Climate-related Disasters Research Articles

The Frequency of Droughts in the Rasht Valley (Tajikistan) Under Climate Change

The geographical location of Central Asia, including the Republic of Tajikistan, makes the region highly vulnerable to various climate-related natural disasters, such as floods, droughts and mudslides, which significantly affect sustainable development and people's living conditions, including their access to adequate food and drinking water. Droughts, especially in their extreme forms, accelerate the development of desertification, the main cause of which is excessive anthropogenic pressure, which increases under conditions of prolonged and intense drought. In this context, the issue of developing and improving modern systems for monitoring and forecasting droughts, as well as preparing for and mitigating their consequences, becomes extremely important. The problems of droughts occurrence in two districts of Tajikistan (Rasht, Lakhsh) with developed agricultural industry depending on meteorological conditions with wide application of standardized drought indices are considered. It was found that the occurrence of drought in a specific area does not have certain regularity, but is determined by a combination of meteorological parameters. The dynamics of the Standardised precipitation index and the Standardised precipitation and evapotranspiration index in Rasht district for the period 1950-2023 is characterised by a constant trend. The results of studies of meteorological conditions of Lakhsh district for the period 1961- 2021 to identify the possibility of drought occurrence are presented. The trend of the drought indices shows an increase in humidity over the period 1961-2021. Despite the positive trend in humidity over the period considered, extreme and severe droughts of varying duration have been observed.

Growth and Yield Responses of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Tree Lopping and Organic Manure under Morus-Based Agri-Silvicultural System

Growth and Yield Responses of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Tree Lopping and Organic Manure under Morus-Based Agri-Silvicultural System

Evacuate or shelter-in-place? Applying a risk-informed decision support tool for long-term care facilities threatened by wildfire

The summer of 2023 was Canada’s most destructive wildfire season in recorded history. The southern region of the province of British Columbia (BC) is prone to wildfires and flooding, placing infrastructure, communities and human lives at risk. Residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities are especially vulnerable to these events. Healthcare leaders face the challenge of deciding when and under what circumstances to evacuate an LTC facility. This requires careful evaluation of the dangers posed by the event and the risks associated with the sudden displacement of frail residents. This risk assessment leads to two decision points: is it safer for residents to shelter-in-place or to evacuate to an alternative care facility? Given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters and their impact on the health and well-being of LTC residents, health emergency incident managers identified the need to develop a standardised approach for evacuation decision making. This paper analyses how the Interior Health (IH) Authority collaborated with Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) to develop an Evacuation Risk Decision-Support Tool. This tool informed LTC facility evacuations during the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna, BC.

Disruption to test scores after hurricanes in the United States

Quantifying how hurricanes disrupt educational attainment is essential to evaluating the burden of climate-related disasters. Here, we examine the association between hurricane-force tropical cyclones and educational attainment among elementary and middle school students in all affected areas in the United States during the 2008/2009-2017/2018 school years. Educational performance was based on county-level average standardized test scores in math and reading/language arts (RLAs). Hurricane-force tropical cyclone-exposed counties were those that experienced a sustained maximal wind speed ⩾64 knots. We estimated the association between hurricane-force tropical cyclone exposure and long-term test scores using a Bayesian hierarchical linear model, accounting for time-varying covariates at the county and grade cohort level. For hurricane-exposed counties, compared with the rest of the state, there were better test scores in Florida in math (β = 0.14; 95% CrI: 0.02, 0.26; PP[β > 0] = 99.0%) and RLA (β = 0.11; 95% CrI: 0.02, 0.22; PP[β > 0] = 99.2%), and worse math scores in North Carolina (β = -0.16; 95% CrI: -0.29, -0.03; PP[β < 0] = 99.4%). Grade cohorts with more racialized and minoritized (e.g. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous) and socioeconomically disadvantaged students tended to have lower test scores, while grade cohorts with greater shares of students racialized as Asian and counties with more college-educated adults tended to have higher scores regardless of hurricane exposure. Disaster preparedness must maximize resilience to climate-related stressors' impacts on academic achievement, especially for vulnerable populations.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: a critical examination in disaster situations

