In the 01/27/2026 edition:
Climate and Disaster News Updates from late January 2026 reveal a sharp escalation in climate-related risks worldwide, from intensifying droughts and wildfires to floods, storms, and rising sea levels. New research, policy analyses, and field-based initiatives highlight both the growing human and economic toll of climate extremes and the urgent need for stronger disaster resilience and adaptation strategies.
News: Measuring drought where it hurts most: anticipating impacts on agriculture with the FAO D-IAP Platform
By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Jan 26, 2026 02:05 pm
FAO, together with the University of Cordoba (Spain), has developed the Drought Impact Assessment Platform (d-iap), an innovative web-based tool designed to translate complex climate and agronomic data into decision-relevant information.
News: Reimagining agricultural governance in the climate change era
By Mongabay on Jan 26, 2026 01:51 pm
Climate change is disproportionately affecting developing countries such as India, where the rural sector remains highly vulnerable due to inadequate climate infrastructure and limited adaptive capacity.
News: Florida reefs offer multimillion-dollar flood protection—if they survive
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Jan 26, 2026 01:35 pm
As coral reefs break down, they get shorter and flatter, leaving less friction to slow incoming waves. Bigger waves can reach further inland, swamping more homes and businesses.
News: Ancient Spanish trees reveal Mediterranean storms are intensifying
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Jan 26, 2026 01:32 pm
Study shows that recent decades stand out sharply in the historical record, marked by an escalation of both extreme rainfall events and prolonged dry spells as the climate warms.
News: A new look at trends in human deaths due to climate extremes
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Jan 26, 2026 01:29 pm
A new study of climate extremes since 1988 finds that many regions have seen increases in deaths due to floods, storms and extreme temperatures.
News: Canada’s wildfire paradox: fewer fires, greater destruction highlighted in new analysis
By CBC/Radio-Canada on Jan 26, 2026 01:21 pm
Canada’s wildfire seasons are growing longer, larger and more destructive, according to a six-decade analysis of fire records by the federal government’s Canadian Forest Service.
News: Project response to risk: helping build disaster resilience in Cox’s Bazar
By Teach for All on Jan 26, 2026 01:10 pm
This year, Teach For Bangladesh began placing fellows in Cox’s Bazar, a region facing ongoing humanitarian challenges and frequent natural disasters, known for its Education in Emergency (EiE) context.
News: Iran’s regime has survived war, sanctions and uprising. Environmental crises may bring it down.
By Inside Climate News on Jan 26, 2026 01:09 pm
Iran faces severe, regime‑driven environmental collapse—water depletion, pollution, mismanagement and repression of scientists—fueling unrest, economic hardship and growing public anger that now threatens the government’s stability.
News: Winter storms in focus: scale, duration and rising losses
By Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) on Jan 26, 2026 12:59 pm
Winter storms remain a significant — and often underestimated — natural peril across Europe and North America. Characterised by heavy snow, ice, strong winds and extreme cold, these systems can disrupt transport, utilities and economic activity.
News: How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm
By Conversation Media Group, the on Jan 26, 2026 12:03 pm
A severe winter storm sweeping across the central and eastern U.S. in late January 2026 is threatening states from Texas to New England with crippling freezing rain, sleet and snow.
News: New analysis disputes historic earthquake, tsunami and death toll on greek island
By Seismological Society of America on Jan 23, 2026 02:03 pm
Researchers thought that an October 1843 earthquake on the small Greek island of Chalke caused a powerful tsunami and led to the deaths of as many as 600 people. A new analysis of primary accounts of the event suggests the truth was much less destructive.
News: The Mount Maunganui tragedy reminds us landslides are NZ’s deadliest natural hazard
By Conversation Media Group, the on Jan 23, 2026 10:40 am
The tragic events in the Bay of Plenty are a stark reminder that landslides remain the deadliest of the many natural hazards New Zealand faces.
