Please find below links to recent news about some aspects of disaster resilience…
Recent emergencies/disasters
Landslides kill 11, injure 18 in Indonesia’s West Java https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/10/indonesia-landslides-kill-11-injure-18-in-west-java
Coronavirus crisis worsens with global surges and fresh outbreaks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264060-coronavirus-crisis-worsens-with-global-surges-and-fresh-outbreaks/
Deadly avalanche strikes ski resort in the world’s northernmost city of Norilsk, Russiahttps://watchers.news/2021/01/10/deadly-avalanche-strikes-ski-resort-in-the-world-s-northernmost-city-of-norilsk-russia/
Record rains hit southern Thailand, leaving 3 dead and more than 58 000 households affected by floods https://watchers.news/2021/01/10/southern-thailand-flood-january-2021/
Albania – Families Evacuated After Floods in Northhttp://floodlist.com/europe/albania-floods-january-2021
Jamaica – Flash Floods in Montego Bay http://floodlist.com/america/jamaica-flash-floods-montego-bay-january-2021
Philippines – Thousands Hit by More Floods in Central Regions http://floodlist.com/asia/philippines-negros-occidental-floods-january-2021
Worst flooding in 50 years leaves 6 dead, 50 000 displaced in Malaysia https://watchers.news/2021/01/11/malaysia-flood-january-2021/
Spain – Deadly Flash Floods in South After Heavy Rain From Storm Filomena http://floodlist.com/europe/spain-floods-malaga-storm-filomena-january-2021
Indonesia – Thousands of Homes Flooded in Bandung Regency, West Java Province http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floodsbandung-regency-west-java-january-2021
Malaysia – Almost 2,000 Displaced by Floods in Sabah http://floodlist.com/asia/malaysia-floods-sabah-january-2021
Southeastern Europe – Floods Prompt Evacuations in Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Kosovo http://floodlist.com/europe/serbia-bulgaria-albania-kosovo-floods-january-2021
Turkey drought: Istanbul could run out of water in 45 days https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/turkey-drought-istanbul-run-out-water-45-days
Category 5 atmospheric river brings flooding rain and strong winds to Oregon and Washington, U.S. https://watchers.news/2021/01/13/category-5-atmospheric-river-oregon-washington-january-2021/
Namibia – Heavy Rain Continues, Flash Floods in Windhoek http://floodlist.com/africa/namibia-floods-windhoek-january-2021
Indonesia – Thousands of Homes Damaged After Floods in West Sumatra http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-solok-january-2021
Volcanic activity worldwide 14 Jan 2021: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Reventador, Sangay https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/119146/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-14-Jan-2021-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Reventador-Sangay-S.html
USA – 1 Missing After Rains Trigger Floods and Landslides in Oregon http://floodlist.com/america/usa/floods-landslides-oregon-january-2021
Tanzania – Severe Flooding in Mtwara Region After Torrential Rainfall http://floodlist.com/africa/tanzania-flood-mtwara-january-2021
Indonesia – Thousands of Families Affected by Floods in South Kalimantan Province http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-south-kalimantan-january-2021
Turkey – Flash Floods in Izmir http://floodlist.com/asia/turkey-floods-izmir-january-2021
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Cities could get more than 4°C hotter by 2100. To keep cool in Australia, we urgently need a national planning policy https://theconversation.com/cities-could-get-more-than-4-c-hotter-by-2100-to-keep-cool-in-australia-we-urgently-need-a-national-planning-policy-152680
Global heating could stabilize if net zero emissions achieved, scientists say https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/07/global-heating-stabilize-net-zero-emissions
2020 ties with 2016 as world’s hottest year on record, EU climate change service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-08/2020-ties-with-2016-as-worlds-hottest-year-on-record-eu-climate/13043854
Climate change activists want COP26 to build on the momentum of 2020 https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-01-10/Climate-change-activists-want-COP26-to-build-on-the-momentum-of-2020-WTidDY7c0E/index.html
CO2 levels seen more than 50% above pre-industrial levels in 2021 https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/8/co2-levels-seen-more-than-50-above-pre-industrial-levels-in-2021
Climate change: Africa’s green energy transition ‘unlikely’ this decade https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55620848
UN chief calls for ‘urgent transition’ from fossil fuels to renewable energy https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081802
Retrofitting unused spaces can help South African cities adapt to climate change https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75467
Norway’s comprehensive climate action plan https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75464
Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call https://climateextremes.org.au/australias-black-summer-a-climate-wake-up-call/
Awareness of urban climate adaptation strategies – An international overview https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75463
As the Arctic melts, a regime shift is taking place https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-13/regime-shift-is-taking-place-as-arctic-sea-ice-melts/12956328?nw=0
Decoupling of the Arctic Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation in a warmer climate https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00966-8
New Zealand records seventh-hottest year, with extreme weather more likely https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/new-zealand-records-seventh-hottest-year-with-extreme-weather-more-likely
The cities most impacted by sea level rise https://heraldcourier.com/lifestyles/the-cities-most-impacted-by-sea-level-rise/article_aec6d1d8-fa9b-5065-88d9-ae7d3e111dde.html
Ghosts of Glaciers Past Hint at Future Climate Challenges https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/ghosts-glaciers-past-hint-future-climate-challenges
The state of the climate in 2021 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210108-where-we-are-on-climate-change-in-five-charts
Climate change is responsible for billions of dollars in flood costs, study says https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-flood-costs-study/
Hurricanes, wildfires, and heat dominated U.S. weather in 2020 https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/hurricanes-wildfires-and-heat-dominated-u-s-weather-in-2020/
Rising sea levels visibly transforming parts of coastal region around Kakadu National Park https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-13/rising-sea-levels-visible-in-kakadu-national-park/12292646
Climate crisis: record ocean heat in 2020 supercharged extreme weather https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/climate-crisis-record-ocean-heat-in-2020-supercharged-extreme-weather?CMP=share_btn_tw
Earth to reach temperature tipping point in next 20 to 30 years, new study finds https://phys.org/news/2021-01-earth-temperature-years.html
Locally led adaption to climate change: the start of a 10-year learning journey https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75503
‘Heat refuges’ may be one solution to Western Sydney’s climate emergency https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-14/western-sydney-heat-refuge-strategy-needed-for-summer-heatwaves/13026882
If we want to understand global heating, we have to examine ocean temperature trends https://www.theguardian.com/global/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2021/jan/13/why-are-ocean-warming-records-being-broken-year-after-year?CMP=share_btn_tw
The world is facing ‘catastrophic’ global warming, with 2020 among the hottest years on record, UN warns https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-world-is-facing-catastrophic-global-warming-with-2020-among-the-hottest-years-on-record-un-warns?cid=news:socialshare:twitter
2020 was hottest year on record by narrow margin, Nasa says https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/2020-hottest-year-on-record-nasa
Report says not enough funding is being made available to deal with effects of extreme weather https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/countries-adapting-too-slowly-to-climate-breakdown-un-warns?CMP=share_btn_tw
UN Adaptation Gap Report 2020 https://www.unep.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2020
As World’s Deltas Sink, Rising Seas Are Far from Only Culprit https://e360.yale.edu/features/as-worlds-deltas-sink-rising-seas-are-far-from-only-culprit
Can SE Asian workers take the heat? Researchers tackle rising temperatures https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75515
Disaster risk reduction
In 2020, there were 22 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/
Natural hazard figures for 2020 https://www.munichre.com/en/company/media-relations/media-information-and-corporate-news/media-information/2021/2020-natural-disasters-balance.html
Monitoring rainfall for early warning: Peru’s ingenious solutions https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75452
Practical action and early warning systems https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75445
Long-term improvement in precautions for flood risk mitigation: A case study in the low-lying area of central Vietnam https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75438
Exposure to natural hazard events unassociated with policy change for improved disaster risk reductionhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20435-2
ASEAN achieves a milestone towards regional disaster risk reduction https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75462
Australian bushfires 2019–20: Exploring the short-term health impacts https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75469
The changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States https://www.pnas.org/content/118/2/e2011048118
