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.

Update

9 August 2023

How to make urban hills safer: Cross-city dialogue on landslide risk management

Cities are at the forefront of understanding risks and devising ways to manage them. Extreme weather events are on the rise, putting dense urban centers with their high concentrations of people and capital, in the line of fire.

World Bank, the

Flooded streets following a hurricane in Florida, USA

Update

8 August 2023

FEMA maps said they weren’t in a flood zone. Then came the rain.

Flaws in federal flood maps leave millions unprepared. Some are trying to fix that.

Grist Magazine

Research briefs

7 August 2023

Fanning the flames: Wildfires emit potent climate-warming organic particles

As Canadian wildfire smoke continues to impact swaths of the United States, resulting in poor air quality and negative health outcomes for millions of Americans, more people than ever are feeling the effects of longer fire seasons and a changing climate.

Washington University in St. Louis

Two women Tea Laborers plucking Tea leaves in a Tea Garden in Hatton, Sri Lanka.

Update

3 August 2023

Helping communities help themselves: early warning systems help save lives

In response to taking on a more proactive approach that will help communities better prepare for such disasters, led by IWMI in collaboration with World Vision Sri Lanka, the CGIAR ClimBeR, recently led a series of anticipatory action drills.

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

Update

8 August 2023

In the future, we could snuff out cyclones. But weather control comes with new risks

As cyclones get stronger, we will urgently need new institutions to help tackle scientific uncertainties, develop monitoring capabilities and find ways of making collaborative decisions at speed.

Conversation Media Group, the

Update

7 August 2023

Regional project strengthens early warnings in the Caribbean

A successful 3,5-year project in the Caribbean has demonstrated the benefits of strong collaboration between development agencies and local partner and of better weather, water and climate services to save lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

A small Asian girl hides behind the brick wall from the sun.

Update

7 August 2023

Heatwaves and high temperatures threatening young lives in South Asia: UNICEF

Three-quarters of children in South Asia are already exposed to extreme high temperature compared to only one in three globally, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, urging authorities to do more to help them beat the heat.

United Nations - Headquarters

People in animal shelter playing, relaxing and spending time with pets

Research briefs

6 August 2023

How climate change will affect your pet – and how to help them cope

While humans have the capacity to understand and prepare for climate change, pets will need human's help to cope.

Conversation Media Group, the

Update

3 August 2023

Exceptional heat and rain, wildfires and floods mark summer of extremes

Dangerous weather - intense heat and devastating rainfall – has impacted large parts of the Northern hemisphere in this summer of extremes, causing major damage to the people’s health and the environment.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Photograph of a mobile phone with cyclone moving towards the coast shown. The background is yellow with warning sign.

Update

4 August 2023

MRC launches a channel to improve public awareness on flood and drought risks in the Lower Mekong River Basin

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has launched a Channel on Mekong Flood and Drought Forecast, aimed at improving public awareness and understanding of Mekong River conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB).

Mekong River Commission for Sustainable Development