News: Rising from the ashes: how Saint Vincent is rebuilding after a volcanic eruption
By World Bank, the on Jan 23, 2026 10:27 am
Saint Vincent’s recovery has impacted several critical areas, including support for household incomes and employment, restoration of essential services, and strengthened emergency preparedness.
News: Climate change eclipses La Niña cooling in Australia to drive extreme heatwave and heightened fire risk
By World Weather Attribution on Jan 23, 2026 10:11 am
From 5–10 January, 2026, south-eastern Australia experienced its most severe heatwave since 2019–20. Temperatures exceeded 40°C in major cities including Melbourne and Sydney, with even hotter conditions across regional Victoria and New South Wale.
News: Scientists issue warning about looming threat to coastal communities: ‘Will be essential for effective adaptation’
By The Cool Down on Jan 23, 2026 09:59 am
A new study has found that sea levels around the Canary Islands have been rising faster over time, closely following global trends.
News: To survive warming winters, the Olympics will need to change
By Yale Climate Connections on Jan 22, 2026 04:35 pm
Study authors recommend that Olympic organisers consider holding the games earlier in the winter or selecting more reliably cold host cities to ensure that athletes can compete.
News: World on track to breach 1.5C target by 2030
By Science and Development Network on Jan 22, 2026 03:53 pm
Global average temperature increases could pass the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement by the end of the decade, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
News: Insurance as the Gulf’s early warning system
By Oman Daily Observer on Jan 22, 2026 03:25 pm
Climate shocks are rising, widening the protection gap. Oman now makes climate‑risk motor insurance automatic, signalling a shift toward integrating insurability into planning as extreme weather, cyber risks, and misinformation compound future losses.
News: Ensuring the future: Lessons from Hurricane Melissa & Jamaica’s disaster vulnerability reduction efforts
By World Bank, the on Jan 22, 2026 01:22 pm
The payout from Jamaica’s Catastrophe Bond, triggered by Hurricane Melissa, provided crucial immediate financial relief, underscoring the vital role of sovereign risk-financing tools.
News: UNESCO launched a coastal dunes restoration plan based on a scientific assessment to protect an area of Tabasco
By United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Jan 22, 2026 12:56 pm
UNESCO coordinates coastal dunes rehabilitation in the Sánchez Magallanes region, in Tabasco, Mexico, to reduce disaster risks through science and community engagement.
News: Bonn Technical Forum 2025 – Data as the Lever for Climate Action
By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Jan 22, 2026 12:00 pm
As risks intensify, countries are calling for data-driven decision-support tools to strengthen early warning and early action, recovery and resilience, unlocking DRR and climate financing, and supporting sustainable development initiatives
News: Cold waves pose a heightened health risk for adults over 60
By DongA Science (DAS) on Jan 21, 2026 11:37 pm
An analysis of surveillance data on cold-related illnesses from the past five years by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) revealed that more than half of the cases occurred in adults aged 60 and over.
News: Analyzing submerged fault structures to predict future earthquakes in Türkiye
By Institute of Science Tokyo on Jan 21, 2026 07:57 pm
Researchers create a 3D electromagnetic model of the Marmara Sea region.
News: Simepar final technical report upgrades the classification of tornadoes that struck 11 municipalities in Paraná
By Brazil – government on Jan 21, 2026 07:20 pm
A new report describes the analyses carried out through the integration of operational meteorology, geointelligence, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis.
News: Lives transformed by disaster preparedness
By Comité catholique contre la faim et pour le développement on Jan 21, 2026 06:51 pm
This publication highlights how disaster preparedness efforts, through the EU-funded ACCESS project implemented with Action Against Hunger in the Philippines.
News: Community rain monitoring helps disaster preparedness
By Mongabay on Jan 21, 2026 06:04 pm
This publication discusses how community-based rain monitoring in India enhances disaster preparedness by enabling local collection and use of rainfall data to improve early warning systems and community resilience to extreme weather and flooding.
News: How to adapt cardiovascular and kidney care in a changing climate
By World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan 21, 2026 05:49 pm
By 2050, climate change could contribute to 14.5 million additional deaths, $12.5 trillion in economic losses and $1.1 trillion in extra healthcare costs. Health adaptation makes the conversation about climate change real and urgent in the here and now.