ABSTRACT Climate-related disasters are critical global challenges, and social work is vital in supporting individuals and communities to promote their well-being in response. This empirical research examines how Maslow’s hierarchy applies to social service provision in Oman following climate events, focusing on the framework’s potential and limitations within an Islamic cultural setting. This qualitative study employs 43 semi-structured interviews with a diverse group, including senior managers, social workers, non-governmental organization workers, religious leaders, and service users. Through thematic analysis, the data shows significant similarities between the needs of people affected by climate events and Maslow’s theory, which has led the state to provide services based on this hierarchy. However, the study emphasizes that in an Islamic society like Oman, spiritual needs are not confined to the higher levels of the hierarchy but must be addressed at all levels. This means religious practitioners should be involved in relief efforts from the beginning of such events. The study also illustrates the importance of maintaining robust communication networks, which should be considered a fundamental necessity. Policy, practice, and educational implications are discussed, proposing adaptations to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs within social work curricula and advocating for integrating spiritual needs into comprehensive disaster management frameworks.

Longitudinal determinants of thriving in Puerto Rican climate crisis migrants on the U.S. mainland: A structural equation model.

Longitudinal determinants of thriving in Puerto Rican climate crisis migrants on the U.S. mainland: A structural equation model.

Urology on a changing planet: links between climate change and urological disease.

Urological diseases and their varied forms of management warrant special attention in the setting of climate change. Regarding urological cancers, climate change will probably increase the incidence and severity of cancer diagnoses through exposures to certain environmental risk factors, while simultaneously disrupting cancer care delivery and downstream outcomes. Regarding benign urological diseases, a burgeoning body of work exists on climate-related heat waves, dehydration, urolithiasis, renal injury and infectious and vector-borne diseases. Adding to the potential effect on disease pathogenesis, many patients with urological diseases undergo high-tech, resource-intensive interventions, such as robotic surgery, and entail intensive longitudinal assessments over many years. These features incur a considerable carbon footprint, generate substantial waste, and can introduce vulnerabilities to climate-related weather events. Links exist between planetary health (the health of humans and the natural systems that support our health), climate change and urological disease and urological care providers face many challenges in the era of anthropogenic climate change. The next steps and priorities for research, management, and health care delivery include identification and prioritization of health care delivery strategies to minimize waste and carbon emissions, while supporting climate resilience. Examples include supporting telemedicine, limiting low-value care, and building resilience to minimize impacts of climate-related disasters to prepare for the challenges ahead.

Training on Lesson Plan of Climate Change STEM Project in the Physics Learning for Sustainable Development

Climate change education holds great potential but often fails to raise sufficient awareness of climate-related disasters. Students need localized, STEM-based learning to build adaptation strategies and eco-friendly lifestyles. This article focuses on improving students' understanding of physics concepts, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking, aligning with the SDGs and Merdeka Curriculum goals. Using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method, training activities involved observation, reflection, planning, action, and evaluation stages. Needs analysis discussions with teachers from Nganjuk Regency's MGMP informed the program. Training included STEM-based project learning focused on climate change and engaging physics and science teachers. Questionnaire analysis showed high enthusiasm for the program, as it integrated STEM with real-world climate issues, making learning relevant and motivating. This innovative approach fostered critical thinking and problem-solving while enhancing awareness and responsibility toward climate challenges. By connecting education to sustainability, the program encouraged students to develop eco-friendly solutions and actively participate in addressing global issues, preparing them to become agents of change.

Optimizing Deep Learning Models for Climate-Related Natural Disaster Detection from UAV Images and Remote Sensing Data.

This research study utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to detect natural disasters from aerial images. Flooding and desertification were two natural disasters taken into consideration. The Climate Change Dataset was created by compiling various open-access data sources. This dataset contains 6334 aerial images from UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) images and satellite images. The Climate Change Dataset was then used to train Deep Learning (DL) models to identify natural disasters. Four different Machine Learning (ML) models were used: convolutional neural network (CNN), DenseNet201, VGG16, and ResNet50. These ML models were trained on our Climate Change Dataset so that their performance could be compared. DenseNet201 was chosen for optimization. All four ML models performed well. DenseNet201 and ResNet50 achieved the highest testing accuracies of 99.37% and 99.21%, respectively. This research project demonstrates the potential of AI to address environmental challenges, such as climate change-related natural disasters. This study's approach is novel by creating a new dataset, optimizing an ML model, cross-validating, and presenting desertification as one of our natural disasters for DL detection. Three categories were used (Flooded, Desert, Neither). Our study relates to AI for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability. Drone emergency response would be a practical application for our research project.

