In the 08/18/2026 edition:
Disaster Risk Reduction News – August 18, 2026 highlights recent developments in wildfires, floods, earthquakes, coastal hazards, climate resilience, early warning systems and disaster risk reduction research from around the world.
News: Putting out every forest fire could make future wildfires worse, Polish scientist warns
By Science in Poland on Aug 17, 2026 06:30 pm
Polish researcher warned putting out every forest fire could paradoxically increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires by allowing combustible vegetation to build up, arguing that controlled burning should be considered as part of fire protection.
News: Five questions lenders keep asking about adaptation projects
By weADAPT on Aug 17, 2026 06:30 pm
Climate adaptation projects attract finance when they present clear repayment plans, risk allocation and maintenance funding. Lessons from CLIMATEFIT pilots show that cash flows matter more to lenders than co-benefits.
News: Climate change is driving widespread marine heat waves across the globe
By Climate Central on Aug 17, 2026 06:20 pm
The Pacific is experiencing a historic marine heat wave — but it’s far from alone. Every major ocean basin across the globe is currently experiencing unusually warm sea surface temperatures driven by climate change.
News: Landmark evaluation finds $741M Resilient Homes Fund enhanced flood resilience for thousands of Queensland homeowners
By Natural Hazards Research Australia on Aug 17, 2026 06:19 pm
An independent evaluation has found the $741 million Queensland Resilient Homes Fund (RHF) improved flood resilience and supported recovery for thousands of homeowners across 39 local government areas following the 2021–2022 Southern Queensland floods.
News: Putting out wildfires: how peat restoration has reduced fire risk in Indonesia’s tropical forests
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 17, 2026 06:19 pm
Preventing peatland fires depends on peatland restoration and reducing conditions that enable fires to spread. Indonesia’s experience provides lessons for protecting vulnerable ecosystems and communities globally.
News: Arab youth turn lived experiences into practical solutions for disaster resilience
By United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth, Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group on Aug 17, 2026 02:38 pm
More than 260 young leaders from across the Arab region participated virtually in the Regional Youth Resilience Lab.
News: Extreme space weather raises radiation risk for aircraft passengers
By Engineering and Technology on Aug 14, 2026 03:19 pm
Currently there is no clear guidance on how the aviation sector should respond to extreme space weather events. The researchers have proposed a new atmospheric radiation scale that provides clear thresholds for when action should be taken.
News: Patterns in time and space of fatal coastal cliff failures
By Eos – AGU on Aug 14, 2026 03:17 pm
A new analysis ( Reiss et al. 2026 ) explores a global database of fatal coastal cliff failures, showing that these tragic events most frequently occur in the summer months when beaches are heavily populated.
News: Storms of dust and sand are another sign our climate is changing. Two experts explain
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 14, 2026 03:15 pm
Dust storms are becoming more frequent as climate change intensifies drought and land degradation. In Australia, they threaten health, agriculture, infrastructure and energy systems, increasing the need for preparedness.
News: There’s nothing ‘wild’ about most wildfires – humans start them and have made them more dangerous
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 14, 2026 02:57 pm
Most wildfires started by humans are still being called “wild”, placing the fire outside human society. It implies there was no spark – and certainly no humans, and fails to widen the cause to include climate change, calling for new naming conventions.
News: India faces rising uncompensable heat stress, especially during monsoon season
By Phys.org on Aug 14, 2026 02:53 pm
In a new paper in AGU Advances, researchers characterize the extent of India’s “uncompensable heat stress” and project how the problem could worsen in the future.
News: Could geothermal roads help prevent potholes before they form? Surrey trial aims to find out
By The University Of Surrey on Aug 14, 2026 02:37 pm
The UK’s pothole problem could one day be tackled from beneath the road surface, as researchers at the University of Surrey launch a pioneering trial that uses heat stored underground to keep roads cooler in summer, warmer in winter.
News: Flood impacts in Assam driven by high exposure and structural vulnerability, amid uncertain rainfall trends
By World Weather Attribution on Aug 14, 2026 02:31 pm
Floods in Assam are a recurring result of physical and structural risk rooted in the dynamics of the Brahmaputra River system.
