News and announcements

Extreme weather events, such as the recent flooding in Pakistan and the decades-long drought in east Africa, are wake-up calls, 'These events show that we need more than disaster management – we need to make a move towards scientific adaptation'...

'The sharp increase in the budget reflects the government's strong will to better deal with disasters so as to protect lives and property of the people,' Yook Dong-han, the vice minister of the Prime Minister's Office said...

A fund worth VNÑ8.4 billion (US$403,200), supported by a donation from the US-based Institute of Social and Environmental Transition, will be used to implement a natural disaster prevention plan, reports Viet Nam News...

Older people's experiences of disasters and their knowledge of coping mechanisms can be essential when developing local disaster risk reduction and adaptation plans...

While good news remains in short supply from the main climate change talks here in Durban, there is a growing sense that local government is taking the lead on mitigation and adaptation without waiting for their central governments to direct their efforts.

The President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, told a major forum at the COP17 talks in Durban yesterday that ”failing to fund climate change is failing to fund poverty reduction.”

'Children should be active participants in disaster risk reduction effort. At home or at school they should know how to protect themselves during natural calamities like earthquakes, floods and cyclone'...

'Women often play a stronger role than men in the management of ecosystem services and food security. Hence, sustainable adaptation must focus on gender and the role of women if it is to become successful'...