Knowledge Base Highlights and editors' picks

Top stories and editors' picks from the most recent additions. Explore the whole Knowledge Base.

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.

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Documents and publications

4 January 2024

Stress testing adaptive social protection systems in the Sahel

This report provides an overview of the state of ASP across six Sahelian countries as well as a set of recommendations for actions to strengthen the adaptiveness and responsiveness of existing systems to shocks.

A child sits on a boat on a polluted river in Negro River, Amazon

Update

3 January 2024

Riobardas and the path to flood resilience in El Salvador

Removing waste from water bodies helps tackle various issues, including flood risks. Plan International worked with two Salvadoran communities to build and install a new waste collection method "Riobardas" in a river that contributes to the flood risks.

Flood Resilience Portal

Update

2 January 2024

Japan’s latest earthquake could’ve been much worse, a Northeastern expert says, but the country spends money to ‘keep people safe’

The East Asia country has comparatively low earthquake casualties given the magnitude of their quakes, thanks to their emergency preparations, a Northeastern expert says.

Northeastern University

Family with a baby in the midst of a flooded street following Hurricane Sandy, in Miami (USA) in 2012.

Research briefs

2 January 2024

Study: From NYC to D.C. and beyond, cities on the East Coast are sinking

Major cities on the U.S. Atlantic coast are sinking, in some cases as much as 5 millimeters per year – a decline at the ocean’s edge that well outpaces global sea level rise, confirms new research from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Virginia Tech

A child views flood damage after Hurricane Ida in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Research briefs

3 January 2024

In coastal communities, sea level rise may leave some isolated

As global sea levels rise, the study suggests that a population's risk of isolation be incorporated into future climate adaptation policies.

Oregon State University

A motorcyclist drives through an inundated street during a rainy day in Hong Kong

Update

29 December 2023

Global warming intensifies typhoon-induced extreme precipitation over East Asia

A recent study on super typhoons in East Asia shows that accounting for global warming from human activities augmented overall typhoon intensity and precipitation. The impact of warming appears more pronounced at maximum typhoon intensity.

Pohang University of Science and Technology

A resident of Houston, Texas carries away debris after flooding brought about by Hurricane Harvey

Research briefs

20 December 2023

Finding new ways to adapt to a growing weather threat

Research reveals a steady increase in the number of people at risk from tropical cyclones and the number of days per year these storms threaten health and livelihoods. The findings could help plan better strategies to mitigate extreme weather impacts.

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

Update

10 June 2024

Climate Change Will Make Air Pollution Worse. Here’s How.

A new study finds climate change is likely to make upward spikes of ozone at ground level worse by 2050, which could result in many parts of the United States falling out of compliance with air quality standards and increasing risks to public health.

North Carolina State University

A traffic officer drinks water during a hot day in Kolkata, India

Update

28 December 2023

Next year likely to surpass 2023 as the hottest ever

With climate change and an incipient El Niño driving up temperatures, 2024 is likely to eclipse 2023 as the hottest year ever, meteorologists project.

Yale Environment 360