News: Exposure to wildfire smoke late in pregnancy may raise autism risk in children
By Tulane University on Jan 21, 2026 05:13 pm
Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study led by Tulane University researchers.
News: Get ready for smokier air: Record 2023 wildfire smoke marks long-term shift in North American air quality
By Columbia Climate School on Jan 21, 2026 02:50 pm
A new analysis of air quality data from the past 70 years shows that Canada’s record wildfire smoke in 2023 is part of a broader, continent-wide trend toward smokier skies across North America.
News: Plagued by flooding, an African city reengineers its wetlands
By Yale Environment 360 on Jan 21, 2026 02:45 pm
As climate change and urbanization intensify flooding in Rwanda, the capital of Kigali has embraced nature-based solutions. The city is restoring and reshaping 18,000 acres of degraded wetlands, planting native species to filter and slow runoff.
News: Why Philly has so many sinkholes
By Conversation Media Group, the on Jan 21, 2026 01:41 pm
Philly’s many sinkholes stem from aging, leaking water and sewer pipes that wash away soil. The region’s geology also contributes to land subsidence. Repairs are slow because fixing leaks is complex and the city’s infrastructure is old.
News: How satellite data helped avoid hunger from drought
By Eos – AGU on Jan 21, 2026 12:53 pm
Satellites detecting anomalies of the spectral reflectance of crops in Uganda successfully foretold imminent crop failure and automatically triggered timely governmental disaster relief.
News: World enters “era of global water bankruptcy” UN scientists formally define post-crisis reality for billions
By United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health on Jan 21, 2026 12:34 pm
Amid chronic groundwater depletion, water overallocation, land and soil degradation, deforestation, and pollution, all compounded by global heating, a UN report today declared the dawn of an era of global water bankruptcy.
News: A new chapter begins for prepared international (PPI)
By Prepared International (PPI) on Jan 21, 2026 02:59 am
Prepared International’s (PPI) is transitioning from a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) to a GmbH. This change reflects continued growth, a strengthened operational foundation, and long-term commitment to delivering high‑quality, reliable, and impactful work.
News: Rockfall: An increasing hazard due to climate change
By Risk Frontiers Holdings Pty Ltd on Jan 20, 2026 06:05 pm
Alpine areas are facing extreme climate change impacts, including warming temperatures and extreme rainfall intensity.
News: Wildfires trigger massive soil loss for decades, new global map shows
By Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology on Jan 20, 2026 05:39 pm
Researchers predict that the problem will only get worse as climate change leads to more intense and frequent rainstorms. They estimate that post-fire soil erosion could increase by as much as 28% by the year 2070.
News: Sri Lanka looks to build disaster-resilient housing after devastating cyclone
By Mongabay on Jan 20, 2026 05:30 pm
Following the significant loss of lives and homes in the recent disaster in Sri Lanka , the NBRO is introducing specific types of housing models suitable for flat and sloped terrains.
News: Making agriculture, energy and transport climate resilient: how much money is required and what will it deliver?
By European Environment Agency on Jan 20, 2026 05:10 pm
This briefing outlines the long-term benefits of investing in climate resilience. It presents the costs of enhancing resilience in some of Europe’s most climate-vulnerable sectors and describes the benefits for EU’s economy and society.
News: Indonesia sues 6 companies over alleged links to deadly floods & landslides
By Mongabay on Jan 20, 2026 04:44 pm
In the wake of the deadly floods and landslides that struck Indonesia in late 2025, the nation’s environment ministry has sued six companies, seeking 4.8 trillion rupiah ($284 million) in environmental damages linked to the disasters.
News: Managed fires in wilderness areas restore forests and reduce wildfire risks
By Northern Arizona University on Jan 20, 2026 04:38 pm
Research shows that managed wildfires in these areas can help restore forest health and lower the risk of future severe fires.
