Knowledge Base highlights and editors' picks

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Every week the PreventionWeb team of editors selects the latest news and research, reports and publications on disaster risk reduction – here is their selection of the latest must-read content.

A group of five children from a village in Pakistan playing in the green field.

Update

25 July 2024

Still standing: How USAID’s disaster-resilient construction in Pakistan is keeping children in school amidst devastating floods

These USAID-constructed schools served as epicenters of the recovery from the disaster. For the 17,000 people whose homes were destroyed during the floods, 59 of the schools were able to be used as temporary shelters.

Climatelinks

Update

25 July 2024

How early warning systems are saving lives in Central Asia

Despite some of the successes in advancing early warning systems in Central Asia, there are persistent challenges that threaten their effectiveness in saving lives and livelihoods across the region.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Workers drain a flooded thoroughfare after a night of severe thunderstorms in Kisumu, Kenya

Research briefs

25 July 2024

Landmark new research shows how global warming is messing with our rainfall

The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth's land area - particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows.

Conversation Media Group, the

Documents and publications

26 July 2024

Heat at work: Implications for safety and health

This report includes an analysis of national legislation to address heat stress from 21 countries across the world, identifying common provisions for workplace level measures.

Documents and publications

25 July 2024

United Nations Secretary-General's call to action on extreme heat

In response to the rapid rise in the scale, intensity, frequency and duration of extreme heat, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 25 July 2024 called for an urgent and concerted effort to enhance international cooperation to address extreme heat.

Uzbek children in Registan Square, in traditional clothes with doira

Update

24 July 2024

Rising heat across Europe and Central Asia kills nearly 400 children a year - UNICEF

New policy brief outlines six policy recommendations for governments to protect young children, particularly vulnerable to the health effects of heat stress.

United Nations Children's Fund (Global Headquarters, New York)

Brick field workers rest after hard work, wearing just baked brick from the kiln in truck

Update

24 July 2024

No respite from heat for workers in India

Indian regulatory codes are largely advisory when it comes to dealing with heat, ignoring humidity altogether, placing millions in danger during heatwaves and monsoons

Dialogue Earth

The Olympic Rings installed on the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Update

24 July 2024

Paris Olympics promote sustainability for good reason: Climate change is putting athletes and their sports at risk

Europe is in the midst of a heat wave, and while Olympic athletes in Paris for the 2024 Summer Games might be spared the worst of it, the weather will still be hot.

Conversation Media Group, the

Father protects his children with umbrellas from the sun on a very hot day.

Update

25 July 2024

Monday was the warmest day recorded on Earth. But how do scientists actually measure that?

In the past week, Earth's record for the hottest day was broken twice. Sunday July 21 was declared Earth's hottest day since records began, when average surface temperature reached 17.09°C. On Monday the record fell again, temperatures reached 17.16°C.

Conversation Media Group, the