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.

Documents and publications

29 July 2024

Early warning systems in fragility, conflict, and violence-affected settings: Shielding communities from natural hazards amid compounded crises

This study aims to contribute to GFDRR's overarching objective: to help low- and middle income countries understand and reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change.

Research briefs

26 July 2024

Extreme wildfires are getting more extreme and occurring more often

The world’s most energetic wildfires have doubled in intensity and number over the past 2 decades, with climate change and land management likely to blame.

Eos - AGU

Update

29 July 2024

Manila is reeling after a super typhoon. We must prepare fast-growing megacities for worsening disasters

Last week, a strong typhoon left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, Taiwan and China. Super Typhoon Gaemi intensified rapidly, leaving at least 65 people dead and triggering environmental fears after it sank an oil tanker in Manila Bay.

Conversation Media Group, the

Update

26 July 2024

8 blazing new technologies that could spark change in wildfire risk reduction

The impacts of climate change are escalating, compounded by urban expansion into fire-prone areas. Eight cutting-edge technologies have the potential to revolutionize wildfire risk reduction strategies.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

White passenger airplane flying in the sky with clouds in the background

Research briefs

25 July 2024

Climate change will bring more turbulence to flights in the Northern Hemisphere, analysis finds

A type of invisible, unpredictable air turbulence is expected to occur more frequently in the Northern Hemisphere as the climate warms, according to new research.

American Geophysical Union

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.