Mainstreaming integrated approaches to sustain lake and reservoir basin benefits in a changing climate

ABSTRACT This paper examines the challenges of institutional inertia and land, water and environmental policy failures in promoting integrated management of lakes, reservoirs, and their contributing basins and aquifers. While we focus on vulnerable lakes and reservoirs, the necessary policy, legal, and institutional reforms apply to many water basins, given the rapidly changing climate. Institutional barriers to more integrated land and water management are discussed that highlight the tension between development and management and the influence of powerful economic interests. Previous lake basin governance reforms to address institutional barriers stressed the value of partnerships and collaboration to overcome sectoral silos hindering the implementation of integrated, place-based approaches and minimizing the impact of climate-related disasters. Simultaneous top-down reforms, including national inter-ministerial partnerships and bottom-up vertical institutional collaboration with community engagement, are critical for overcoming barriers to sustaining benefits from lakes and reservoirs. Recent global water, environment, and climate institutional developments offer opportunities and driving forces for reforms needed to address the `integrated approaches amnesia' before irreversible consequences destabilize more communities. This paper builds on our companion article discussing the accelerated deterioration of lakes and reservoirs due to policy failures and climatic shifts and offers recommendations for collaborative best practices to improve governance.

Effect of Climate-Related Disasters on Consumption: Theory and Evidence from Bangladesh

As countries grapple with the aftermath of climate-related disasters, the disruptions they inflict on domestic consumption ripple through the fabric of income and price level shocks. The income shock emanates from the adverse effects of such disasters on economic agents, leading to both wage and asset income losses. On the other hand, the destruction of productive capacity and the disruption of supply chains by climatic disasters generate a price level shock. To delve deeper into these channels, this paper builds a novel climate economy model using nonlinear model predictive control. Moreover, using time-series analysis for Bangladesh, the study uncovers compelling evidence of the existence of income and price channels through which climatic disasters impact consumption where the price effect has appeared stronger than the income effect. The findings suggest that policymakers should simultaneously prioritize income-generating and price-supporting initiatives after climate-related disasters to achieve a rapid and sustainable consumption recovery to match or surpass the predisaster level.

Is exposure to a climate-related disaster associated with recent experiences of intimate partner violence among women? A post hoc analysis of survey data from rural Samoa

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that climate-related disasters increase rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. However, there are only limited understandings of the size and nature of such associations...

The January 2025 Southern California Wildfires: Public Mental Health Impacts and a Call to Action

AbstractThe January 2025 Southern California wildfires, among the most severe in recent years, devastated over 40,000 acres, displacing thousands and causing extensive physical and emotional tolls. Beyond the evident physical and economic impacts, the mental health consequences demand urgent attention. This editorial highlights the psychological repercussions, including acute stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, affecting survivors, first responders, and vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and low-income communities. Prolonged disruptions and repeated wildfire exposures exacerbate these challenges. The editorial emphasizes the necessity of integrating mental health into disaster response and preparedness strategies, advocating for immediate mental health support, long-term care, and resilience-building within communities. By recognizing mental health as a vital component of disaster management and linking it to climate change policies, a comprehensive approach can mitigate the mental health burden of wildfires and enhance societal resilience to future climate-related disasters.

