In the 01/06/2026 edition:
Global climate and disaster risks have intensified in 2026, as a series of recent reports highlight the growing impacts of heatwaves, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and climate-related policy challenges across different regions of the world.
News: ‘The perfect storm’: Trump has left the US less prepared for natural disasters, experts say
By Guardian, the (UK) on Jan 05, 2026 03:35 pm
Emergency managers say the US president has presided over a dangerous erosion in US capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters.
News: Los Angeles fires 12 months on: what does research tell us?
By Natural Hazards Research Australia on Jan 05, 2026 03:18 pm
One year on from the fires researchers have focused on understanding the causes and impacts of the fires as well as evaluating vulnerabilities and resilience features that contributed to the patterns of destruction and efficacy of emergency management.
News: Marine heat waves can exacerbate heat and humidity over land
By Eos – AGU on Jan 05, 2026 03:17 pm
Researchers found the unprecedented 2023 East Asian marine heat wave increased land temperatures and humidity by up to 50%.
News: Why New York City is spending millions on ‘bluebelts’
By Inside Climate News on Jan 05, 2026 03:17 pm
The man-made wetlands and ponds can help prevent flooding in homes and buildings, and return cleaner water to the ocean.
News: When earthquakes shake markets: How investors reassess sovereign risk after natural hazards
By VoxDev/ CEPR on Jan 05, 2026 03:17 pm
This analysis uncovers a stark asymmetry: major earthquakes raise sovereign spreads only in countries with low administrative and fiscal capacity, while spreads remain unchanged – or even fall slightly – in high-capacity states.
News: A landslide inventory that extends over a century in Alaska demonstrates that climate change is having a major impact
By Eos – AGU on Jan 05, 2026 03:15 pm
This piece of work sought to understand the patterns of landslides in Alaska over a century through the creation of a database compiled from “a combination of 24 digital newspapers and online media sources, including historic digitised Alaskan newspaper
News: Hong Kong fire investigation reveals unsafe netting as death toll rises to 151
By France 24 on Jan 05, 2026 01:20 pm
Hong Kong officials revealed Monday that fire-safety standards were violated in a deadly blaze that claimed at least 151 lives, with renovation netting failing to meet required safety codes.
News: USA: Trump’s anti-climate policies are driving up insurance costs for homeowners, say experts
By Yale Climate Connections on Jan 05, 2026 12:47 pm
Tariffs, extreme weather events and the president’s funding cuts are contributing to increasing rates, sometimes by double digits.
News: What responsible AI must get right in fragile water contexts
By International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on Jan 02, 2026 12:58 pm
Frontline practitioners share lessons on translating climate intelligence into action without widening risk or exclusion in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
News: Damage from Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka estimated at $4.1 billion
By World Bank, the on Dec 31, 2025 09:57 am
The assessment underscores how pre-existing socio-economic vulnerabilities-including poverty, limited access to services, and exposure to climate risks-are likely to amplify the cyclone’s impacts and slow recovery.
News: Heatwaves were the deadliest climate disasters in 2025, hitting poorest hardest, WWA finds
By Down To Earth on Dec 31, 2025 09:17 am
Floods and storms were outpaced by heatwaves in fatalities as climate change intensified extremes
News: Understanding Sumatra’s extreme floods and how communities are responding
By Yayasan Peta Bencana [Disaster Map Foundation] on Dec 30, 2025 01:29 pm
The community-powered reports have allowed neighbors and responders to prioritize evacuations and relief efforts, showing the critical role of local knowledge in cascading disasters.
News: Africa faces a climate-conflict poverty trap. Growth is the best solution
By VoxDev/ CEPR on Dec 30, 2025 11:24 am
Projections highlight the feedback loop between lower growth and increased conflict risk in Africa under climate change.