Forest Destruction Can be Cut in Half
A new study shows that political will is all that is needed to stop the chainsaws and bulldozers that are destroying tropical forests and adding to global warming. Paul Brown…
Flood Protection
Flood risk, warning and protection
Uganda – Early Flood Warning System Triggers Pre-disaster Humanitarian Action
A scientific forecast of flood-risk in Uguanda last week prompted the Red Cross to take unprecedented pre-disaster humanitarian action. The flood forecast was based on Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS),…
Climate-Linked Poverty Needs Creative Approach says World Bank Head
PARIS, Nov 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – From restoring degraded land to financing hydropower dams and creating jobs for refugees, the world needs to come up with more innovative solutions…
Seychelles and COP21 – “Strong Climate Agreement is Important to Our Survival”
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report of 2014 predicted that the world’s sea levels would rise between 30 to 90 centimetres by 2100. For the Seychelles,…
Call for UN Science Body for Water
An expert panel says the UN should set up a high-level expert body akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to help modernise its response to water and…
Countries Better Prepared for Strong El Niño says WMO
A mature and strong El Niño event, which is contributing to extreme weather patterns, is expected to strengthen further by the end of the year, according to the latest Update from…
“Flooded with trees, not water” – Malawi’s Disaster Risk Reduction Clubs for Children
The weather is becoming more unpredictable for Southern African countries. Cyclones and floods alternate with droughts, leaving the population vulnerable and impoverished. In Malawi, one of the world’s least developed…
UK Floods – London Launches Sustainable Drainage Action Plan
The London Mayor, Boris Johnson, in partnership with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and London Councils have published the first London Sustainable Drainage Action Plan (LSDAP) for consultation. LSDAP is…
Reducing Disaster Risk in the Caribbean – Interview with Local Expert
The Caribbean region – ‘heart of the so-called “hurricane belt’ – is highly prone to recurrent disasters which can have devastating effects. Recently, tropical storm Erika wreaked havoc on the…
Afghanistan – New Flood Protection Walls in Nangarhar and Kunar Provinces
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) inaugurated flood protection walls in two provinces of Afghanistan this month. The walls will protect the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of families in…
In Tajikistan, Disaster Risk Reduction Begins in Schools
Weather-related disasters are increasing in strength and magnitude worldwide. Yet, if people and communities prepare for emergencies, they can reduce risk and damage, and save lives. In a small village…
EU Study – River Floods in Europe to Affect Over 1 Million Per Year by 2080
According to a study by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) – European Commission’s in-house science service – river floods in Europe could directly affect more than half a million people…
Fighting Floods and Droughts in Ecuador’s Daule Rice Fields
Daule, in Guayas province, is Ecuador’s rice capital, surrounded by sprawling paddies where the starchy grain – a staple of Latin American diets – grows. 25 000 to 50 000…
Ghana Launches Flood Disaster Risk Maps
New, extensive flood and drought disaster risk maps have been developed for Ghana. It is hoped the maps will aid better decision making before and during disasters, and allow Ghana’s…
Drones to Monitor Floods in Malaysia
Malaysia is to introduce the use of unmanned aircraft systems to monitor the extent of floods and other disasters. Late last year and early this year the country experienced massive…
EU Launches New Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre
Natural disasters have caused over 80,000 deaths and €100 billion in economic losses in the EU since 2002. As a response to increased risks posed by natural disasters such as…