News: The mental health impact of landslide disasters
By Eos – AGU on Jan 20, 2026 04:31 pm
The longer term mental health impacts are also deeply troubling. Akhila et al. (2025) describe how the communities were left in a constant state of fear of a repeat of the event.
News: Project spotlight: A more modern, resilient water system takes shape in Bursa, Türkiye
By Climate Investment Funds on Jan 20, 2026 04:13 pm
Once the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa today stands as one of Türkiye’s fastest-growing industrial cities. But its economic momentum has collided with the stark reality of a deepening water crisis.
News: How resilience hubs protect black folks from climate disasters
By Word In Black on Jan 20, 2026 03:58 pm
Resilience hubs offer Black communities safe spaces, power, supplies, and support during climate‑driven disasters, strengthening local networks and reducing vulnerability.
News: Wildfires sweep Patagonia as critics blame budget cuts straining Argentina’s ability to fight back
By Courthouse News Service on Jan 20, 2026 01:28 pm
Wildfires in Patagonia have burned over 80 square miles, forcing evacuations and overwhelming understaffed responders. Critics blame federal budget cuts as officials dispute the fires’ causes. Locals demand aid while experts warn the crisis will worsen.
News: In a disaster, education can make the difference between life and death
By The Post on Jan 20, 2026 11:25 am
Curriculum study needs to cover the human factors in disaster risk, such as land use and environmental practices, in addition to the study of natural hazards.
News: If the volcanic eruption doesn’t scare you, the mudflow should
By New York Times, the on Jan 20, 2026 11:18 am
Studying tree rings helped scientists pinpoint when Mount Rainier last sent a lahar down its steep slopes, which could help planners anticipate future mudflows.
News: At a marine field station, rising seas force an inevitable retreat
By Yale Environment 360 on Jan 20, 2026 09:07 am
Scientists at a New Jersey marine station are tracking their facility’s slow destruction from rising waters, while filmmaker Thomas Lennon documents their push to gather meaningful data before they’re forced to abandon the site.
News: Jakarta sinks deeper as subsidence worsens flood risks
By Straits Times, the on Jan 20, 2026 08:58 am
Jakarta is sinking fast due to heavy groundwater use and rapid urban growth, leaving 40% of the city below sea level and worsening floods. Seawalls help only slightly, and experts warn deeper fixes are urgently needed.
News: UC Irvine public health experts highlight climate change-driven nutrition gaps
By University of California, Irvine on Jan 20, 2026 08:57 am
Climate change is reducing the nutritional quality of everyday foods and disrupting supplies, increasing health risks for vulnerable communities. UC Irvine experts say supplements may help fill gaps but are no substitute for broader food‑system solution
News: Great Ocean Road flash floods provide reminder of flood dangers
By Natural Hazards Research Australia on Jan 20, 2026 08:55 am
Flash floods along the Great Ocean Road showed how sudden, fast‑moving, debris‑filled waters can endanger communities and leave little time to react, underscoring the need for stronger awareness and preparedness.
News: Long-term effects of disasters: An ongoing threat to public health
By Federation of American Scientists on Jan 20, 2026 08:44 am
The article urges reforms to track long‑term disaster impacts, strengthen healthcare systems, improve housing recovery, and build resilient communities, noting that extreme weather leaves lasting physical, mental, and social health effects.
News: Climate and nature risks fuel multi-billion insurance protection gaps
By World Wildlife Fund Environment and Disaster Management on Jan 20, 2026 02:42 am
A widening insurance protection gap is exposing households, businesses and governments to escalating financial risks. WWF calls for nature to be placed at the heart of resilience and risk-reduction strategies.
News: Two simple modifications cool Kenyan homes and keep mosquitoes out
By Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology on Jan 20, 2026 01:46 am
Researchers in Kenya have identified two low-cost solutions that tackle the twin challenges of rising temperatures and malaria transmission.
News: Scientists unearth clues to understand what made the 2011 tsunami in Japan so massive
By University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Jan 20, 2026 01:28 am
Geologists studied drill cores from a fault zone off the coast of Japan.