News: To tackle extreme heat, Andy Burnham needs to urgently take these three radical steps
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 14, 2026 02:27 pm
Adapting to the new hot dry summers is not difficult. Many countries deal with these sorts of extreme conditions ever single year. But it takes planning and investment in basic infrastructure, not just another emergency Cobra meeting.
News: Wildfire‑damaged historic buildings may not be as ruined as they appear, but saving them means acting fast
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 14, 2026 02:21 pm
In a summer of wildfires severe enough to trigger Spain’s first-ever national emergency for a forest fire, a historic stone structure called the Nevera de Castro stands in a landscape burned bare in the Castellón region
News: The long shadow of wildfires: smoke, air quality and health
By World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Aug 14, 2026 02:12 pm
Smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of kilometres, crossing borders, oceans and continents. Understanding where it will go next has become an increasingly important scientific challenge.
DRR Community Voices: Aerial data matters when it changes recovery decisions
By Julie Flore on Aug 13, 2026 09:45 pm
When aerial observation is connected to field verification, engineering judgement and a clear recovery decision, it can save time, reduce avoidable exposure and make infrastructure recovery more accountable.
News: From forecasts to early action: Strengthening community preparedness in Djibouti
By World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Aug 13, 2026 09:41 pm
A recent WMO project mission to Djibouti highlighted tangible progress from CREWS Djibouti in advancing people-centered early warning systems and set priorities for the next phase of implementation with national partners.
News: Rivers are moving sediment in intense bursts, a worrisome new pattern uncovered by AI
By Virginia Tech on Aug 13, 2026 09:33 pm
After modeling nearly 40 years of sediment movement from 175 rivers across the United States, researchers have discovered that many rivers are no longer delivering sediment gradually throughout the year.
News: Greece’s aging power grid blamed for catastrophic wildfires
By Politico on Aug 13, 2026 09:28 pm
Loose power lines in fire-prone forests have disproportionately set the country ablaze.
News: Nurses fainting in ‘inhumane’ conditions due to extreme heat, union warns
By Guardian, the (UK) on Aug 13, 2026 09:24 pm
Nurses are collapsing during shifts amid “inhumane and impossible” conditions caused by extreme heat, their union has warned.
News: Extreme heat may drive asthma risk in Baltimore, especially at night
By Eos – AGU on Aug 13, 2026 09:21 pm
A study paints a fuller picture of how heat affects respiratory health, especially in Baltimore’s socially vulnerable neighborhoods.
News: As wildfires burn, rainfall can strip oxygen from rivers, killing fish
By United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Aug 13, 2026 09:15 pm
Runoff from a high-intensity storm during the 2022 McKinney Fire depleted oxygen in the Klamath River to levels lethal to fish, killing aquatic life along nearly 60 miles of one of California’s most culturally significant waterways.
News: Fast-moving wildfires leave forests less able to recover, study finds
By Colorado State University on Aug 13, 2026 09:03 pm
Research shows that fast-moving forest fires burn more severely, making it harder for forests to recover.
News: Marine heatwaves pose hidden threat to human health
By University of Adelaide, the on Aug 13, 2026 08:56 pm
The devastating impacts of marine heatwaves extend far beyond dying coral reefs and declining fisheries, with new research warning these extreme ocean warming events are posing a growing threat to humans’ physical and mental health.
News: Bangladeshi workers beset by extreme heat, study finds
By International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on Aug 13, 2026 08:52 pm
Researchers at IIED interviewed 175 households engaged in informal work in Dhaka, whose jobs included construction, rickshaw pulling and garment manufacturing. Exposure to extreme heat is costing Bangladeshi workers huge chunks of their pay every year.
News: How can governments tackle poverty when climate change, conflict and economic shocks hit all at once?
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 13, 2026 08:49 pm
Polycrisis -multiple and often overlapping crises- create new vulnerabilities. They have severe effects on countries in sub-Saharan Africa with high poverty levels where weak institutions and limited public resources make it hard to respond effectively.