Waqf as a Sustainable Solution: Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Real Estate Through Perpetual Endowment and Community Benefit

Climate change presents risks to real estate through extreme weather, rising sea levels, and shifting climate patterns, affecting property integrity, market value, and maintenance costs. Traditional responses are often short-term, whereas waqf, a concept of perpetual endowment for communal benefit, offers a sustainable alternative for managing real assets. This study explores the potential of waqf in mitigating climate change impacts on real estate, emphasizing its role in promoting resilience and sustainability. Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzes governing statutes, reported cases, and administrative data. Findings reveal waqf properties can support environmental sustainability by designating land for green spaces, conservation, or sustainable agriculture. These uses help buffer against climate-related disasters, protect nearby real estate, and maintain property values. Additionally, waqf income can fund climate adaptation projects, such as infrastructure upgrades and energy-efficient retrofits. Despite its promise, challenges like legal and administrative constraints, limited awareness, and capacity gaps must be addressed. Overall, waqf principles of sustainability and long-term stewardship can enhance real estate resilience and support sustainable urban development

Tracking SDG Achievements in the Age of Polycrisis

ABSTRACT The age of polycrisis – including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate related disasters, the war in Ukraine and related pressures on the global economy – is well known to have negatively impacted global socioeconomic outcomes. Due to time lags in data reporting, the full impact of the multiple crises is not yet reflected in the 2024 SDG Index. This work aims to fill this gap by providing a framework for tracking progress towards specific SDGs and measuring dimensions of resilience of national socioeconomic systems. We assess the progress of countries around the globe towards achieving SDG targets before and after the COVID period for five SDGs where data is available. We find for SDG 1: End Poverty; SDG 2: End Hunger; SDG 4: Education and SDG 5: Gender equality that both in the short (2020–2022) – as well as the medium (2020–2026) term following the COVID period, all countries experience persistent negative setbacks in achieving SDGs resulting in an increase in estimated time to complete targets for all income groups when compared to the 2012–2019 period. We find for SDG 3: Health – similar results; though only for Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries do we find negative setbacks to achieving SDG 3 targets post-COVID.

Climate change trauma and collective dissociation: Unraveling the impact on mental health and advocating for collective action.

The climate change crisis is a complex global challenge that has far- reaching implications for public health and well-being. Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events are impacting physical health, mental well-being, and ecological balance. Vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected, especially in terms of food security. Furthermore, climate-related disasters have profound and lasting effects on mental health, leading to trauma responses and dissociation as coping mechanisms. This perspective delves into the concept of collective dissociation, a subconscious defense mechanism that hinders effective action in the face of the overwhelming climate crisis. Understanding and characterizing this phenomenon is essential to promote meaningful climate action. To combat collective dissociation and facilitate effective collective action, several strategies are proposed. Responsible information management for advocacy, local moral support, strategic policy development, and research on climate trauma processing are highlighted as vital approaches. By addressing the mental health implications of climate change, raising awareness, and prioritizing resilience and cooperation, societies can transcend collective dissociation and work together towards a more sustainable future for both the planet and its inhabitants. This call to action underscores the need for comprehensive and guided measures to safeguard planetary and population health in the face of this pressing crisis.

Implications of Climate Change on Brazilian Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Climate change poses a significant global health threat, impacting human health through extreme weather events, disruptions to food systems, and the spread of diseases. Brazilian emergency medicine faces unique challenges, particularly in response to climate-related crises such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. This study aims to discuss the implications of climate change on Brazilian emergency medicine and the roles emergency physicians must adopt to address these challenges. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted, focusing on recent events and actions taken by Brazilian emergency physicians and institutions. Key topics analyzed include extreme weather events, disease outbreaks, and public health interventions. Institutional reports and clinical guidelines from the Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência (ABRAMEDE) were also reviewed. Results: Brazil has been increasingly affected by climate-related disasters, particularly in states like Rio Grande do Sul. Emergency departments were overwhelmed during recent floods and heatwaves. Arboviral diseases such as dengue have surged, exacerbated by rising temperatures. Wildfires, particularly in the Amazon, have further strained emergency services, with respiratory diseases and logistical challenges in patient transport becoming critical issues. ABRAMEDE has issued recommendations on hospital disaster preparedness and clinical guidelines to mitigate these health crises. Conclusions:Brazilian emergency physicians must focus on enhancing climate-related education, increasing resource allocation for emergency departments, and improving disaster preparedness. These steps are crucial for addressing the evolving health challenges posed by climate change, particularly in vulnerable populations. Emergency medicine must adapt to safeguard public health as environmental conditions continue to shift.