Contribution of historical precipitation change to US flood damages https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2017524118
Has Haiti built back better? 11 years after the devastating earthquake https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75495
Advanced tools reveal critical infrastructure connections and help mitigate disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75493
How do we limit the impact of disasters in a country with a very high risk index? https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75511
The European Commission publishes the new report on disaster risks in the EU https://ec.europa.eu/echo/news/european-commission-publishes-new-report-disaster-risks-eu_en
Emergency management
One in five in England have had Covid, modelling suggests https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/jan/10/one-in-five-have-had-coronavirus-in-england-new-modelling-says
The Japanese authorities understood covid-19 better than most https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/12/12/the-japanese-authorities-understood-covid-19-better-than-most
Southern Queensland still in drought while northern region battles floods https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-10/southern-queensland-still-in-drought-while-north-floods/13039008
After a record 22 billion-dollar disasters in 2020, it’s time to overhaul US disaster policy – here’s how https://theconversation.com/after-a-record-22-billion-dollar-disasters-in-2020-its-time-to-overhaul-us-disaster-policy-heres-how-152439
Asking people to prepare for fire is pointless if they can’t afford to do it. It’s time we subsidised fire prevention https://theconversation.com/asking-people-to-prepare-for-fire-is-pointless-if-they-cant-afford-to-do-it-its-time-we-subsidised-fire-prevention-151913
Disaster during a pandemic: Lessons from 2020 flooding in South Japan https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75482
Droughts, floods, super typhoons. But 2020’s extreme weather was eclipsed by COVIDhttps://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/2020-covid-deadly-extreme-weather-events
Literature review on law and disaster recovery and reconstruction https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75510
COVID-19 impact in India https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75507
Disaster education, communications and engagement
How the children of Cobargo are moving on from a year marked by bushfires and a pandemic https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-27/year-on-cobargo-black-summer-bushfires-recovery-children/13006836
How does drowning happen and how can you prevent it? https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-does-drowning-happen-and-how-can-you-prevent-it-20201123-p56h2o.html
Creating virtual geologic mapping exercises in a changing world https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article/doi/10.1130/GES02308.1/593592/Creating-virtual-geologic-mapping-exercises-in-a
What you do makes a difference: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2021 launches to help protect homes and neighborhoods https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/Fire-Break/Blog-Posts/2021/01/11/Wildfire-Community-Preparedness-Day-2021-launches-to-help-protect-homes-and-neighborhoods
Citizen science is booming during the pandemic https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22177247/citizen-science-amateur-backyard-birding-astronomy-covid-pandemic
Muntinlupa inaugurates its Mobile Learning Hub, the first innovative roving ‘learning bus’ in Metro Manila to teach disaster resilience https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/muntinlupas-1st-learning-bus-teaches-disaster-preparedness-to-residents/
How To Build A 2 Week Emergency Food Supply https://ineedthattoprep.com/how-to-build-a-2-week-emergency-food-supply/
From Grug to The Fire Wombat: six books to help kids deal with bushfire anxiety https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/12/from-grug-to-the-fire-wombat-six-books-to-help-kids-deal-with-bushfire-anxiety
Here’s how Seattleites should prepare for an earthquake https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/how-to-prepare-for-earthquake-in-seattle-2021-15848429.php
Psychology and disasters
How students are making sense of the Black Summer bushfires https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-28/how-students-are-making-sense-of-the-black-summer/13017302?nw=0
How do people perceive flood risk? Findings from a public survey in Tuscany, Italy https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12694
Sociology and disasters
How racial and gender equality are critical for building climate resilience https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75442
Learning from population displacement in the Pacific: Case study of the 2017-2018 eruption of the Ambae volcano, Vanuatu https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75498
Social Ties, Mobility, and COVID-19 spread in Japan https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342113382_Social_Ties_Mobility_and_COVID-19_spread_in_Japan
Disaster Resilience News 