worsening damage - but measures to prepare and protect could help, experts say By Anna Scholz-Carlson | Wed, 13 Nov 2019
As wildfires worsen, Californians harness tech for help
To better protect themselves from wildfires worsened by climate change, communities are pulling together to share information By Ellen Wulfhorst | Mon, 11 Nov 2019
Removable solar panels boost storm readiness in Dominica
As the Caribbean island aims to become fully "climate resilient", a volunteer effort is keeping health centres operating - with clean energy By Laurie Goering | Fri, 13 Dec 2019
To avert future flood chaos, Jakarta urged to defend nature
Rapid urbanisation has led to forest loss, while groundwater extraction is causing the coastal city to sink as sea levels rise - a dangerous cocktail that is worsening floods By Michael Taylor | Tue, 7 Jan 2020
Mobile phone warnings set to aid climate-vulnerable Somali nomads
Hit by droughts, then floods, Somalia's pastoralists face huge climate risks - but mobile phone warnings could help, backers say By Rosa Furneaux | Thu, 21 Nov 2019
US announces $30 mln to bolster coasts from flooding, rising seas
States like Louisiana will get help to restore wetlands and other natural systems to cut risks from wilder weather and sea level rise By Ellen Wulfhorst | Tue, 19 Nov 2019
South American cities harness tech and nature to tackle floods
Using sensors, green areas, better planning and more advice from communities, cities are battling growing flood risk By Anastasia Moloney | Fri, 22 Nov 2019
Water harvesting has added benefit for Kenya: less flooding
Efforts to trap and store more water to battle worsening climate change-related drought are helping cut flood risk too, experts say By Caroline Wambui | Fri, 3 Jan 2020
Richer nations urged to protect against wild weather as loss jumps
Economic losses to climate catastrophes are surging fastest in temperate countries, which need to move faster to adapt, scientists warn By Laurie Goering | Sat, 12 Oct 2019
Bangladesh tries new way to aid flood-hit families: cash up front
Money in advance of an expected disaster can give vulnerable people resources to avoid the worst losses, backers say By Naimul Karim | Fri, 26 Jul 2019
Virtual reality helps scare residents to flee looming storms
Participants who saw virtual reality of a storm were significantly more likely to say they would make home preparations or evacuate than those who saw traditional weather maps or text alerts By Kate Ryan | Fri, 21 Jun 2019
Beyond shelter in a storm, Odisha eyes sturdier homes and power
India has become proficient at saving lives by evacuating people ahead of major storms, but infrastructure has taken a battering By Manipadma Jena | Sat, 15 Jun 2019
As risks rise, too little spent to avert disasters: UN, Red Cross
Top officials lament shortage of funding to stop disasters happening and protect people, which raises aid costs after they hit By Megan Rowling | Tue, 14 May 2019
Protecting basic services from disasters saves cash - World Bank
As climate threats rise, investment is needed in building transport, energy, telecoms and water systems that work through disasters By Megan Rowling | Wed, 19 Jun 2019
Big data helps confront more complex disasters in Asia
As climate change brings bigger threats, data from everything from social media to satellites is helping cut risks in Asia, U.N. officials say By Rina Chandran | Thu, 22 Aug 2019
Pakistan races to protect mountain villages from runaway glaciers
As some glaciers advance and others retreat, lakes of meltwater are forming that threaten mountain communities - but a new project aims to keep them safe from floods By Rina Saeed Khan | Thu, 30 May 2019
Affordability, tradition curb Bangladesh demand for floating homes
"The aim was to design resilient floating homes that enable families to stay and survive the aftermath of extreme flooding" By Rina Chandran | Thu, 6 Jun 2019
interview Storm-struck Mozambique must revamp climate preparations: Machel
Mozambique will have to find ways to rebuild homes and other infrastructure to keep them safer from growing climate threats, says Graca Machel By Laurie Goering | Fri, 26 Apr 2019
As climate shifts bring 'horror movie' floods, Rio fights to adapt
As rains become heavier, the city needs to do more to prevent disasters, engineers and planners say By Karla Mendes and Gregory Scruggs | Thu, 9 May 2019

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