Preparing for Inclusion of Agricultural Workers in Climate-Related and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Quantitative Content Analysis of County Emergency Preparedness Plans, Eastern North Carolina, 2022-2023.

Agricultural workers such as migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a population uniquely vulnerable to the negative effects of climate-related disasters. The primary aim of this study was to assess how counties in eastern North Carolina (NC) incorporated best practices related to agricultural workers in emergency preparedness planning. The authors conducted a quantitative content analysis of 47 emergency preparedness plans from 41 eastern NC counties between November 2022 and March 2023. The research team developed a codebook based on recommended best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Farmworker Advocacy Network, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and National Center for Farmworker Health. Best practices included having materials in Spanish language, mapping vulnerable populations, and garnering input from agricultural workers. Of the 47 plans evaluated, most lacked inclusion of agricultural workers in emergency preparedness planning. Furthermore, plans demonstrated few relevant best practices that address agricultural workers' specific challenges in preparation for and recovery from climate-related disasters. Public emergency preparedness plans in eastern NC rarely include mention of recommended best practices related to agricultural workers. Local emergency preparedness officials should consider collaboration with advocacy groups, community health workers, and federal emergency management agencies to build disaster resilience.

AGING AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM VULNERABILITY TO ACTION

Abstract Despite the vulnerability of older people to climate change effects, as well as their potential to be part of climate change solutions, research has been limited. This multidisciplinary symposium responds to urgent calls for translational research on climate change as a critical pathway to reduce physical and mental health risks to older persons, brought about by climate-related hazards such as extreme temperature events, climate-related disasters, decreased air and water quality, forced migration, and vector-borne illnesses. Beyond vulnerability, panelists present research on older people’s actions to prevent and mitigate climate change. Two presentations provide new empirical findings on climate hazards. Bordes and Cherry examine how climate-related disasters affect health, using data from Hurricane Ida to examine differential effects on older and younger people. Koszalinski et al. examine effects of another climate-related hazard: harmful algae blooms, based on a longitudinal study of older adults in South Florida, demonstrating how such events can create harm from otherwise beneficial activities like outdoor nature activities. Two presenters focus on action taken by older people. Nikitin et al. address the intersection of the environment and attitudes toward aging, finding that nature contact is of special benefit to older persons. Liu and Pillemer examine intergenerational motivations for climate change activism among older people. Thiamwong’s presentation moves to community climate resilience strategies, presenting findings on community adaptation adapting to rising temperatures, with a focus on low-income older adults who are at special risk in extreme heat events.

“WE CAN BE PART OF YOUR PLAN”: ADAPTING AND PILOTING A VA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TOWN HALL FOR HOME HEALTH AGENCIES

Abstract Home health agencies (HHAs) provide vital community-based care that helps older adults age in place. As climate-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity, HHA services become more critical. However, research shows HHAs are often under-resourced and disconnected from community-wide emergency planning efforts, threatening the continuity of services. As the nation’s largest integrated health system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is uniquely positioned to support community HHAs serving veterans during disasters. We interviewed 19 key stakeholders (VA emergency managers, VA primary and community care staff, and administrators of contracted HHAs) from six VHA Medical Centers (VAMC) in a northeastern region (VISN 2) to generate strategies for VA to better support contracted home health providers. Participants offered innovative ideas including relatively low-resource suggestions and higher-level interventions (email groups, pocket emergency guides, staff training). Based on one site’s successful training for community providers of Medical Foster Home services, we worked with stakeholders to adapt and pilot a town hall and “resource fair” for home health agencies, scheduled for July 2024. Core sessions include guidance preparing emergency plans, an overview of VA benefits, and links to community resources. Stakeholders can also access 1-to-1 support on specific issues and offer suggestions for trainings VA can offer home health aides. Stakeholders identified potential challenges of town halls, including HHAs’ need to balance emergency preparedness with other priorities, and the broad geographical area which could limit attendance. This presentation will cover successes, challenges and lessons learned as we plan for scaling this effort at other sites.