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.

Update

8 July 2024

Athletes warn of extreme heat risk at olympic, paralympic games

Some of the world's top elite athletes are voicing concern about competing during extreme heat in a new report released before the Olympics and Paralympics to be held this summer in France.

The Energy Mix

Update

8 July 2024

Strengthening community resilience against disasters in Afghanistan

UNDP, with funding from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA), implemented several projects aimed at increasing the resilience of communities on preventing flash floods and training locals for disaster risk preparedness, response, and recovery.

United Nations Development Programme - Afghanistan

A satellite observes a hurricane from space

Update

5 July 2024

Space Park Leicester’s new satellite system monitoring real-time imagery of Hurricane Beryl

In a significant breakthrough for real-time environmental monitoring and disaster response, Space Park Leicester has successfully utilised its advanced satellite system to capture near real-time images of Hurricane Beryl.

University of Leicester

Documents and publications

5 July 2024

Breaking the cycle of risk: mapping a pathway for climate-vulnerable countries to address resilience and debt

A new report, “Breaking the cycle of risk: Addressing resilience and debt for a new global financial architecture”, shows that we have the opportunity to move climate vulnerable countries out of debt by reforming the financial architecture.

Research briefs

4 July 2024

Climate scientist suggests fast escalation of megastorms like Beryl

Rowan University climate scientist Dr. Andra Garner last year documented in the journal Scientific Reports that Atlantic Hurricanes, like the current storm Beryl, have developed faster and with greater strength over the past 50 years.

Rowan University

Update

4 July 2024

Cool roofs are best at beating cities’ heat

Painting roofs white or covering them with a reflective coating would be more effective at cooling cities like London than vegetation-covered “green roofs,” street-level vegetation or solar panels, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

University College London

Local government workers and members of the national police distribute relief goods to residents.

Update

5 July 2024

Empowering local governments for effective disaster management and climate resilience

Local governments need a combination of strategic policy reforms and capacity building to effectively perform disaster risk reduction and management functions.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Documents and publications

4 July 2024

Addressing climate change adaptation in fragile settings and conflict-affected countries: Lessons learned from the adaptation fund’s portfolio

This study presents an overview of the Fund’s experience and lessons learned from addressing climate change adaptation and strengthening long-term resilience to climate change in fragile and conflict-afflicted countries.

Documents and publications

4 July 2024

From alert to action: earthquake early warning and deaf communities

This paper examines issues raised in the existing literature on Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH+) persons and disasters and applies insights to earthquake early warning (EEW) systems.