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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Forecast weather isobar night map of Asia, wind fronts and temperature vector diagram.

Research briefs

3 October 2024

Latest research could enhance long range forecasting skill

Scientists at the University of Exeter and the Met Office have discovered that, away from the tropics, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has an additional impact on Atlantic weather patterns a full year on from the original event.

University of Exeter

Storm approaching an empty beach with a lifeguard on duty

Update

2 October 2024

What climate change means for tourism

Hurricanes, rising sea levels and other climate-fueled hazards are wreaking havoc on tourism-dependent communities around the world.

North Carolina State University

White passenger airplane flying in the sky with clouds in the background

Update

3 October 2024

How satellite data make flying safer

How near-real-time Earth observations enable meteorologists to deliver timely aviation forecasts.

European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

Community announcement

3 October 2024

Public review of the Words into Action: The Science–Policy–Society ecosystem for disaster risk reduction

The "Words into Action: Science-Policy-Society Interface" guide will be on PreventionWeb for public review for 2 months (until 6 November 2024) and has the purpose to ensure we haven't overlooked aspects that are important to consider.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

A student rides a bike through the floods in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Update

4 October 2024

Choosing our future: Education for climate action

Education is a key asset for climate action. Yet, education is massively overlooked in the climate agenda. Governments can act now to adapt education systems for climate change.

World Bank, the

Low level of water is measured by a gauge on the Cantareira Jaguari dam during a severe drought in Sao Paulo state, Brazil.

Update

1 October 2024

Water cooperation lags, weakening resilience to floods and droughts

A UNECE-UNESCO report highlights that only 28% of transboundary water agreements are fully operational, undermining resilience to floods and droughts. The lack of cooperation on shared water resources delays global efforts to address climate challenges.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Research briefs

1 October 2024

UK: Cool roofs could have saved lives during London’s hottest summer

This study found that widespread use of cool roofs in London during the 2018 heatwave could have saved 249 lives by reducing the city's temperature. Cool roofs and solar panels are effective at mitigating heat and saving energy.

University College London

View of city high buildings along the river

Research briefs

3 October 2024

A ‘SimCity’ is being built to advance resilience planning

Researchers are creating an innovative ‘SimCity’ to improve resilience planning and better prepare cities for natural disasters.

University of Auckland

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

Research briefs

3 October 2024

Study links hurricanes to higher death rates long after storms pass

U.S. tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, indirectly cause thousands of deaths for nearly 15 years after a storm. Understanding why could help minimize future deaths from hazards fueled by climate change.

Stanford University