News: Green roofs can help cool cities in the summer heat, but building them is only the first step – many don’t survive
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 13, 2026 08:48 pm
Long-term maintenance plans, clear ownership responsibilities and funding for stewardship may prove as important as the installation. Climate adaptation isn’t just about building infrastructure, but ensuring it continues to thrive for years to come.
News: Additional benefits of wildfire-resistant homes
By Headwaters Economics on Aug 13, 2026 08:47 pm
A growing wildfire threat and rising home insurance costs are driving many homeowners to make their homes more wildfire resistant. Many upgrades also provide lasting benefits beyond lower wildfire losses that can offset the initial investment over time.
News: Many Americans face an impossible choice during heat waves
By Yale Climate Connections on Aug 13, 2026 04:48 pm
Across the U.S., millions of people live in affordable housing, and many struggle to make ends meet. And as the climate warms, they’re increasingly exposed to extreme heat.
News: Scientists define a new category of heat wave: ‘Snow eaters’
By Grist Magazine on Aug 13, 2026 04:32 pm
” Compared to normal warm spells or heat waves, researchers have determined that “snow-eaters” happen when temperatures stay above freezing through both day and night for multiple days, typically three to five.
News: Canada’s wildfire season is taking a heavy toll on First Nations
By Grist Magazine on Aug 13, 2026 04:24 pm
Homes had burned. Photographs, memorabilia, and Salish baskets had disappeared with them. More than 30 band members had lost their homes, naspəpʕásəs Dan Wilson said, along with around 200 homes and other structures belonging to non-band members.
News: Fields, greenhouses or vertical farms: what is the best way to grow food in a changing climate?
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 13, 2026 04:21 pm
When most people picture British farming, they probably imagine fields of wheat, potatoes or vegetables stretching across the countryside. But some of the food on supermarket shelves is produced in environments that look very different.
News: NZ’s new flood maps are missing a hidden threat – the water quietly rising from below
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 13, 2026 04:16 pm
Coastal groundwater responds to sea level rise in different ways. Where the water table is free to rise with the sea, it does exactly that, rising toward the surface and increasing the risk of groundwater flooding.
News: Wildfires can contaminate nearby homes and water systems – here’s what Spokane’s returning residents need to know
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 13, 2026 04:13 pm
While there are many safety concerns after a wildfire, three deserve particular attention: chemicals in surviving buildings, the safety of drinking water and whether burned lots are ready for rebuilding.
News: As Pakistan’s monsoon arrives, people with HIV worry
By Dialogue Earth on Aug 13, 2026 11:00 am
Scarred by the devastating 2025 floods, people with HIV are increasingly vulnerable
News: Statement on the Colombia Earthquake by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Aug 13, 2026 10:25 am
Statement on the Colombia Earthquake by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
News: As the climate breaks down, costs go up: Welcome to ‘climateflation’
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 12, 2026 04:50 pm
Climateflation is expected to keep raising costs in the years ahead. Reducing emissions to net zero, limiting further warming and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure will be essential to ease long-term economic pressures.
News: As Nepal’s schools get hotter, students and teachers are taking action
By Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance on Aug 12, 2026 04:49 pm
As climate hazards intensify, conventional coping measures alone can no longer ensure safe, conducive learning environments. Schools now need innovative, climate-resilient solutions that ensure continuity of education during extreme summer temperatures.
News: What is the EU doing to tackle its growing water scarcity?
By Euronews on Aug 12, 2026 04:49 pm
The EU launched the Water Resilience Strategy in June 2025 to make the EU water-resilient. It protects the water cycle, promotes a water-smart economy, and ensures access to clean, affordable water.
News: Community-led beneficial fire continues to grow in California
By Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network on Aug 12, 2026 04:48 pm
The Community-Based Beneficial Fire Data Project compares statewide data from 2024 and 2025, documenting a movement that is growing, strengthening, and expanding to care for California’s landscapes through cultural and prescribed fire.
News: Japan’s earthquake shows extreme heat can turn one disaster into two
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 12, 2026 04:48 pm
As climate changes, the impact of any disaster will increasingly depend not only on the primary event but also on the climatic conditions in which it unfolds. The Kumamoto earthquake shows how extreme heat can become a powerful disaster risk multiplier.
News: Fields, greenhouses or vertical farms: what is the best way to grow food in a changing climate?
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 12, 2026 04:47 pm
The future of agriculture lies in balancing climate exposure and control costs. Fields, greenhouses and vertical farms will each play a role, supported by improved water management, energy efficiency and greater climate resilience.
News: The burning truth: five wildfire myths debunked
By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Aug 12, 2026 11:06 am
Wildfire misinformation spreads fastest in the hours right after a fire breaks out — checking a claim against a credible source before sharing it is the simplest way to slow it down.
News: Droughts: Europe’s economy is paying the price, €439 billion already lost while the damage almost doubles with +2°C
By Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) on Aug 12, 2026 10:02 am
As Mediterranean countries face another summer of extreme heat, research led by CMCC examines the economic costs of prolonged drought exposure.
News: Podcast: Bridging the forecast gap to save lives
By Red Cross / Red Crescent Climate Centre on Aug 11, 2026 04:30 pm
The podcast explores the ACACIA Project and how new sub‑seasonal forecasts, local forecasters and community planning (EVCA) come together to reduce the impacts of cyclones and floods in Madagascar.
News: Colombia earthquake has killed at least 132. My research helps explain why it was so destructive
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 11, 2026 04:25 pm
When an earthquake shakes a building, many small cracks should form at the base of a steel-reinforced wall to distribute stress. But research finds Colombian building walls are so thin that even with adequate steel reinforcement, they can still fail.
News: Canals cool down cities during heatwaves – research
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 11, 2026 04:24 pm
Researchers found that canals cool their immediate surroundings during the day, typically extending 20–50 m from canal banks. Cooling effect is greater during spring and early summer and is noticeable during heatwaves, with cooling of more than 2°C.
News: Climate change and Tuvaluan migration
By Island Innovation on Aug 11, 2026 04:20 pm
The Island Innovation newsletter of 4 June 2026 referred to “the Falepili Mobility Visa, the world’s first climate-linked migration pathway.” The text of the 2023 Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty is clear that the visa offer is different.
News: The nation holding back the sea
By Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Aug 11, 2026 04:14 pm
As the majority of Tuvalu’s population applies to relocate to Australia, a haunting question is being confronted: what happens to a country if the people have to leave?
News: Climate change forces family to leave behind ‘beautiful’ life in Tuvalu
By Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Aug 11, 2026 04:11 pm
Tuvalu is also starting to disappear, and its people are grappling with what this means for their future.
News: Why Britain is breathing the world’s wildfire smoke
By Guardian, the (UK) on Aug 11, 2026 04:06 pm
Scientists say global blazes account for 10% of UK’s particle pollution – and climate crisis could make the problem worse.
News: The impact of recent super El Niños on sea level rise
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Aug 11, 2026 04:00 pm
A paper compares two recent strong El Niños, their differing effects on globally averaged sea level and the details that distinguished them. The work is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans.
News: Many Americans underestimate health risks of extreme weather, study finds
By Eos – AGU on Aug 11, 2026 03:54 pm
The research examines the “risk perception gap,” or the difference between climate-related mortality estimates and public perceptions of climate risk, across U.S. counties.
News: As severe drought hits, the UK’s food system faces crisis – here’s how to change that
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 11, 2026 12:43 pm
The UK is in the grip of a severe drought.. The drought’s length and severity are affecting UK agriculture and food production.
News: Chronic pain is missing from America’s heat warnings
By Conversation Media Group, the on Aug 11, 2026 12:39 pm
When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out chronic pain.
News: Lessons from the 2025 California wildfires—why DRR falls short
By Climate Adaptation Platform (CAP) on Aug 11, 2026 12:25 pm
A paper published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences in April 2026 uses the 2025 California wildfires as a starting point to discuss broader systemic failures in disaster risk reduction (DRR).